It appears that Apple is actually planning to ignore its current operating system numbering format in favor of a yearly numbering system, much like the one used by automobile manufacturers.
On Wednesday, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said Apple would be unveiling iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26 unveiled at WWDC 2025 instead of iPadOS 19, macOS 16, tvOS 19, watchOS 12, and visionOS 3, as was expected.
Gurman’s report has since been corroborated by AppleInsider Associate Editor Marko Zivkovic.
“I can independently confirm that Apple’s ’26’ version branding is real,” he said, in a post shared on X on Wednesday.
I can independently confirm that Apple’s “26” version branding is real.
The change is buried within OS distributions tho, not visible at first glance.
Internal versions of macOS tested this week are labeled “macOS 16” in some places, and macOS 26 in others.
— Marko Zivkovic (@MarkozNewz) May 28, 2025
“But wait,” you say. “Isn’t this 2025? Why not call it iOS 25?” Apple will be using the same year-ahead numbering system automakers use. This fall, we’ll see new 2026 models of the new Ford, GM, Toyota, KIA, etc. lineups arriving at dealerships, even though its 2025.
Yes, iOS 26, not iOS 25. Even though iOS 26 is likely to be released in September 2025, it would be the current version for the majority of 2026. Gurman said Apple will be using a year-ahead naming convention, similar to car makers. For example, the 2025 Honda Civic began arriving to dealerships in late 2024, even though it has 2025 branding.
The naming convention will be used across all of Apple’s operating systems, including macOS. Zivkovic noted that internal versions of macOS tested this week were still labeled macOS 16 in some places, but macOS 26 in others.
The names of Apple’s next operating systems, according to Gurman:
- iOS 26 (would’ve been iOS 19)
- iPadOS 26 (would’ve been iPadOS 19)
- macOS 26 (would’ve been macOS 19)
- watchOS 26 (would’ve been watchOS 19)
- tvOS 26 (would’ve been tvOS 19)
- visionOS 26 (would’ve been visionOS 19)
The new numbering system will also reflect the more unified design Apple will use across its operating systems on its device lineups. We expect to see a refreshed visionOS-like design coming to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS.
Apple will unveil its updated operating systems at the Worldwide Developers Conference 2025, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 9.
