Apple will not only be overhauling the design of its operating systems this year, it is also revamping the way it numbers them, reports Bloomberg. The report says that from now on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS will be numbered by year, not their version number. That means instead of unveiling iOS 19 in June at WWDC2024, Apple will instead debut iOS 26.
In addition to iOS 26, we’ll also see iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26 unveiled instead of iPadOS 19, macOS 16, tvOS 19, watchOS 12, and visionOS 3, as was expected.
Apple’s changing the naming conventions of its operating systems is an attempt to bring consistency to its branding to cut down on the confusion caused by the current naming convention. Apple’s current operating systems, including iOS 18, watchOS 12, macOS 15 and visionOS 2, all use different version numbers because they didn’t all debut at the same time.
From now on, Apple’s operating systems will use the same numbering convention as automobile and trucks, which use the number of the upcoming year, so we’ll see iOS 26 debut instead of iOS 25 because the update will be available across both 2025 and 2026.
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 announce the new naming scheme at the Worldwide Developers Conference 2024, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 9.
