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Apple is set to overhaul its operating system naming conventions, transitioning to a year-based approach according to Bloomberg. This change will debut with the upcoming iOS 26, which was expected to be named iOS 19 as a follow on from iOS 18. Apple is expected to announce the new operating system at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 9, 2025.
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The name change will also impact Apple’s other operating systems, including macOS, watchOS and visionOS. Historically, Apple’s operating systems have followed independent versioning sequences depending on their different stages of development. For example, visionOS was followed by visionOS 2.
But the new approach will synchronise version numbers with the calendar year following their release. Consequently, the next iterations of iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS will also adopt the ’26’ suffix.
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Conventions like this exist in other industries like car manufacturing and Apple’s move also draws some similarities to Samsung’s approach to naming. Their flagship phone names coincide with their release year; the Samsung S25 Ultra was released in 2025 and so on.
Anticipated Features in iOS 26
We’re hoping that there is more to WWDC than the naming shift, because Apple seriously needs some substantially positive news. iOS 26 is expected to introduce a significant redesign influenced by visionOS. Reported enhancements include dynamic icons, softer interface curves, haptic feedback integration, floating navigation bars, and layered transparencies. Core applications like Camera and Messages are also slated for layout and functionality improvements.
Previous reports and rumours have suggested that iOS 26 will be the biggest overhaul to iOS for years with attempts to differentiate it further from Android operating systems that have grown closer to Apple’s software design philosophy.
