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Apple Will Preview iOS 26 and Unified Year-Based OS Naming at WWDC 2025

Aligning OS names to calendar years introduces a uniform ‘26’ brand, a glass-like Solarium design, expanded AI access for developers.

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Overview

  • At WWDC 2025 on June 9, Apple will showcase its shift to year-based version numbers with iOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26 and visionOS 26.
  • The new naming convention mirrors automotive model years by assigning each OS the year after its public launch, despite a late-2025 release.
  • Under the codename Solarium, Apple plans a cross-platform visual overhaul featuring translucent interfaces, floating pill-shaped toolbars, thinner buttons and shimmering effects.
  • Third-party developers will gain broader access to Apple’s AI models through the forthcoming Apple Intelligence platform, enabling deeper integration of generative features.
  • The combined rebrand and redesign aim to simplify and unify the user experience across iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Vision Pro devices.