Apples Next iPhone OS Our Top Feature Hopes

Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) is on the horizon, and tech enthusiasts are buzzing with anticipation for what the company has been developing over the past year for its next iPhone operating system, potentially named iOS 19 or even iOS 26. This software is the backbone of the iPhone. As we await Apple's official announcements, CNET's team of experts has compiled their own list of desired features and improvements for the upcoming OS.

While iOS 18 introduced valuable additions like RCS messaging support for all iPhones and Apple Intelligence features for newer models, speculation is rife for iOS 19. Industry reports hint at a major overhaul of the iPhone OS, potentially affecting icons, applications, menus, and more. CNET's writers and editors have a history of insightful predictions, with past requests like customizable lock screen controls eventually becoming reality. Perhaps their foresight will prove accurate once again.

Here are some of the key features and changes CNET hopes Apple will incorporate into the next iOS software.

Bring Split Screen to the iPhone

Constantly switching between two apps can be annoying. (James Martin/CNET)

A native split-screen feature is high on the list. This functionality has been available on Android phones and iPads for years. On iOS, tasks like using a calculator while referencing a budget note still require inconvenient app switching.

-- Mike Sorrentino

Start a Workout Right From My iPhone

A workout without an Apple Watch is still a workout, right? (James Martin/CNET)

The ability to initiate an outdoor workout directly from the Fitness app on the iPhone, similar to apps like Strava or Polar, is desired. This would allow users to record workouts even if they forget their Apple Watch or don't own one. While the Apple Watch uses heart rate data for move minutes, the iPhone could potentially grant credit for workouts using other metrics like distance and pace during a run.

-- Vanessa Hand Orellana

No More Green Bubbles Please

Bickering between greens and blues sounds like a Game of Thrones plotline. (James Martin/CNET)

While the addition of RCS messaging in iOS 18 was a welcome improvement, the visual distinction of green bubbles for texts with Android users remains a point of contention. The dream is for Apple to eliminate this visual divide. Despite RCS enabling high-resolution media sharing and typing indicators with non-iMessage users, the green bubble still fuels a sense of messaging hierarchy. Ending this perceived pettiness would be a significant step.

-- Abrar Al-Heeti

An Easier Way to Manage Unused Apps

Unused apps still take up precious memory on your iPhone. (James Martin/CNET)

Many iPhones accumulate apps that are rarely used, often forgotten after initial trials. While the App Library helps declutter home screens, it doesn't solve the underlying issue of storage consumption. A more robust app management system is needed, similar to how users can identify large apps in Storage settings. This system should allow users to see installation dates, last used dates, and easily delete unwanted apps. Manually sifting through numerous apps is a daunting task that users often avoid.

-- Jeff Carlson

Searchable Clipboard Manager for All Your Copy and Paste Needs

A clipboard manager could remember multiple things you copy so you can paste them at a later time. (Apple/CNET)

A clipboard manager is a much-requested feature for iOS 19. Currently, the iPhone's clipboard holds only one item at a time; copying a new item overwrites the previous one. A searchable clipboard manager that stores a history of copied items (text, images, etc.) over various timeframes (hour, day, week, month) would be incredibly useful. When pasting, users could then choose from multiple recent copied items.

-- Nelson Aguilar

More Customization Options for All Screens

Can I move the flashlight control around on the lock screen, please? (James Martin/CNET)

Enhanced customization for the lock screen, home screen, and Control Center is desired. Users want the ability to reposition lock screen controls to avoid accidental activations, such as the flashlight. Similarly, while app placement on the home screen has improved, Apple's rigid grid system still imposes limitations, like an unusable empty row at the bottom with large icons. Freedom to move elements like the scroll bar in the Control Center, which is often accidentally triggered, would significantly improve user experience.

-- Zach McAuliffe

Long Press Double Click and More Action Button Triggers

The action button is a small, useful tool already but it could be so much more. (Jeff Carlson/CNET)

With the Action button becoming standard on more iPhone models, expanding its functionality with multiple press triggers is a key request. Currently, it can be set to perform one action, such as toggling the ringer, opening the Camera, or running a Shortcut (like ordering coffee). Adding support for different actions based on multiple input types (e.g., single long press for ringer, double long press for flashlight) would greatly enhance its utility and encourage wider adoption.

-- Patrick Holland

Better Log Video Editing Tools

You can already shoot Log videos on your iPhone, now we just need better editing tools for those videos on the device. (Apple)

For filmmaking enthusiasts, iOS 19 should include better editing tools for Log video. While shooting Log footage directly on the iPhone is a fantastic feature, editing this footage often requires transferring it to an iPad or MacBook. Apple bringing more sophisticated editing tools, especially for cinematic color grading of Log footage, directly to the iPhone would be a significant boon.

-- Andrew Lanxon

Intelligently Organize Photos by Event in the Photos App

Manually creating albums can take up a lot of time and effort. (Apple/Screenshot by James Martin/CNET)

Despite iOS 18's AI improvements for photo search, there's room for more intelligent organization in the Photos app. A desired feature for iOS 19 is a timeline view where photos are intelligently grouped by event. For instance, if multiple photos are taken at a birthday party in a park, the app could prompt to confirm they belong to the same event, allow naming it, and log it. This would create a searchable, vertical timeline of past events, automating a task that is currently laborious if done manually through album creation. This is seen as an ideal use case for AI.

-- David Lumb

Simple Volume Controls Across the iPhone

Apple, please keep the volume settings I want. (Jeff Carlson/CNET)

Sometimes small refinements can make a big difference. A cleanup of volume controls is needed for a smoother user experience. Users want volume levels, once set, to remain consistent across all applications. Currently, volume settings can vary unexpectedly depending on the context (e.g., switching to headphones might revert to a previously louder setting). This inconsistency leads to frustration and a feeling of lacking control over the device.

-- Bridget Carey

For more on Apple, explore what to expect from WWDC 2025 and CNET's thoughts on the iPhone 16 Pro and iOS 18 several months after launch. You can also review the iOS 18 cheat sheet.