Apple Rebrands iOS to iOS 26: Biggest OS Naming Shift in Company History

Apple is about to make the biggest branding change in its software history. According to multiple reports, including Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple will rename all its major operating systems to reflect the year of release — starting with iOS 26. That means iOS 18 is out, and iOS 26 is in — along with macOS 26, watchOS 26, iPadOS 26, tvOS 26, and a huge leap to visionOS 26 from visionOS 2. The official announcement is expected during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025, kicking off June 9. The goal? A more consistent, forward-looking approach to versioning — and a major UI overhaul across Apple’s ecosystem under the internal codename Solarium.

Why the Change?

Apple wants to eliminate confusion caused by inconsistent version numbers across platforms. iOS 18, watchOS 12, and macOS 15 were all current at the same time — but launched years apart. Moving to a unified naming scheme based on the year — 2026 in this case — provides clarity for both users and developers.

This is similar to what Microsoft did in the 90s (e.g., Windows 95, Windows 98) and what Samsung did in 2020 with the Galaxy S20.

What’s Coming in iOS 26?

While the new naming scheme is a headline in itself, Apple isn’t stopping there. Here are some rumored features:

• Redesigned UI inspired by visionOS for a futuristic and unified Apple experience

• Desktop Mode: Use your iPhone with an external display like a mini computer

• AI-Powered Battery Life enhancements to optimize performance

• Live Translation for AirPods: Real-time in-ear translations for seamless communication

• Apple Intelligence Updates: Though still behind rivals, improvements are expected

WWDC 2025 Schedule

WWDC will run from June 9 to June 13, with the keynote at 10 a.m. PT on June 9. Expect Apple CEO Tim Cook to unveil the software rebrand and showcase the redesigned experience live from Apple Park.