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yesterday

Apple Plans Year-Based OS Names and Major Redesign for iOS 26 and macOS 26

The approach aligns each release with its calendar year by shifting to an automotive-style naming scheme that supports a unified Solarium interface refresh.

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Overview

  • At WWDC on June 9, Apple is expected to unveil iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, watchOS 26 and visionOS 26 under the new year-based naming convention.
  • Development builds indicate that macOS 26 will drop support for Intel-based Macs including the 2018 MacBook Pro, 2017 iMac Pro, 2018 Mac mini and the 2020 Intel MacBook Air.
  • The redesign, internally code-named Solarium, is set to introduce a more consistent user interface across Apple’s software platforms by borrowing design elements from visionOS.
  • Developers are expected to gain access to Apple’s on-device artificial intelligence models for broader third-party integration in the upcoming OS updates, marking a shift toward open AI development.
  • All new operating systems are slated for public release in September 2025, aligning their ‘26 designation with the bulk of the following year’s lifecycle.