Apple will finally let us peep its next slate of software updates.
If the rumors are to be believed, every OS is jumping to “26,” and instead of iOS 19 or macOS 16, we’ll get iOS 26 and macOS 26.
Just don’t expect too much in the way of “Apple Intelligence” updates save for new live translation features for phone calls and texts.
Simultaneously, one of the biggest but also the most superficial changes at WWDC 2025 could be with Apple’s naming conventions.
Apple announced Apple Intelligence at last year’s WWDC.
The long, long tunnel is coming to an end. Finally, Apple will allow us to preview its upcoming software releases. Every OS is rushing to “26,” so if the rumors are to be believed, we’ll get iOS 26 and macOS 26 in place of iOS 19 or macOS 16. It is implied by the new naming scheme that Apple might attempt to standardize the look of all of its software, which is purportedly based on the glassy visionOS of the Vision Pro.
Additionally, your iPhone’s widgets, app icons, and Mac menu bar will all appear glassy. Apple may release additional features, such as a Preview-style app for the iPhone and iPad, in addition to the UI changes. With a brand-new “Gaming” app for smartphones, we might also see a section on gaming. With the exception of new live translation capabilities for texts and phone calls, don’t anticipate many “Apple Intelligence” updates.
Concurrently, Apple’s naming practices may undergo one of the most significant yet flimsiest changes at WWDC 2025. The numbers for all of Apple’s software, including iOS, macOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and visionOS, may increase from 18, 16, 18, 11, and 2, respectively, to 26. This information was reported by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg. As a result, the year-over-year system is no longer based on chronological numbers but rather on the year of release plus one, such as for a Toyota or something similar.
It may not signify much, but on the other hand, it represents a significant shift and may even correspond with the significant change in mood that we anticipate with the upcoming iOS version. I guess it will simplify things, but poor visionOS may experience some whiplash.
At the WWDC last year, Apple made the announcement of Apple Intelligence. The major feature, a redesigned Siri with on-screen awareness and agentic functionality to help do things on your behalf, did not come to fruition even after months of delay. Genmoji, notification summaries, and writing tools were among the generative AI features that were introduced. According to reports, the new Siri features were fake, and Apple’s marketing had pushed for their demonstration before the Siri team had even managed to get them to function.
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