Apple is gradually rolling out many of the big iOS 18 features showcased at WWDC24. iOS 18.1 marked the debut of Apple Intelligence, and with iOS 18.2, the company brought more AI features. This slow rollout is supposedly leading to many internal delays in iOS 19 features.
Expect to wait until 2026 for some new iOS 19 additions.
Delayed iOS 18 features are interfering with iOS 19
Apple typically showcases new iOS features at its yearly developer conference in June. Almost all the major additions launch with the OS’s initial release, with some arriving later with a point release. That’s not the case with iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence, though.
Despite hogging all the limelight, Apple released iOS 18 without any AI features. Even the iPhone 16 lineup launched without Apple Intelligence. This is despite the company’s marketing for the phones revolving around AI.
Apparently, this delay in rolling out iOS 18 features is leading Apple engineers to push back on some of the features planned for iOS 19. In a Threads post, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman says this will also lead Apple to release major iOS 19 features gradually, as they won’t be ready for the initial release.
“Engineers are stuck working on iOS 18 projects when they’d usually already be on to the following OS,” says Gurman. This is not the case usually, with Apple’s internal team shifting their focus to work on the next iOS release.
Big iOS 19 features will also roll out gradually
The reporter previously revealed that Apple will delay key iOS 19 features until spring 2026. This includes the LLM-powered Siri, which will provide a more conversational experience, arriving only in spring 2026.
When Apple showcases iOS 19 at WWDC25 next year, it’s best to temper your expectations. That’s because not all the announced features will likely debut at launch in September. You could end up waiting a few more months after that to try them.
