TechTurco WhatsApp ChannelOne-way channel: your number stays private
Apple
Why Apple switched directly from iOS 18 to iOS 26 and skipped iOS 19
Everyone expected iOS 19 with high hopes, but Apple surprised the public. The iOS naming convention changed in recent years. Why did Apple move to iOS 26 after iOS 18?
Contents
Apple changed the iOS operating system naming for iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and other smart products. Why did the tech giant jump directly to iOS 26 instead of iOS 19, and why was iOS 18 followed by this leap? Here is the background behind the decision.
Apple released iOS 26, the major operating system version for iPhone models, on September 15, 2025. Users with an iPhone XS or newer model were able to download the update to their devices for free. However, with the previous version being iOS 18, it raised the question of what happened to iOS 19.
Why did Apple change the version number to 26?
Operating system version numbers are based on marketing decisions rather than technical necessity.
Reklam
Apple chose to align the version number of the iPhone operating system with the upcoming calendar year. Xiaomi is another smartphone manufacturer that employs a similar strategy.
Although the update was released in 2025, the active lifespan of the software largely corresponds to 2026. iOS 26 remained the primary operating system until September 2026, when iOS 27 was launched. This meant that 9 of the 12 months in its cycle fell within 2026. For this reason, Apple derived the version number from the last two digits of 2026 rather than the current year.
All Apple platforms unified under version 26
To make it easier for users to track versions, the company unified the operating systems across its entire product lineup under the number 26. With this update, the new version numbers across platforms were arranged as follows:
Reklam
Be the first to know
Join our channel and get key developments straight on your phone.
TechTurco Telegram ChannelMute or leave any time
| Previous / Expected Version | New Version Name |
|---|---|
| iOS 19 | iOS 26 |
| iPadOS 19 | iPadOS 26 |
| watchOS 11 | watchOS 26 |
| macOS 15 | macOS 26 |
| visionOS 3 | visionOS 26 |
| tvOS 19 | tvOS 26 |
All interim updates released until the iOS 27 version, scheduled to be unveiled in June next year, will be delivered in the 26.x format.
Why did hardware names remain unchanged?
Apple did not apply the year-based naming change from its software to its hardware lineup. The Cupertino-based company released its phone model as iPhone 17 instead of iPhone 26. Most recently, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models are on sale.
While software updates are free for users and installed annually, hardware products continue to be sold in stores for multiple years. This makes using a year-based name impractical for marketing on the hardware side.
Reklam
This article was translated from Turkish. Read the original article in Turkish.
More in Apple
