iOS 26 is coming—and Apple just time-travelled past iOS 19

Apple could soon say goodbye to version numbers like iOS 18 and move to a simpler naming system based on the year. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company is reportedly planning to rebrand its operating systems — including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and more.

Apple will reportedly start naming their OS after the upcoming year as the version. So instead of iOS 19, we will have iOS 26.

If Apple moves forward with this shift, it would apply the same naming style across all major platforms: macOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, and even tvOS 26. Right now, we have iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15, watchOS 11, and tvOS 18.

If this turns out to be true, it might just bring more consistency to Apple’s ecosystem and make it easier for users to track which version matches which release year.

A major redesign could follow, inspired by visionOS

The report also claims that Apple is working on a significant design overhaul across its platforms. The new look is expected to be inspired by visionOS, the interface powering the Vision Pro headset.

Internally codenamed Solarium, the redesign is said to focus on more spatial and layered visuals — potentially bringing a glassy, modern UI to iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

If true, this would mark one of the most ambitious user interface updates Apple has made in years.

The last major shift happened with iOS 7, which introduced flat design. This time, Apple seems to be moving towards something more immersive and futuristic, aligning its entire ecosystem with the design language of its newest product category.

WWDC 2025 to set the stage for Apple’s software future

These changes are expected to be officially unveiled at WWDC 2025, which will run from June 9 to June 13. The keynote, scheduled for 10:30 PM IST (10 AM PT), is where Apple usually unveils new features for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and more. If Apple follows through, this year’s WWDC could not only mark a major branding shift but also a complete visual refresh across devices.

While Apple hasn’t confirmed anything yet, the timing aligns with its typical cycle of long-term design and strategy updates — and this one could reshape how users interact with the entire Apple ecosystem.