Tomasz Wadowski
On June 9, Apple is launching its annual WWDC conference, but if the leaks are to be believed – this time it won’t start with a new weather widget or more privacy features. Right off the bat, we will get something that will change the way we think about Apple’s operating systems. And no, this is not a joke. Apple plans to reset the numbering and clean up for good.
One Number for the Whole Ecosystem
Apple has been developing several operating systems in parallel for years – iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and recently also visionOS. Each of them debuted at a different time and developed its own numbering, which caused quite a bit of confusion. Example? iOS is at version 18, iPadOS is also 18, macOS 15, watchOS 11, and visionOS... just 2.
According to the latest information revealed by Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, Apple wants to put an end to this and standardize the naming convention. From now on, all systems are set to jump directly to number 26. iOS 19? There will be none. It will be iOS 26. macOS 16? No – macOS 26. Even visionOS 3 is set to be replaced by visionOS 26.
Why "26"? It's not a coincidence
The change in numbering is not arbitrary. Apple plans to link the version designations of its systems to... model years, similar to how car manufacturers do. So: the system that will debut in the fall of 2025 will receive the number 26, as its full lifespan will actually fall in 2026. This is intended to simplify communication and help users understand more quickly which generation they are dealing with.
This is a purely strategic move – it organizes marketing, eliminates chaos, and reinforces the message: Apple is one ecosystem. Cohesive. Thoughtful. Modern.
WWDC 2025 – kicking off with a bang
WWDC is an event primarily for developers – a place where Apple showcases new tools, APIs, and features that will drive applications for the next year. But the keynote that opens the conference is always something more: it’s a show of strength. It's during this time that Apple announces the biggest changes. If Gurman's leak is confirmed, the unification of numbering will become one of the main highlights of the first day.
What does it mean for users?
At first glance: not much. We will still get a new version of the system with new features that will appear this fall on our iPhones, Macs, or Apple Watches. But underneath – it's a big change. Apple shows that it thinks of its products as a single whole. Not as a set of separate systems, but as a unified platform that evolves together.
