Here’s a detailed look at Apple’s new naming strategy for its operating systems…and why the version numbers now match the year — but not the current one.
What’s changing?
At WWDC 2025, Apple announced that iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS will now follow a year-based naming convention, starting with “26”, not the next sequential version numbers
Instead of “iOS 19”, “macOS 16”, or “watchOS 13”, we’ll see iOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26
Why “26” and not “25”?
Apple is following vehicle-style model-year naming: an OS shipping in fall 2025 bears the label 2026, just like a “2026 model car” that appears in late 2025 .
What’s the rationale?
Branding consistency across OSes
Before, each OS had its own numbering system: iOS 18, watchOS 12, macOS 15, etc., which confused users and developers
Easier to remember
A unified “26” clearly signals that all platforms are on the same current generation
Stronger marketing narrative
Tying a major OS release to the upcoming calendar year emphasizes new features and support for that year
Potential confusion & questions
Jump in numbering;
Skipping from iOS 18 to iOS 26 may initially feel jarring—even users on Reddit commented, “That is not confusing at all” and “Windows 95 was right all along”
Minor and point releases
How will Apple label updates like iOS 26.1? It’s unclear—will “.1” indicate the first point update or January of the year?
Mismatch with hardware names
There may be a discord: for example, iOS 26 paired with iPhone 17, as the hardware naming hasn’t shifted.
Precedents and what’s next
The “model-year” naming style is common in the auto industry and even seen in software like Samsung Galaxy models .
Apple is expected to continue this annually—iOS 27 in 2027, macOS 27, etc.
While this simplifies OS naming, Apple hasn’t signaled any similar update for iPhone hardware, leaving some branding inconsistencies unresolved .
Bottom line
Before. After
iOS 18 in 2025 iOS 26 in 2025/26
macOS Sequoia (v15) macOS Tahoe 26
watchOS 12 watchOS 26
Various OSes with mismatched versions All OSes on version 26 in Fall 2025
Pros: Unified naming, easier recognition for users and developers, strong marketing alignment.
Cons: Big jump in numbers, uncertainty over minor-release naming, potential confusion with hardware branding.
Going Forward
The first public betas of iOS 26 & macOS Tahoe 26 are rolling out now; final releases expected in Fall 2025
Expect follow-up coverage about how Apple handles point updates, and whether they extend this model to iPhone names.
This change marks a notable shift in Apple’s OS branding—a move toward clarity and simplicity, even if it feels a bit strange at first.
