Apple plans to make a dramatic shift in how it names its operating systems, jumping from iOS 18 directly to iOS 26 when it releases its next major software update in late 2025. This change will apply across all Apple operating systems, bringing a unified year-based naming system to its entire ecosystem.
The new naming convention will use the last two digits of the upcoming year, similar to how car manufacturers label their models. Software released in fall 2025 will be labeled as “26” (for 2026), rather than following the traditional sequential numbering system.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman first reported this significant change, which Apple is expected to officially announce at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) beginning June 9.
Why the Big Jump in Numbers?
The current system has created inconsistency across Apple’s platforms. Right now, different Apple operating systems use vastly different version numbers:
- iOS 18 (iPhone)
- macOS 15 (Mac computers)
- watchOS 12 (Apple Watch)
- visionOS 2 (Vision Pro headset)
This numbering disparity stems from each operating system launching at different times in Apple’s history. The new system aims to unify all platforms under a single, clear numbering scheme based on release year.
More Than Just a Name Change
Alongside this naming shift, Apple reportedly plans a major visual overhaul of all its operating systems. This project, internally codenamed “Solarium,” will draw inspiration from the Vision Pro’s visionOS interface.
Users can expect glass-like UI elements, updated icons, and streamlined navigation that creates a more cohesive experience across iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, Apple TVs, and Vision Pro headsets.
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AI Takes Center Stage
A major focus of the upcoming updates will be enhanced AI capabilities, branded as “Apple Intelligence.” Expected features include:
- A significantly upgraded Siri that better understands context and can handle complex requests
- An AI-powered Health app offering personalized wellness advice
- Intelligent battery optimization that learns from usage patterns
- Potential integration with third-party AI models from Google, Anthropic, and Perplexity
iPad Getting More “Mac-like”
Apple also plans to make the iPad more capable as a productivity device with updates designed to make iPadOS function more like macOS. This could help position the iPad as a stronger alternative to laptops for work-related tasks.
Other notable features reportedly in development include live translation for AirPods, eye-scrolling functionality for Vision Pro, a redesigned camera app, and a new dedicated gaming application.
Industry Precedent
Apple isn’t the first tech company to adopt year-based naming. Samsung made a similar change with its Galaxy phones in 2020, aligning model names with release years. Microsoft also used this approach with Windows 95 and Windows 98.
Importantly, there’s no indication that Apple plans to change its iPhone hardware naming scheme. The iPhone 17 is still expected to retain its sequential numbering when released.
The official announcement and details are anticipated at WWDC 2025, with the actual software updates likely arriving in September 2025, as per Apple’s typical release schedule.
