Apple Overhauls its Operating Systems, Adopts Year-Based Version Labels

[AleksandarK]

Apple will introduce a significant change to its software naming at WWDC 2025, replacing sequential version numbers with names based on the year following each release. This adjustment will apply across all of Apple's operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS. Under the new plan, iOS 18 will be rebranded as "iOS 26," while iPadOS 19 will become "iPadOS 26," macOS 16 will adopt "macOS 26," and watchOS 13 will shift to "watchOS 26." Apple TV's operating system will appear as "tvOS 26," and the Vision Pro headset will run "visionOS 26." By choosing the upcoming year rather than the current one, Apple intends to align its naming convention with its customary fall release schedule. Apple hopes that this change will simplify its ecosystem and help users and developers recognize the connection among updates across devices.

At the same time, Apple plans to unveil a refreshed user interface design, internally named "Solarium." All platforms will share a brighter palette and more consistent layout elements, making transitions between iPhone, iPad, Mac, and other devices feel more natural. New features expected this fall include an AI-powered battery optimization mode, an intelligent health assistant, live translation capabilities for AirPods, and innovative input options such as a bidirectional Arabic-English keyboard and a digital calligraphy tool for Apple Pencil. This naming strategy echoes earlier choices by Samsung and Microsoft. In 2020, Samsung branded its Galaxy S line with the year of release, while in the 1990s, Microsoft used calendar years for Windows 95 and Windows 98. Apple's approach differs in that it names software for the year ahead, much like how automakers market their upcoming models and could roll forward in future releases as "27" and beyond.



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[hsew]

Seems sensible.

 

[phints]

Makes sense but numbering is odd, I would think it would start as iOS 25 and go from there. iOS 18 as 26? Does that mean iOS 27 will come out in Sept 2025? Oh well. We’ll see soon enough.

 

[QuietBob]

At the same time, Apple plans to unveil a refreshed user interface design, internally named "Solarium."

Always thought Apple and solarium are a perfect match

 

[JohH]

Oh god. I'm going to hate whatever UI changes they make. I'm sure of it.
So unfortunate that Apple is dead-set on making MacOS more like iOS. They know that the operating systems should remain separate; so should the UI. MacOS ill needs to ape more iOSisms.

 

[umdterps71]

Makes sense but numbering is odd, I would think it would start as iOS 25 and go from there. iOS 18 as 26? Does that mean iOS 27 will come out in Sept 2025? Oh well. We’ll see soon enough.

iOS 19 will now be 26. It’s 26 instead of 25 because it‘ll be the newest OS for more of 26 than 25 since the release date is in September each year. Similar to how car manufacturers date their models.

 

[Rightness_1]

This one actually makes sense.

 

[phints]

iOS 19 will now be 26. It’s 26 instead of 25 because it‘ll be the newest OS for more of 26 than 25 since the release date is in September each year. Similar to how car manufacturers date their models.

Ok then it's a typo above from TPU.

 

[Rightness_1]

Oh god. I'm going to hate whatever UI changes they make. I'm sure of it.
So unfortunate that Apple is dead-set on making MacOS more like iOS. They know that the operating systems should remain separate; so should the UI. MacOS ill needs to ape more iOSisms.

It's rumoured to look like Vision OS.