Apple is making a radical naming change for all of its operating systems at WWDC 2025. Numbered versions like iOS 18, watchOS 11, and visionOS 2 are going to be a thing of the past. Instead, they will be replaced by year-based names like iOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26. The systems will mostly be named after the year they were in use rather than the year they were released.
Is it time for year-based changes for iPhone models as well?
Although this change may seem confusing at first, it offers a logical approach. Considering that the average iPhone user does not know which version of iOS they are using, a naming like iOS 26 is much more explanatory. While the user has difficulty understanding whether version 18.5 is new or old, they can immediately understand that iOS 26 is up-to-date.
This logic can also be applied to hardware products. For customers who have difficulty understanding the differences between the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Plus, a naming like iPhone ’26 will be much clearer. Like the 1978 Ford Fiesta, customers will have a better understanding of what they’re buying and will be able to compare different models more easily. This system will also make it harder to market old stock as new.
Given the fact that the iPhone 16 exists in real life and the imminent arrival of the iPhone 17, the current naming system is unsustainable. In the tech press, future product names like Xbox 19 or PlayStation 23 used to be a joke. Now that’s become a reality.
Instead of vague terms like Plus, Max, and mini, a size-focused naming could be more understandable. It could offer 6-inch or 7-inch options, like the MacBooks. The iPad line could similarly get rid of complicated descriptors. The iPhone Slim deserves its own brand as a separate product. Using Slim instead of Air would be more descriptive, because it’s not just thin, it also involves a number of compromises.
The Pro term could be kept due to its long-standing use, but the “e” model could be dropped entirely. The 16e model’s sole purpose was to offer a budget-friendly phone powered by Apple Intelligence. Now that that hurdle has been overcome, budget-conscious customers can afford to buy the models from previous years. As a result, a product line consisting of the iPhone ’26, iPhone ’26 Pro (in two sizes), and iPhone ’26 Slim would be both understandable and marketable.
