Do you recall when each new iteration of iOS came with bold redesigns? I’m looking at you, iOS 7. Despite the annual rumors suggesting another significant iOS overhaul, I am quite convinced that those days are behind us. A recent app incident illustrates why this is the case.
Cautionary Tale: The Sonos Redesign Debacle
If you haven’t been paying attention, Sonos has been facing some serious challenges lately.
The company recently underwent a leadership change, appointing a new CEO after struggling for months to address its significant blunder in 2024: launching a major app redesign.
Unveiled in April, the revamped Sonos app triggered a flood of customer grievances and negative publicity that has persisted throughout the year.
This situation serves as a compelling example of why Apple is unlikely to engage in substantial iOS overhauls any longer.
If the new Sonos app had been launched in the company’s earlier days, I am fairly certain it would have fared better.
Even if it encountered the same problems, the smaller, dedicated user community would have either adapted, or Sonos would have addressed the issues without it becoming such a fiasco.
This scenario echoes the dynamics at play with iOS.
The Risks of Major Changes in iOS
In the era when the iPhone was on the rise, Apple could afford to implement major redesigns due to its smaller, more tech-savvy audience.
Now, the iPhone is deeply ingrained in society, relied upon by hundreds of millions of users with varying levels of technical expertise.
A significant redesign of iOS could provoke a strong backlash that could be overwhelming.
Even if many viewed the changes positively, given the sheer size of Apple’s user base, vocal opposition is nearly a certainty.
Apple is aware that stagnation is not an option for iOS.
Thus, it has adopted a strategy of implementing significant changes on an app-by-app basis.
Take, for instance, the changes made to the Photos app in iOS 18, which stirred up considerable controversy and led to subsequent updates to address user concerns. However, because it targeted just one app, the fallout was manageable.
Completely overhauling iOS? That would be a monumental risk for Apple.
As enticing as an iOS 7-like major redesign may seem to me (and perhaps to you), many iPhone users who are less inclined to embrace change might consider it a nightmare.
The Sonos situation serves as a significant warning for Apple and any large tech entity with an established user base.
This also suggests that we may have to lower our expectations and accept smaller, incremental design updates for iOS.
Should Apple completely redesign iOS? Why do you think so, or why not? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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