Apple Reportedly Changing Software Naming System: iOS 26, Not iOS 19, Is Next

Apple may be on the verge of a big change in the way the company names its software updates -- and it's an approach that may seem familiar to anyone who's familiar with Windows 95 or a '57 Chevy. Bloomberg reported Wednesday that Apple is rebranding its operating systems by using the last two digits of the upcoming year. So the current iOS 18 will be replaced by iOS 26, not iOS 19, when it arrives in the fall of 2025. A representative for Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Bloomberg cites unidentified sources who say that the additional updates will take the names iPadOS 26, MacOS 26, WatchOS 26, TVOS 26 and VisionOS 26. According to the sources, the hope is to bring consistency to Apple's branding and remove confusion. Bloomberg notes that current operating systems, including iOS 18, WatchOS 12, MacOS 15 and VisionOS 2, use different numbers since they didn't debut at the same time. The company is expected to announce the name change and more cohesive user i ... Read full article.