iOS 19's Camera Interface Overhaul: A Full "Vision" Transformation for Apple's System? User Fatigue and Apple's Struggle to Retain Design Leadership

iOS 19's Camera Interface Overhaul: A Full "Vision" Transformation for Apple's System? User Fatigue and Apple's Struggle to Retain Design LeadershipIn recent years, mobile phone manufacturers have generally adopted a conservative approach, rarely making drastic changes to their operating system UIs. This isn't coincidental; users have established ingrained usage habits, and manufacturers risk significant development costs, extended timelines, and user confusion if they attempt radical overhauls

iOS 19's Camera Interface Overhaul: A Full "Vision" Transformation for Apple's System? User Fatigue and Apple's Struggle to Retain Design Leadership

In recent years, mobile phone manufacturers have generally adopted a conservative approach, rarely making drastic changes to their operating system UIs. This isn't coincidental; users have established ingrained usage habits, and manufacturers risk significant development costs, extended timelines, and user confusion if they attempt radical overhauls. Therefore, recent system upgrades have primarily focused on detail optimizations or incorporating new features using AI, IoT, and other emerging technologies. OPPO, vivo, Xiaomi, and even Apple a benchmark for system design have all adhered to this cautious strategy.

Apple's iOS system design, much like its iPhones, has seen minimal changes over the years, leading to a market perception of "updated for the sake of it," and inevitably resulting in user aesthetic fatigue. Since iOS 14, Apple has made almost no significant UI changes, sparking discussions about the need for iOS system design rejuvenation.

However, recent reports suggest Apple may finally be ready to act. Jon Prosser, host of the YouTube channel FrontPageTech, revealed in a video that Apple plans to redesign the iOS 19 camera app and visually upgrade the home screen and other interfaces to align with the VisionOS style of its Vision Pro headset.

Currently, information regarding iOS 19's UI upgrade remains speculative. A simple interface upgrade would have a relatively small impact; however, if it involves interaction changes, Apple's approach is expected to be less radical. Nevertheless, for users tired of the existing iOS design, this new development is undoubtedly worth anticipating.

Major Camera Interface Overhaul, iOS Goes "Vision"?

The trend of iOS interface design emulating VisionOS was initially apparent in iOS 18. iOS 18 significantly redesigned the Control Center using a multi-page layout, introducing a Control Center component library and providing component interfaces to third-party developers. Stylistically, iOS 18's Control Center icons feature more rounded corners, emphasizing circular icons and translucent frosted glass textures.

Translucent frosted glass and rounded corners are hallmarks of the VisionOS UI, setting the stage for spatial computing interactions and enhancing immersive spatial experiences. Unlike stacked cards, translucent frosted glass strengthens the connection between the background and the application interface. When a user focuses on a specific interface, other parts blur and integrate with the background, preventing distractions. (Image from Apple)

However, the frosted glass effect demands higher system optimization and processing power from the computing platform. Users might find that some interfaces lack the Gaussian blur effect on older devices a measure taken by the system to reduce computational load.

Returning to the iOS 19 camera interface, the biggest change compared to the current version is the adoption of the translucent frosted glass interface found in VisionOS. According to FrontPageTech's video demonstration, the new interface is cleaner, with various modes housed in the "PHOTO/VIDEO" bottom bar, minimizing obstruction of the preview screen. Higher-quality materials further enhance immersion. (Image from FrontPageTech)

FrontPageTech also predicts changes to the iOS 19 home screen style: card backgrounds will employ translucent frosted glass, and icons will become circular, closely resembling VisionOS. It's plausible that Apple might offer users a choice between rounded rectangular and circular icon styles.

Apple has extensive experience in real-time Gaussian blur rendering, using this sophisticated material in iOS/iPadOS and macOS. This advanced material rendering not only showcases the manufacturer's technical capabilities but also dynamically adjusts blur intensity based on user interaction, enhancing the "breathing" effect of the interaction and interface layering, highlighting crucial content.

