Apple Reportedly Ditching Version Numbers for Year-Based OS Names: Meet iOS 26

Apple Reportedly Ditching Version Numbers for Year-Based OS Names: Meet iOS 26

In a major rebranding move, Apple is reportedly planning to abandon its traditional version-numbering scheme for its operating systems in favor of a year-based naming system, starting this year. According to Bloomberg, the change will be officially unveiled at WWDC 2025 on June 9, alongside the debut of the company’s next-gen software platforms.

That means what would have been iOS 19 is now expected to launch this fall as iOS 26—with corresponding names like:

  • iPadOS 26

  • macOS 26

  • watchOS 26

  • tvOS 26

  • visionOS 26

The shift aligns OS versions across Apple’s ecosystem with a single year-based number, aiming to simplify things for both consumers and developers.

Why the Change?

Apple's current software naming system reflects each platform’s original release timeline:

  • iOS is at version 18

  • macOS is at 15

  • watchOS is at 11

  • visionOS is just at 2

This inconsistency can be confusing, particularly for developers building cross-platform apps or marketing to end users.

According to sources familiar with Apple’s thinking, the new strategy:

  • Unifies the OS ecosystem under a consistent naming convention

  • Signals a new era of Apple software design, marked by broader convergence

  • Mirrors naming decisions seen at other tech firms like Microsoft (Windows 95, Windows 11) and Samsung (Galaxy S20 onward)

Apple has actually used this approach before with software bundles like iLife '08 and iWork '09, so the idea isn’t without precedent.

A More Cohesive Software Experience

This year’s name shift won’t be cosmetic only. The updated software suite will also feature a fresh user interface, codenamed Solarium, designed to bring Apple’s platforms closer in look and feel—particularly taking cues from the visionOS UI found on the Apple Vision Pro headset.

Expect Solarium to include:

  • More fluid, spatial UI elements

  • Visual consistency between iOS, macOS, and iPadOS

  • Updated animations, windowing behavior, and controls inspired by Apple’s mixed-reality platform

More Than Just a Rebrand

The software updates launching as "26" versions will also include meaningful new features:

  • An AI-powered battery management system

  • A live translation mode for AirPods

  • Eye-scrolling control for Vision Pro

  • An AI health coach and AI-enabled journaling

  • A new bidirectional Arabic-English keyboard

  • A calligraphy-focused Apple Pencil input mode

Apple also plans to make iPadOS more Mac-like, potentially unlocking new capabilities like enhanced multitasking, app side-loading, or external display improvements. Additionally, third-party developers will reportedly get access to Apple's AI models via a new API layer.

When Will It Launch?

The “26” series of operating systems—iOS 26, macOS 26, and so on—are expected to be:

  • Announced on June 9 at WWDC 2025

  • Released in public beta over the summer

  • Officially launched around September 2025

Final Thoughts

While a name change alone doesn’t make software better, Apple’s move to a year-based OS naming system could mark the beginning of a more unified, intuitive Apple ecosystem. For users, it simplifies what version they’re using. For developers, it flattens cross-platform complexity. And for Apple, it’s a branding refresh that syncs with a major UI overhaul, more open developer tools, and AI-first features across the board.

iOS 26, macOS 26, and friends may not just feel new—they’ll sound new too.

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