New accessibility features rumored for iOS 18 & macOS 15

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in iOS edited March 8

Apple is rumored to be working on accessibility features like voice-activated shortcuts, Live Speech categories, and improved font size control across the system in iOS 18 and macOS 15.

An iPad and two iPhones showing accessibility features that simplify the UI with big icons or speak via Live Speech
Apple is always working to improve accessibility



Apple's annual Worldwide Developer Conference is approaching fast, so rumors about what's coming next are already leaking out. Accessibility features tend to be announced ahead of WWDC, so it is likely that these features are entering the final development stages first, making them more likely to leak.

According to industry sources speaking to MacRumors on Thursday, a few new accessibility features are coming to iOS 18 and macOS 15. These include Voice Shortcuts, categories for Live Speech, and improved font size control.

Voice Shortcuts would allow users to map an accessibility feature to a spoken phrase. This isn't dissimilar to Siri Shortcuts, but likely eliminates the need to say a wake phrase like "Hey, Siri" before stating the Voice Shortcut.

Apple already has a feature like this on Apple Vision Pro called Sound Actions. Users can map system actions and Shortcuts to sounds like hissing or clucking.

The rumor suggests that Voice Shortcuts will be limited to accessibility feature activation like VoiceOver, Voice Control, and others.

Live Speech allows users to create phrases that can be spoken by the machine. The feature is getting an organization upgrade with categories labeled by 20 available icons.

Apple previously announced Personal Voice for Live Speech, which allows users to synthesize a version of their voice for machine speaking. Categories will help find frequently used phrases faster, increasing accessibility and usability.

The last rumored feature pertains to font sizing. iOS and macOS already let users adjust the font on a per-app basis, but the app has to support it. Some of Apple's system apps don't support the feature yet, but will with the fall updates.

macOS 15 will gain font control for Books, News, and Stocks. Users can already adjust the font in Calendar, Finder, Mail, Messages, and Notes.

There may even be a new feature that will allow users to adjust the macOS menu bar font.

Any, all, or none of these rumored features could make it to iOS 18 and macOS 15. Apple tests many features internally, and there is no guarantee that they will be released.

WWDC has historically been held the first or second week of June. The pre-recorded event will likely have a limited in-person component, so expect a date announcement by May to allow for travel plans.

Rumor Score: Possible

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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 5
    FaragoFarago Posts: 1member
    If this pans out, I will bow down and kiss the ground.
    I have a 4K monitor (unlike Apple's "solution" for small font sizes—change your 4K monitor resolution into a 3K resolution), I run at full resolution, and the lack of system-wide font control makes for an execrable user experience.
    Practically every email message must be zoomed to be able to be read.
    Various apps have almost unreadable controls.
    And, the piece de resistance is Console—completely unreadable.

    They've stonewalled us on this for years.


    gregoriusmwilliamlondon
  • Reply 2 of 5
    Massiveattack87Massiveattack87 Posts: 85member
    It is ok.
    I hope Apple has more to show. 
    Even if it is a practical and user-friendly move, I do not consider it as "breakthrough" like Tim mentioned. 
    williamlondon
  • Reply 3 of 5
    Stabitha_ChristieStabitha_Christie Posts: 441member
    Massiveattack87 said:
    It is ok.
    I hope Apple has more to show. 
    Even if it is a practical and user-friendly move, I do not consider it as "breakthrough" like Tim mentioned. 
    He said breakthrough for AI. This is about accessibility. You are confusing two different things. 
    williamlondonStrangeDays
  • Reply 4 of 5
    robin huberrobin huber Posts: 3,964member
    The most useful accessibility feature Apple could create would be a full-on hearing aid based on the AirPod Pro platform. The current accessibility features that are built-in are basically useless to anyone with even moderate hearing loss. It’s such a natural product for such an application because many of us resist getting hearing aids out of vanity—they scream “old!” But wearing ear buds is cool. Also, bigger, more visible hearing aids have the best sound, but I got the hidden in-ear ones out of vanity. With big ol’ honkin’ AirPods I could look cool AND have great sound. 
    edited March 8 Afarstarwilliamlondon
  • Reply 5 of 5
    cornchipcornchip Posts: 1,950member
    What about better parental controls?
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