Apple has paused development on upcoming software updates for iPhone, iPad, Mac and other devices in order to address performance issues and bugs. The temporary halt, internally announced last week, aims to improve quality control after early versions saw an influx of flaws.
Engineers have shifted focus from adding new features to fixing bugs and boosting overall software performance. Apple’s operating systems are renowned for sleek design, user-friendly controls and strong privacy protections, making performance essential.
In recent years, Apple has emphasized quality even if it meant delaying features. In 2018, engineering lead Craig Federighi postponed iPhone capabilities to address bugginess. In 2019, he overhauled development approaches to further prevent problems.
While recent software releases have seen improvements, the latest development cycle faced too many lingering issues or “escapes.” In response, management paused all feature development for one week to resolve bugs across operating systems.
With thousands working on interconnected software and devices, glitches can easily emerge. The company recently completed first versions of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15 and other 2023 updates. Work on the next iterations has been temporarily halted.
The pause impacts visionOS for Apple’s upcoming VR headset among others. However, consumer release timelines are unlikely to shift. Apple plans to lift the hold this week and remains on track for its typical September software launch following June previews.
