Apple is facing delays for a significant portion of the features promised in its next major software update, iOS 19. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg reported that many innovations that were initially planned for iOS 19 have been pushed back to future iOS 19.4, in spring 2026. It is a big switch in Apple’s typical release strategy.
Feature delays are not unusual, but these postponements have made the scale of them notable. This is beyond just the highly anticipated Siri LLM, Gurman suggested, and part of a broader challenge Apple faces building in its development process.
New Siri Redefined for iOS 19.4
The Siri evolution is quite an important part of the iOS 19 roadmap. Siri is being footed into a more conversational and intelligent assistant by Apple. The development of Siri using LLMs is supposed to make it capable of performing more complex tasks and mimic AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini.
Under the new strand, Siri would become ‘LLM Siri and would allow continuous, natural conversations. This advanced functionality will not be experienced by users until spring 2026, when iOS 19.4 is released, just months ahead of the unveiling of iOS 20.
Apple’s Delay Playbook for iOS Updates
This mirrors Apple’s approach with iOS 18, which pushed back on a variety of features until the next updates. For example, Siri integration with ChatGPT was launched in iOS 18.2, and there will be more updates coming in iOS 18.4 next spring. The staged releases imply Apple’s priorities consider a great product ahead of a public launch.
iOS 19 and iPhone 17
Apple expected to unveil iOS 19, at its annual WWDC event in June 2025. The launch will roll out the first public version of the iPhone 17 models in September along with the iPhone 17 models. The fall release of a new iPhone, perhaps the iPhone 17 Air, brings excitement as it brings an all-new form factor.
The delayed iOS 19.4 features including updated Siri will come closer to the iPhone 18 launch, bridging the gap between major hardware and software updates.
Apple AI Roadmap
The waiting for a thoroughly updated Siri means the company wants to proceed with caution when it comes to innovation. After this, iPhone users will rely on external services like ChatGPT and Google Gemini for advanced AI interactions until iOS 19.4.
Apple may be a little behind schedule on delivering iOS 19, but the big features that are coming in future updates from its loyal fanbase help make waiting worth it. As the need for smart digital assistants grows, the transition to more conversational and human-like AI in Siri indicates the path to future big leaps in AI technology.
Apple used its timeline shift to signal its attempt to release polished features rather than push innovations. With the iPhone 14 released and iOS 19 just around the corner, the hype is growing for iOS 19.4.
