iOS 26, iPadOS 26, more: Apple to reportedly mark operating systems by year

Apple is revising the naming of its operating systems to create consistency across platforms and reduce confusion, according to Bloomberg report

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Apple is reportedly planning to change the naming convention for all its operating systems. According to a report by 9to5Google, citing Bloomberg, the upcoming iOS update will not be called iOS 19 as previously expected. Instead, it will be branded as iOS 26, part of a new year-based naming strategy. The change will apply across Apple’s ecosystem, including iPadOS 26 for iPads, macOS 26 for Macs, watchOS 26 for the Watch series, and more. 

Apple is expected to officially announce these new names at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), scheduled to begin on June 9. 

Apple OS: Expected new names

• iOS 26 (instead of iOS 19)
• iPadOS 26 (instead of iPadOS 19)
• macOS 26 (instead of macOS 16)
• watchOS 26 (instead of watchOS 12)
• tvOS 26 (instead of tvOS 19)
• visionOS 26 (instead of visionOS 3)

 

According to Bloomberg, Apple’s goal is to bring consistency across its platforms and make the branding easier to follow for both customers and developers. The move is reportedly part of a broader strategy to streamline its product ecosystem.

WWDC 2025: What to expect

At WWDC, Apple is expected to introduce major visual changes across its entire lineup—not just iOS, macOS, and iPadOS, but also watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS. The redesign will be inspired by visionOS, featuring glass-like UI elements, updated icons, and more streamlined navigation to create a consistent visual language across devices.

Key expected announcements include: 

• AI-powered features: Intelligent battery optimisation that learns from user habits, along with a new lock screen indicator showing estimated charging time. 
• Health app overhaul: AI-powered coaching system offering personalised wellness advice, expert-led video content, and improved fitness tracking. 
• Redesigned Camera app: Incorporates a transparent, glass-like interface influenced by visionOS, with simplified controls.
• Siri upgrade: A major overhaul to make Siri more intuitive and context-aware. It will support complex prompts, in-app actions, on-screen awareness, and personalised assistance. 
• Third-party AI integration: Apple is reportedly in talks with companies such as Google, Anthropic, and Perplexity to integrate their AI models—like Gemini and Claude—alongside or in place of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in its Apple Intelligence suite.