Apple is reportedly preparing to rename all of its major operating systems in a shift of branding strategy that will debut at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025.
According to a Bloomberg report, the Cupertino-based tech giant plans to ditch the current sequential version numbering (like iOS 18 and macOS 15) in favor of year-based version names, starting with iOS 26, macOS 26, and their ecosystem counterparts.
What’s Changing?
Instead of simply increasing version numbers by one each year, Apple will now align the naming of its software releases with the following calendar year. This is similar to the way automakers name their new car models.
For instance:
- iOS 19 will now be iOS 26.
- iPadOS 19 becomes iPadOS 26.
- macOS 15 becomes macOS 26.
- watchOS 12, tvOS 18, and visionOS 2 will all be renamed to version 26.
This move will unify the version numbers across Apple’s entire ecosystem, making it easier for users, developers, and marketers to track and understand software generations.
Currently, the version numbers across Apple’s platforms are inconsistent due to their differing launch timelines.
For example, iOS 18, watchOS 12, and visionOS 2 are all current versions, leading to a fragmented perception of software maturity and evolution.
A New Look Inspired by visionOS.
At WWDC 2025, Apple is also expected to unveil a major visual redesign across all its platforms, drawing inspiration from visionOS, the operating system powering the Vision Pro headset.
Codenamed “Solarium,” this UI overhaul will include
- Translucent panels and glass-like elements
- Rounded icons and modernized system typography
- A more spatial, immersive interface aesthetic
- Design consistency across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch, Apple TV, and Vision Pro
Apple is set to announce the naming shift and UI redesign during its WWDC keynote on June 9, at 1 PM ET. While the official public release of the updates is expected in Fall 2025, the naming convention will jump ahead to 2026, aligning with Apple’s new year-based strategy.
For developers, this unified versioning makes it easier to communicate and align software features across platforms. For users, the update is a more streamlined and predictable experience, both visually and structurally.
