Apple is preparing a large-scale rebranding of its line of operating systems. This was reported by Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, citing informed sources in the company. In the future, Apple operating systems will be designated not by version number, but by year of release. Thus, the next one after iOS 18 will not be iOS 19, but iOS 26. Other platforms will be renamed similarly: iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26 and visionOS 26.
Image Source: Apple
According to sources, the purpose of the changes is to unify branding and eliminate confusion arising from different system numbering. For example, iOS 18, watchOS 12, macOS 15 and visionOS 2 are currently relevant – such discrepancies are explained by the fact that the releases of these OSs started in different years. Apple does not officially comment on the upcoming changes.
The company is expected to unveil the new scheme at WWDC 2025, which opens on June 9. Along with the name change, Apple will also show off updated interfaces for all platforms. Internally, the new design is codenamed Solarium.
Apple’s approach is reminiscent of Samsung and Microsoft. In 2020, Samsung jumped from the Galaxy S10 to the Galaxy S20 to sync the name with the year it was released. Microsoft, for its part, used the year in the names of Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows 2000, but later abandoned that scheme.
A special feature of Apple’s strategy is that it will use the next year, not the current year. For example, operating systems released in the fall of 2025 will be named 2026. The company has used this practice before, notably for the iWork ’08 and iLife ’08 office and creative suites, introduced in 2007, and iLife ’11, released in 2010.
Apple is also reportedly planning to expand the iPad’s functionality to be closer to the Mac’s capabilities to improve its use in office scenarios. In addition, the Apple Intelligence platform will be opened to third-party developers.
Expected innovations include real-time speech translation for AirPods and Siri, as well as eye-tracking control over scrolling through lists on the Vision Pro headset. In the AI space, the company is set to introduce new health-related features, an AI-powered battery management mode, and other improvements.