Apple's New Naming Strategy: From iOS 19 to iOS 26

Apple is reportedly planning to transition its operating system (OS) versioning to a year-based naming convention, starting with the upcoming releases. This means that instead of releasing iOS 19, the next version will be named iOS 26, aligning with the year 2026.

This change, expected to be officially announced at the WWDC on June 9, 2025, aims to streamline and unify the versioning across all Apple platforms, including iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS.

Public releases happen in September–October alongside new iPhones and hardware. Those OS versions then remain the current, supported versions for most of the next 12 months. Apple is using “26” because the OS released in late 2025 will be the primary version used throughout 2026.

Reasons for the Shift:

• Consistency Across Platforms: Currently, Apple’s operating systems have disparate version numbers (e.g., iOS 18, watchOS 12, visionOS 2), which can be confusing for users and developers. Adopting a year-based system aligns all platforms under a common versioning scheme, simplifying understanding and communication.

• Enhanced User Clarity: Year-based naming makes it easier for users to identify the recency of their software, facilitating better decisions regarding updates and compatibility across devices.

• Alignment with Industry Practices: This approach mirrors strategies used by other tech companies. For instance, Microsoft has used year-based names like Windows 95 and Windows 98, and Samsung shifted from Galaxy S10 to Galaxy S20 in 2020. Such naming conventions help in marketing and provide a clear timeline of product evolution.

• Preparation for Major Updates: The versioning change coincides with significant updates across Apple’s platforms, including design overhauls inspired by visionOS and new features like AI-powered tools, live translation for AirPods and Siri, and enhanced productivity capabilities for iPadOS.

Several companies have adopted year-based naming conventions for their products, aiming to enhance clarity, align with release cycles, and bolster marketing efforts. Here are some notable examples:

• Microsoft transitioned to year-based naming with releases like Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows 2000.
• In 2020, Samsung shifted its flagship smartphone naming from the Galaxy S10 to the Galaxy S20, aligning the model number with the release year.
• Ubuntu, a popular Linux distribution, employs a calendar-based versioning system. For instance, Ubuntu 18.04 was released in April 2018.
• Adobe’s Illustrator 88, released in 1988, is an early example of year-based naming. This strategy was used to highlight the software’s modernity and relevance at the time.

Apple’s recent decision to implement a similar strategy across its operating systems reflects this ongoing evolution in product naming conventions.

As an Apple developer, it’s important to stay informed about this potential change, as it may impact how you reference OS versions in your applications and documentation. Monitoring the announcements from WWDC 2025 will provide clarity and guidance on adapting to this new naming convention.