Apple is reportedly planning to overhaul its operating system naming convention. The iPhone-maker may move from sequential version numbers to year-based identifiers, as reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. According to him, the upcoming iOS update will be called iOS 26 instead of iOS 19, with all other operating systems following suit. The rumour caught the attention of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk . Quoting an X post by Autism Capital, Musk humorously posed a question “What happens in the year 2100?”.
The change, if implemented, is expected to extend across Apple’s entire OS lineup, including macOS, watchOS, and iPadOS. The Cupertino-based company is set to host its annual developer conference, WWDC 2025 on June 9. The upcoming releases will reportedly be branded as iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26.
Possible reason behind Apple's new naming convention
The change aims to bring consistency to Apple's software branding and eliminate confusion among customers and developers. Currently, different operating systems use disparate version numbers—iOS 18 runs alongside watchOS 12, macOS 15, and visionOS 2—because their initial versions didn't launch simultaneously.
Apple's approach mirrors the automotive industry's model year system, using the upcoming year rather than the current one. Since the software will launch in September 2025, it carries the 2026 designation. This strategy echoes Microsoft's Windows 95 and Windows 98 naming convention, as well as Samsung's decision to rebrand its Galaxy S series with year-based numbers starting with the Galaxy S20 in 2020.
iOS 26 what to expect
Apple’s rebranding of its operating systems is expected to coincide with a sweeping redesign of software interfaces across its product ecosystem. Internally code-named "Solarium," the update will introduce a more unified user experience across tvOS, watchOS, and parts of visionOS, making it easier for users to transition between devices.
Among the key features rumored to arrive with the new operating systems are live translation for AirPods and Siri, eye-tracking and scrolling capabilities for Vision Pro users, and productivity-focused enhancements for the iPad, aimed at making it function more like a Mac in professional settings.
In a major step toward opening its ecosystem, Apple also plans to give third-party developers access to its artificial intelligence models, enabling broader integration of the technology behind the upcoming Apple Intelligence platform.
What happens in the year 2100?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 29, 2025
The change, if implemented, is expected to extend across Apple’s entire OS lineup, including macOS, watchOS, and iPadOS. The Cupertino-based company is set to host its annual developer conference, WWDC 2025 on June 9. The upcoming releases will reportedly be branded as iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26.
Possible reason behind Apple's new naming convention
The change aims to bring consistency to Apple's software branding and eliminate confusion among customers and developers. Currently, different operating systems use disparate version numbers—iOS 18 runs alongside watchOS 12, macOS 15, and visionOS 2—because their initial versions didn't launch simultaneously.
Apple's approach mirrors the automotive industry's model year system, using the upcoming year rather than the current one. Since the software will launch in September 2025, it carries the 2026 designation. This strategy echoes Microsoft's Windows 95 and Windows 98 naming convention, as well as Samsung's decision to rebrand its Galaxy S series with year-based numbers starting with the Galaxy S20 in 2020.
iOS 26 what to expect
Apple’s rebranding of its operating systems is expected to coincide with a sweeping redesign of software interfaces across its product ecosystem. Internally code-named "Solarium," the update will introduce a more unified user experience across tvOS, watchOS, and parts of visionOS, making it easier for users to transition between devices.
Among the key features rumored to arrive with the new operating systems are live translation for AirPods and Siri, eye-tracking and scrolling capabilities for Vision Pro users, and productivity-focused enhancements for the iPad, aimed at making it function more like a Mac in professional settings.
In a major step toward opening its ecosystem, Apple also plans to give third-party developers access to its artificial intelligence models, enabling broader integration of the technology behind the upcoming Apple Intelligence platform.
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