Currently, brands like Xiaomi, OPPO, Huawei, and vivo have added richer blur effects to their new systems and prominently featured them in launch events, demonstrating inspiration from Apple. (Image from FrontPageTech)

Even during the iOS 18 leak phase, there were reports of Apple adopting VisionOS design elements. iOS 18 did indeed incorporate similar changes, although their impact on users might not have been significant. This suggests Apple might gradually refresh its system interface through subsequent iOS upgrades, rather than making sweeping visual changes in a single major release.

Mobile OS Design: Apple Remains a Benchmark

Apple's iOS design style has evolved from skeuomorphism to flat design, and subsequently to a more modern and intelligent approach. Early iOS versions employed skeuomorphic design, using realistic visual elements from the real world to depict system interfaces. For instance, the calculator app mimicked the 1977 Braun ET44 design, while the notes app resembled real sticky notes; thus bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds.

Starting with iOS 7, Apple officially transitioned to flat design. App icons lost most of their realistic textures and shadows, and most system interfaces adopted a white background, resulting in a simpler, flatter overall look. In subsequent iOS upgrades, Apple consistently prioritized simplicity and modernity.

iOS 11 introduced new design elements, redesigning the Control Center and Dock; further simplifying the interface, improving icon and text clarity, and incorporating new technologies like ARKit. This established the core iOS design aesthetic.

After iOS 12, Apple gradually integrated sophisticated materials and dynamic animation feedback, simulating real-world physics. This shows that the connection between iOS and the real world wasn't severed by the shift to flat and modern design. Excellent interface design and animation effects enhance the user experience. As an industry benchmark, Apple's iOS impacts numerous deeply customized systems while continuously facing challenges from competitors.

On December 28, 2020, Xiaomi officially released MIUI 12.5, claiming that its system animation, aesthetic design, and smoothness were on par with iOS. Furthermore, OPPO's ColorOS 15 system touted its "full Apple-ification." (Image from OPPO)

Many netizens believe that "Apple's 60Hz is smoother than Android's 120Hz," highlighting iOS's visual prowess. In the past two years, domestic manufacturers have developed their systems for Gaussian blur and interaction effects, aiming to replicate physical motion curves and integrating animation engines to enhance frosted glass effects, mirroring Apple's approach.

In terms of visual effects, iOS remains a benchmark, but domestic systems have made significant advancements recently, narrowing the gap with competitors. The emergence of Huawei's HarmonyOS Next (native HarmonyOS) has brought a completely new perspective to the OS market. From learning from Apple to surpassing Apple, domestic systems are accelerating their pursuit.

From Learning from Apple to Surpassing Apple: The Rise of Domestic Systems

Many users purchase iPhones not out of blind following, but because they perceive them as "user-friendly" and "premium." This perception isn't based on brand loyalty or mystique but rather on iOS's aesthetically pleasing and natural interaction effects and high-quality materials. Average users struggle to systematically describe these visual effects; "user-friendly" is the most concise evaluation.

The mobile phone industry acknowledges and actively learns from Apple's visual effect system, with many manufacturers using iOS as a target to pursue. While the results remain to be seen, Apple's benchmark effect is undeniably significant.

In reality, non-iOS smartphones have made considerable progress in visual effects and smoothness; the "slow after a year" phenomenon is becoming rare. In 2024, mobile phone manufacturers are focusing system upgrades on system animation, visual effects, and the optimization of features like Dynamic Island, further enhancing interface and smoothness. (Image from Apple)

A recently leaked new version of OPPO's home screen has also sparked discussion, primarily due to its upgraded stacked background interface consistent with iOS. Currently, deeply customized systems are approaching parity with Apple in terms of visual effects.

In this OS battle, the real concern might be Apple. The long-standing lack of iOS visual updates has caused user aesthetic fatigue, making its current visual system difficult to maintain its leading edge. If iOS 19's camera interface undergoes a complete revamp as FrontPageTech suggests, a fully VisionOS-integrated iOS would be highly anticipated. However, Apple will likely not complete a visual system upgrade in a single major version update. Prioritizing the introduction of new features and accelerating the advancement of Apple AI will be equally crucial.