1. What’s happening?
Apple is reportedly scrapping the iOS 19 name and will call its 2025 release iOS 26 to line up with the year ahead.
The rename hits everything: expect iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, and a reality-bending jump from visionOS 2 to visionOS 26.
2. Why the big leap?
Gurman’s sources say Apple wants a clean, “all platforms, same number” story, like car makers and Samsung’s Galaxy phones.
Next year would naturally be iOS 27, and so on. The idea: no more guessing what version maps to which year.
3. What else is rumored?
A bubble-heavy UI makeover with rounder icons and a unified look across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Hints at live-translation AirPods, a smarter Siri, and maybe third-party AI integrations (OpenAI, Anthropic).
4. When do we find out?
Apple will explain the math at WWDC 2025 on June 9. Public releases usually land in September alongside new iPhones.
5. Why it matters (or doesn’t)
Devs need to update build targets; marketers must redo slides; normal users will mostly shrug-“whatever number, just give us new features.”
Biggest win could be for iPad power users if Apple finally delivers a more Mac-like multitasking UI.
