Highlights
- iOS 19 will include support for RCS Universal Profile 3.0 to bring end-to-end encryption.
- It will also add message reactions, editing, deleting, and custom image-based responses.
- The new interface is inspired by the Vision Pro headset’s design principles and introduces transparency, new types of windows/buttons and aims to make the system consistent across Apple devices.
Apple is gearing up to introduce several exciting messaging improvements in iOS 19, which will include support for RCS Universal Profile 3.0. This will not only bring end-to-end encryption for RCS messages but also unlock a range of other long-awaited features.
iOS 19 Upgrades to RCS 3.0
When Apple introduced RCS messaging in iOS 18, it used version 2.4, which improved texting with Android users by adding high-quality images, read receipts and more. However, it missed out on key features introduced in RCS 2.7, which launched in June 2024.
These missing features included the ability to reply and react to messages including custom reactions, editing, recalling, and deleting sent messages and using custom images (such as Genmoji) as reactions.
Since Apple implemented RCS before these updates were announced, iPhone users never got to experience these enhancements.
Now, Apple has confirmed that it will support RCS Universal Profile 3.0 in a future update. This means iPhones will finally catch up by integrating all the improvements from RCS 2.7, along with the much-awaited end-to-end encryption.
Apple hasn’t shared an exact timeline, but it’s expected to roll out sometime during the iOS 19 lifecycle.
In a statement, Apple said, “End-to-end encryption is a powerful privacy and security technology that iMessage has supported since the beginning, and now we are pleased to have helped lead a cross-industry effort to bring end-to-end encryption to the RCS Universal Profile published by the GSMA. We will add support for end-to-end encrypted RCS messages to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS in future software updates.”
A Major iOS 19 Redesign Inspired by visionOS
Alongside the messaging improvements, iOS 19 will also bring one of Apple’s biggest software redesigns in years. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple executives are “confident” users will love the changes.
Gurman writes, “Despite the risks involved in major interface changes, top Apple executives say they are confident that users will love the new look and feel. The trick is creating something that appeals both to the hundreds of millions of current users and the new customers that Apple hopes to add in the coming years.”
The update will take inspiration from visionOS, the software powering Apple’s Vision Pro headset. “The new interfaces will adopt the design principles introduced in visionOS, the software for Apple’s Vision Pro headset. That includes greater transparency and new types of windows and buttons — and that should make all Apple devices feel more consistent and familiar,” Gurman added.
Gurman says the redesign goes “well beyond a fresh coat of paint” and will fundamentally change how users interact with their devices for years to come. Apple believes these updates will make the interface “simpler to use, faster to navigate, and easier to learn.”
The redesign could also pave the way for future Apple products including foldable devices and touchscreen Macs. Moreover, Apple is working to “adapt to an era adopted by artificial intelligence assistants, rather than people continually dipping in and out of applications.”
FAQS
Q1. What messaging improvements will iOS 19 bring?
Answer. iOS 19 will support RCS Universal Profile 3.0, introducing end-to-end encryption and features like message reactions, editing, deleting, and custom image-based responses.
Q2. What design changes can users expect in iOS 19?
Answer. iOS 19 will feature a redesign inspired by visionOS, incorporating transparency, new types of windows and buttons, and a more consistent, user-friendly interface.
Q3. How is iOS 19 preparing for future Apple innovations?
Answer. The redesign paves the way for potential advancements, including foldable devices, touchscreen Macs, and enhanced integration with AI assistants.
Also Read: Apple to Bring End-to-End Encryption to Android-to-iPhone RCS Messaging
Also Read: Apple to Bring Live Translation Feature to AirPods with iOS 19 Update