While Apple has kept quiet about iOS 14, here’s what we’re hearing about the next big iOS update coming with the iPhone 12.
It may feel like iOS 13 only debuted yesterday, but that came out in September 2019 and we’re set to get iOS 14 by the end of this year.
The next big update for your iPhone is currently just rumored for now – Apple has yet to specifically confirm the name for the next piece of software – but it’s very likely we’ll be hearing officially about it soon.
And given what was left out with iOS 13 – and what new technology could be coming in the iPhone 12 – we can make some educated guesses about what’s coming in the next big iOS update.
Some of these are obvious, like support for 5G should Apple finally decide to release a 5G iPhone that works with the next-gen phone networks. If there’s somehow an Apple foldable, well, iOS 14 will have software to make that work, too.
Other iOS 14 features take a little bit of speculative leaps to imagine which tweaks Apple might make in its continual improvements on its iPhone operating system.
Below we’ve put together all of the leaks and rumors for the new software so far, plus a little bit of what we want to see the new software do too.
Latest story: A source suggests that all phones that can run iOS 13 will also be able to run iOS 14.
Given last year’s big iOS updates came out on September 19, one day before this year’s new iPhone line, we’re guessing that iOS 14 will launch in late September 2020.
That will be just in time for the launch of the iPhone 12, which will be the first phones to get the next iOS.
Assuming Apple follows prior years, it will likely unveil iOS 14 at its annual WWDC conference. That’s set to take place virtually this year – due to the Covid-19 pandemic – and it’ll be starting on June 22.
Apple usually releases an initial developer beta the same day, so it may do the same in 2020. The first public beta will likely follow later in the month, and will accordingly get new betas after the developer versions.
While Apple didn’t leave any phones behind when it introduced iOS 12, the most recent jump to iOS 13 made up for it by stranding two generations of iPhone handsets – anything older than the iPhone 6S or iPhone SE.
However, current rumors suggest that all phones able to run iOS 13 will also support iOS 14. We first heard that back in January, and then again in June. So that’s our best guess for now.
Having said that, we would say it’s questionable whether the original iPhone SE will get the iOS 14 update, given that the company has now launched a new iPhone SE.
iOS and iPadOS support widgets up to a point, but based on early code snippets it looks like you might be able to add widgets to your home screens in iOS 14 as well. At the moment though, sources say the feature could be still be scrapped.
Other leaks suggest that more wallpaper options will be added in iOS 14 as well, so you’ll be able to add dynamic, flat and gradient options. We’ve also seen a sneak peek at what some of the new wallpapers in iOS 14 will look like.
In other interface news, a leaked video (below) supposedly shows an internal build of iOS 14, and as you can see it sports a new app switcher layout that’s similar to the one on iPadOS.
Rather than the current switcher that fans apps out like a deck of cards, this one shows four per screen with a smaller image of each. There’s also (as part of the leak but not in the video) the suggestion that users might be able to choose between these two layouts, among others.
However, we’d take all of this with a pinch of salt.
