Apple is rumored to be changing its software naming strategy, potentially skipping iOS 19, a move that could prove beneficial.
The current naming convention for Apple’s software can be confusing. We have iOS 18, watchOS 11, and macOS 15, with no clear indication of the oldest platform (which is macOS). A new report from Bloomberg suggests that Apple is planning to revamp this system, starting with what was expected to be iOS 19.
Goodbye iOS 19, hello iOS 26
According to Mark Gurman, Apple is set to introduce significant changes to its software naming across all devices. From the next versions onwards, each new platform will be identified by its year. This means we’ll have iOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26.
This new approach makes sense as it will provide a clear indication of when a platform was released. It will simplify the differentiation of various legacy platforms moving forward.
Apple is expected to announce this change at WWDC 2025 on June 9, along with a new unified user interface across all Apple devices.
Apple
Apple’s rivals have set the precedent
Apple is not the first tech company to adopt this naming strategy. In 2020, Samsung began naming its flagship Galaxy S smartphones based on the year of release, as seen with the Samsung Galaxy S25. Microsoft also followed a similar approach with Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows 2000.
It’s important to note that Apple will use the following year for its naming scheme, not the actual release year of the platform. While Microsoft eventually deviated from this system with Windows 11, Apple’s new approach aims to provide clarity and consistency.
