Introduction to Apple’s Operating System Overhaul

It appears that Apple is planning to give its operating systems a significant overhaul this year, not just in terms of visuals and usability. Traditionally, the next major versions of iOS and iPadOS would be followed by the number 19, and Macs would move onto macOS 15, continuing the numbering system Apple has used for many years.

Potential Changes in Numbering System

However, according to Bloomberg, this could be about to change. The next versions of the operating systems may be earmarked by the year, according to the publication’s sources. This means that instead of the traditional numbering, we could soon see the debut of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26.

Alignment with Release Year

The numbers would align with the year after each major OS release, since Apple typically rolls out the first public versions of those each fall. Therefore, the versions of iOS, iPadOS, and so on that arrive this September or October may be named after 2026.

Confirmation at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference

We will know for sure whether this shift is happening on June 9, when the keynote of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference takes place. It is widely expected that Apple will be giving its operating systems a major user interface overhaul to deliver a more unified experience across various devices.

Benefits of the New Branding Strategy

Aligning the branding of all the various operating systems seems like a wise move. Currently, the software powering Apple Watch devices is up to watchOS 11, and Apple Vision Pro is running visionOS 2, which can be confusing. Applying the same numbering to all of the operating systems and aligning it with the release year should make things easier for everyone to keep up with.