A new report states that alongside the long rumoured visual overhaul, all of the upcoming Apple software will be renamed to conincide with the year. This means the next iPhone and Mac operating systems will be called iOS 26 and macOS 26.
The Bloomberg report says Apple is set to announce the change along with its new software design language at WWDC on June 9, 2025. Usually, Apple launches the public versions of these operating systems in the fall, which means they’ll fully release within 2025, despite being named ’26.’ This is reminiscent of how car manufacturers date new models. Apple has done releases like this in the past, with the iWork ’11 suite of apps hitting shelves in late 2010.
The new naming scheme and design updates should extend to watchOS, tvOS, visionOS, and iPadOS. It’s a big move for branding consistency and should make it easier for regular users to know if all of their devices are up to date. Simply make sure each device is running the operating system of the year you’re in (sort of), and you’ll be good to go.
As it stands now, all the operating systems are numbered differently because they all came out at different times. Even as someone who tracks this stuff for a living, I always need to double-check which tvOS and watchOS we’re currently on because they’re not as popular. Knowing that everything needs the same number attached to it should make it easier to track.
Other updates at WWDC we expect to see include more AI tools and Apple will reportedly open up its AI models to third party developers to spur AI tools being built for Apple products.
I’m most excited to see the new designs, but beyond that, there is a rumour that the iPad is going to get better multi-tasking controls that might make it better for traditional office work. We’ve long been promised that the iPad was the computer of the future, and I think most people can work on it today if they spend time learning its quirks, but a refreshed OS that’s easier to learn could go a long way.
Source: Bloomberg
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