Instead of continuing to increase the number of versions as it is now, Apple plans to link the version number to the release year in a similar way to the auto industry.
Accordingly, the operating systems will be named after the year they are officially introduced. This means that the next version of iOS will not be iOS 19 as expected, but will be called iOS 26. Other operating systems will also be renamed similarly, including iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26.
The goal of this change is to create consistency in the digitization of software versions. Currently, Apple's operating system has a rather disjointed naming system, such as iOS 18 for iPhone, watchOS 12, and VisionOS 2, making it more difficult for users and developers to identify and track versions.
Apple is expected to officially announce this change at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which will open on June 9 with an opening speech at 1:00 a.m. Hanoi time. At this event, Apple is also expected to introduce a major upgrade to the user interface of operating systems, inspired by the visionOS interface on the Vision Pro device.
Synchronizing the naming method not only helps simplify Apple's software product marketing strategy, but also reflects the trend of linking software with generations of products year-on-year, creating more consistency between the company's platforms. This change is also considered a step to emphasize the increasingly important role of software in the Apple ecosystem.
