Yes you can localize an App without localizing the XIBs.
You will need to create an outlet for every label, button, textview,...
Then in the viewDidLoad
set the correct localized strings:
-(void) viewDidLoad {
[super viewDidLoad];
self.nameLabel.text = NSLocalizedString(@"name:", @"name label");
[self.saveButton setTitle:NSLocalizedString(@"save", @"Save button title.") forState:UIControlStateNormal];
}
This is the way I do it, since changing all the localized XIB will just take to long and with autolayout you can make sure that everything will fit.