Apple to Skip iOS 19 and Jump Straight to iOS 26, Says Report

Apple is preparing a major shake-up in how it names its operating systems, according to people familiar with the company’s plans, reports Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman (who continues to slowly leak details from WWDC).

Starting later this year, Apple will reportedly move away from version numbers like iOS 18 and switch to a year-based naming format—meaning the next release will be called iOS 26, despite launching in 2025.

Sources say the new naming strategy will apply across Apple’s lineup, with future updates named iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26. The shift is aimed at simplifying Apple’s branding and eliminating confusion caused by inconsistent version numbers across platforms.

The changes will be announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 9, alongside a broader redesign of the software interface. Internally known as “Solarium,” the new look will stretch across tvOS, watchOS, and parts of visionOS to create a more unified user experience across Apple devices.

Insiders say the new naming system mirrors strategies used by Samsung and Microsoft, where product names reflect the upcoming year—similar to how automakers name their vehicles.

Going from iOS 18 right to iOS 26 will be confusing for those not following along at first. We’re about two weeks away from the WWDC keynote. Let’s wait and see what Apple has in store. Are you ready for iOS 26? That just sounds weird. Now this is the innovation we’ve been waiting for (#courage).