No iOS 19: Apple Going Straight to iOS 26

[iZac]

Tacit admission that iOS 19 won’t actually be ready until next year

 

[SpotOnT]

I am fine with this, but seriously? Go with 25. iOS 25, released in 2025.

Like the old iLife and iWorks suites.

 

[SpotOnT]

lol. It’s 2025, but 2026 cars are already available in lots.

And the car naming scheme is the most idiotic system in the world. Why would Apple emulate something so horrible.

“Hi, this is my iPhone (2025) which runs iOS 26 and this is my MacBook Air (2025) which runs macOS 26. iOS 26 and macOS 26 were released in the year 2025, so that is why we call it “26”. Makes total sense everyone!”

 

[huanbrother]

It is becoming the NBA 2K or FC(formerly FIFA) series.

 

[grammatica]

 

[Ry L]

i think I know why 26 instead of 25:
There was a rumor of split hardware releases too.
Regular models release in spring of 26. So iPhone 26 gets iOS 26, in ‘26.
Pro models are just “early” to make them feel special and ahead of the curve.

 

[germinator]

Finally. Next, iPhone 26 etc.
Now increase OS release cycle to 5 years.

 

[AndreDC]

Nice vision OS 2 to 26... I'm looking forward to the new features. right? anyone?

 

[Jimmy Bubbles]

this would make sense had iPhone came out in 2000.

 

[ThemePro]

Samsung jumped to the Galaxy S20 in 2020 to match the year
Samsung fans: Ok, cool
Microsoft changed Windows to match the year in 1995
Microsoft fans: that’s swell
Apple changes iOS to match the year
Apple sheep: ZOMG - First rebrand in 15 years - that’s insane!!!!!

 

[Blue Nova]

Adobe has been doing this with their software, like Adobe Photoshop 2025, that way you know if you have the latest.
I think it’s a good move. But that’s about it Apple don’t go crazy like you did with photo app.

 

[TonyC28]

That's not true at all. Naming after years doesn't mean forced annual updates. For example, the version after 26 can be 28 if they have 2 years between versions, with no version 27.

Fair point.

 

[applefan8254]

Can we get multiple users please? Thank you

 

[chelsel]

Please use Roman Numerals!

iOS XXVI

 

[Atomic1977]

Hmm 🤔 I don’t know. What to think of the new naming thing but if this keeps up eventually there will be a iOS 60.

 

[newyorksole]

lol idk… I’ll believe it when I see it

 

[Marty80]

I must have been under a rock for quite a while. Can any one tell me what number iPhone we are at.

 

[mtneer]

What will happen in 75 years - iOS 00?? What about a 100 years from now in 2125 - iOS 26 again?

 

[lazyrighteye]

What it means is that they are more concerned about the annual refresh revenue stream than the quality of the software.

How does incorporating the year into the OS name make them any more concerned about an annual refresh revenue stream than the annual refresh revenue stream already in place? If anything, it makes it way more intuitive for the customer to know when iOS 28 was in play (certainly more intuitive than calling it iOS 20). Incorporating the year is cleaner, more informative than an arbitrary number.

Software has major and minor version numbers to denote substatual architectural changes or major feature, and point releases as minor enhancements.

And that won’t change. We’ll have 26.1, 26.1.5, 26.2, 26.5, etc. Again, not seeing the issue while definitely seeing a benefit.

Putting the year as the version number artificially dictates and locks in a new (not better, not major) version every year.

I get you point and certainly understand your frustration. And I don’t think putting the year as version number has any bearing on an already well-established annual refresh cycle. Fact is, no customer has to subscribe to an annual refresh of anything. However, Apple does have to generate annual revenue. And what if they didn’t have an iOS update in 2027? Then we’d simply move from iOS 26 to iOS 28. Even my little brain can handle that math.

The natural evolution of software should drive versioning, not some annual refresh revenue stream.

Sure. But things like “natural evolution” and determining whether a software update is “substantial enough to release” is all pretty subjective. There have been iOS updates of more significance, to me, than others. One way you could regain some sense of control here (if you don’t already) is you could wait to update your OS (or phone or laptop) until you feel it significant enough for you.

I’m sick of all of us being treated as fools for the last decade getting conditioned that we need a new phone and now even a computer every year. 20-30 years ago that would be insane. Imagine buying a brand new gaming console annually.

I hear, and can understand, your frustration: I’m no fan of consumerism. But blaming the company selling the product is misguided/a waste of energy. It’s pretty basic math. As long as there are people willing to buy your product, as a business, you sell them your product. The fun part is, the consumer has more power in the relationship than they realize. Or care to realize. Simply put your money where your mouth is. Like a product, buy it. Don’t like a product, don’t buy it. If enough people stopped buying iPhones, you’d see changes. But that’s not happening, in the numbers it would take to force change, any time soon.

Apple is being beyond dumb.

Apple is a company serving more than just you and your upgrade cadence preferences. Just because they release a spec bumped iPhone every year does not mean you have to buy an iPhone every year. The vast majority don’t. Again, you’re in the driver’s seat here. Let your wallet do the talking.

 

[Analog Kid]

What it means is that they are more concerned about the annual refresh revenue stream than the quality of the software.

If you're paying for your OS updates, I have a bridge for sale...

 

[jdelaune]

This is the outcome of the Apple car project

 

[jdelaune]

What will happen in 75 years - iOS 00?? What about a 100 years from now in 2125 - iOS 26 again?

iOS will be dead in 75 years

 

[antonrg]

So basically do what Samsung has been doing for years naming their devices. Hilarious

 

[.wojtek]

Cars (at least in America) are numbered by model year. These model years are tied to the company's fiscal years. Thus, 2026 car models will be coming out in the Fall of 2025 (first Quarter FY26). So Apple's OS will follow the same nomenclature as car model year numbers.

uhm... I don't know exactly when car refreshes are announce (not every year) but at least in Poland you only use make-year / when it entered dealership so when they make car in 2025 then that's the year associated with the car (there is also concept of "first registration year" but it's used for legal stuff and can differ if car was made in 2025 but sold and registered in 2026)

 

[match14]

Buh!