Apple Unveils iOS 13 Featuring Dark Mode, Swipe Keyboard, Performance Improvements, and More

Apple today previewed iOS 13, which will introduce a new Dark Mode to iOS devices and several performance improvements across the board, including faster Face ID, slimmer downloads and updates, and quicker app launches.

ios 13 dark mode collage
‌Dark Mode‌ has been implemented across the iPhone and iPad operating system and its native apps, including the appearance of notifications, widgets, calendar, and notes. ‌Dark Mode‌ is also available to third-party app developers for integration into their own apps, and can be scheduled to turn on automatically at sunset or at a certain time.

Apple has also added a swipe to type feature to the stock iOS keyboard called QuickPath, which brings easy one-hand typing to the iOS keyboard by continuously swiping through the letters of a word, and Memoji are automatically made into sticker packs built into the iOS keyboard, so they can be used in Messages, Mail and other apps.

iOS 13 will also bring new sharing suggestions for Messages – users can automatically share a user's name and photo, or customized Memoji or Animoji, to easily identify who is in the Messages thread.

ios 13 dark mode screens 1
A new sign-in feature allows users to log in to third-party apps with their Apple ID, Notes has a new Gallery View, more powerful collaboration with shared folders, new search tools and checklist options, and time-synced lyrics are coming to the Music app.

Elsewhere, Siri has a new, more natural voice, and ‌Siri‌ Shortcuts now supports Suggested Automations that provide personalized routines for things like heading to work or going to the gym. And with AirPods, ‌Siri‌ can read incoming messages as soon as they arrive, from Messages or any SiriKit-enabled messaging app.

In addition, the Files app is gaining the ability to share folders with iCloud Drive and access files from external storage devices like SD cards and USB flash drives, while new Location Services options include a new one-time location option and more information on when apps are using location in the background.

On the performance front, ‌Face ID‌ is now 30 percent, downloads are 50 percent smaller, updates are 60 percent smaller, and app launches are twice as fast as iOS 12.


iOS 13 will also bring an easier Photos app browsing interface and new editing tools, a revamped Reminders app, and enhanced Apple Maps features.

"iOS 13 brings new capabilities to the apps you use every day, with rich updates to Photos and Maps, and privacy-protecting features like Sign In with Apple, all while delivering faster performance," said Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering. "We're excited for customers to experience what's coming to iPhone this fall and can’t wait for them to see how great everything looks in Dark Mode."

Developer betas of iOS 13 are already available, while the final public version will be released this fall.

Related Forum: iOS 13

Popular Stories

iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Coming Next Week With These New Features for Your iPhone

Friday February 14, 2025 6:18 am PST by
The first iOS 18.4 beta for iPhones should be just around the corner, and the update is expected to include many new features and changes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the iOS 18.4 beta to be released by next week. Below, we outline what to expect from iOS 18.4 so far. Apple Intelligence for Siri Siri is expected to get several enhancements powered by Apple Intelligence on iOS...
apple launch feb 2025 alt

What to Expect From the 'Apple Launch' Next Week

Thursday February 13, 2025 11:48 am PST by
Apple has yet to announce any new devices this year, but that could change starting next week. Apple CEO Tim Cook today said to "get ready" for a "launch" on Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," said Cook, in a social media post. The post includes an #AppleLaunch hashtag, along with a short video featuring an animated Apple logo inside of a circle....
apple launch feb 2025

Tim Cook Teases an 'Apple Launch' Next Wednesday

Thursday February 13, 2025 8:07 am PST by
In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an upcoming "launch" of some kind scheduled for Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," he said, with an #AppleLaunch hashtag. The post includes a short video with an animated Apple logo inside a circle. Cook did not provide an exact time for the launch, or share any other specific details, so...
iPhone 17 Pro Render Front Page Tech

iPhone 17 Pro With All-New Camera Bar Design Allegedly Revealed

Thursday February 13, 2025 5:49 pm PST by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro will feature three rear cameras arranged in a familiar triangular layout, but the cameras will be housed in an all-new rectangular camera bar with rounded corners, according to YouTube channel Front Page Tech. iPhone 17 Pro camera design render created by Asher for Front Page Tech In a video uploaded today, Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser said the camera ...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

