Apple to Revamp Phone Safari and Camera Apps with New Features

Apple is gearing up to introduce significant design changes to its core apps, including Phone, Safari, and Camera, at the upcoming WWDC event. These updates are part of a broader revamp inspired by the visionOS design language, signaling a fresh visual direction across Apple’s operating systems.

Phone App Gets a Streamlined View

The Phone app will feature a new optional view that consolidates favorite contacts, recent calls, and voicemails into a single, scrollable window. This design aims to simplify navigation and improve user accessibility. Users can toggle between this new layout and the traditional view, offering flexibility based on personal preference.

Safari Embraces a Glassy, Transparent Address Bar

In line with the 'digital glass' aesthetic, Safari will receive a more transparent and visually sleek address bar. This subtle yet impactful change enhances the browsing experience by creating a modern, clean interface that blends seamlessly with the content.

Simplified Camera App and Other Enhancements

Apple plans to simplify the Camera app interface, making it more intuitive for users. Additionally, Messages may gain new features like polls and synchronized background images across devices, enhancing communication and personalization. The Preview app is also expected to expand to iPadOS and iOS, enabling PDF annotation on mobile devices.

Despite rumors, app icon shapes will largely remain unchanged, maintaining familiarity while refreshing the overall design language.

These updates reflect Apple's focus on refining user experience through design rather than introducing major AI-driven features at this event. However, AI-powered live translation for calls and texts might make an appearance, hinting at gradual integration of intelligent features.

For developers and tech leaders, these changes underscore the importance of staying agile and responsive to evolving UI paradigms within Apple's ecosystem. Preparing for iOS 26 and related OS updates will be crucial to deliver seamless, modern app experiences.