iOS 19 was reported to be a bigger update than previously anticipated, and a tipster has now shared more details on how Apple will enhance the multitasking capabilities of the iPhone. The iPhone never had a split-screen multitasking view, something that Android has offered for decades, but this is about to change. Apple is now aiming to one-up the competition by introducing a Stage Manager-like addition in iOS 19, which can be accessed by connecting the device to an external display.
iOS 19 will introduce external display support with a Stage Manager-like interface, enhancing multitasking and boosting iPhone productivity
While it will be an innovative feature from Apple, Samsung has been doing it for years with its DeX mode. The feature basically allowed the Galaxy S-branded smartphones to open up a whole new UI on an external display with multi-window support and much more. According to Majin Bu, iOS 19 will make your iPhone far more powerful with a Stage Manager-like multitasking feature. Bu writes on his website:
iOS 19 isn’t being left behind. Sources say iPhones with USB-C will support external displays, offering a Stage Manager-like interface. While not a full desktop mode, it will allow users to extend their screen space—great for presentations, editing, or enhanced viewing.
Currently, iOS 18 only offers screen mirroring when connected to an external display, which is good, but you cannot use it for anything other than general viewing. Having a Stage Manager-like interface on an external display in iOS 19 would be a big deal, as Apple would be looking to extend its productivity approach and move beyond the boundaries of the iPhone.
AppleRadar’s Take:
Apple is also working on its new Studio Display upgrade, and the news related to a Stage Manager-like interface in iOS 19 is quite a coincidence. Apple is also working on its foldable iPhone, which will be released to the public sometime next year, and it could be an indicator that the company is working on multitasking features for the device. The iPhone Fold currently rests in a strange, unsettling spot between the iPhone and the iPad, and Apple must implement strategic decisions to create a new niche without cannibalizing a product.
Apple should also bring dedicated split-screen view for enhanced multitasking on the iPhone, as current iteration of the operating system only allows users to open a single app at a time. Even though the company has made switching apps simpler with a sliding gesture, multi-window support could make the iPhone a beast of a productivity device. iOS 19 is also expected to launch with a major design overhaul, taking inspiration from visionOS with its glass-like translucent effects. The update will also include major Apple Intelligence upgrades, which will be available to the public in the fall.
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