'New' iPhone SE Product Listing Appears on French Website

Wednesday February 12, 2025 6:49 am PST by
As the wait continues for Apple's long-rumored, fourth-generation iPhone SE, French electronics retailer Boulanger has prematurely published a product listing for a "new" model of the iPhone SE. The placeholder page says the device is "coming soon," but it offers no further information, and the price shown is obviously not real. The listing was spotted by a reader of the French technology...
M4 Mac mini Apple Video

Apple's Refurbished Mac Mini Pricing Has a Problem

Thursday February 13, 2025 6:20 am PST by
Apple this week began selling refurbished Mac mini models with the M4 chip for the first time, but this has led to a pricing conundrum. In the United States, Apple is offering a refurbished Mac mini with the base M4 chip, 256GB of storage, 16GB of RAM, and Gigabit Ethernet for $509, down from $599 new. This is the standard 15% discount that Apple offers on refurbished Macs. The issue is...
iPhone 16 Apple Store

iPhone 17 in New Sizes This Year: What to Know

Thursday February 13, 2025 2:45 am PST by
Last year, Apple tweaked iPhone 16 Pro screen sizes to make them bigger than 2023's iPhone 15 Pro models, and this year we are also expecting a change in the size of the displays in the iPhone 17 lineup. Here's what we know. Standard iPhone 17 Apple could introduce a new display size for the standard iPhone 17 model in 2025. The iPhone 17 could measure in at 6.3 inches, up from 6.1 inches,...
iphone air concept weis

iPhone 17 Air Could Look Like This in Real Life

Friday February 14, 2025 3:41 am PST by
There have been several alleged leaked details of the iPhone 17 Air, Apple's rumored new slim iPhone, but images have been limited to grainy shots taken in component factories. However, this hyper-realistic concept created by WEIS Studio gives us the best idea yet of what Apple's thin device might actually look like. The concept design is inspired by recent leaks indicating that the device...

Top Rated Comments

Mick-Mac Avatar
75 months ago
All I want in the 21st century is an iPhone keyboard with an added number row across the top. ALL iOS devices have enough room to support that and I'm just so sick and tired of bouncing back and forth between alpha and numeric keyboards just to enter addresses and dates and passwords etc. It just kills me that this isn't available. Screw swiping until this happens...
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
adnbek Avatar
75 months ago
And calls that still take over the screen no matter what...

Come on Apple, you can fix this!

Imagine shooting a very important video and a call comes in. Boom! Your recording is interrupted. Awesome.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
douglasb7 Avatar
75 months ago
Have we seen all that will be delivered to the new iOS? Dark Mode is needed. But really, customizable is really lacking. This new iOS is NOT progressive or intuitive. Apple is lacking truly innovative software. This is not a .dot update... this was supposed to be huge. Very soft landing. Almost boring.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
scrapesleon Avatar
75 months ago
I think we overhype dark mode the swipe keyboard looks nice
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Zachari Avatar
75 months ago
Not sure what you mean by non intrusive phone calls, but there is a new feature that sends unrecognized numbers to voice mail. I've been using Do Not Disturb for this, but this is better because it only affects calls. And there is a new volume control. Take some time to look at Apple's iOS 13 preview page ('https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-13-preview/features/') and you might find other features they didn't have time to announce.
You’ve never gotten a call you didn’t want to answer and didn’t want to send to voicemail so you are locked on the call until it ends? Happens to me all the time. I know this isn’t just me that wants this feature.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Zachari Avatar
75 months ago
What is the big deal about dark mode? Is it an aesthetic thing?
Easier on the eyes and saves battery.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)