This year, Apple may launch iOS 26 instead of the generally expected iOS 19.
This is based on a new report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who claims Apple is doing major brands on all its operating systems, which will be determined by the year rather than the version number.
This means that in 2025, Apple may launch iOS 26, MacOS 26, WatchOS 26, TVOS 26 and Visionos 26.
This is a big deal for Apple, which only changed the branding of iOS – the first three versions were called iPhone OS, and Apple switched to iOS in 2010. The company retains its naming plan until 2024.
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Older tech nerds will also remember that Microsoft used to identify its Windows operating system before 1995, 1998, and 2000, although later switched to version number (the latest version is Windows 11).
For Apple, the change does make sense. The company’s operating system currently has no consistent naming plan – Apple’s current version of mobile operating system is iOS 18 compared to MacOS 15 and Visionos 2.
However, if the report is accurate, Apple will use next year’s operating system, which means the release of 2025 will be called “26”, and so on.
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According to Gurman, Apple will announce the change at a global developer conference that will begin on June 9.
However, it’s more than just a name. Apple is reportedly introducing a new look on its operating system, which we heard in previous reports.
