With only a few days left until WWDC 2025, the upcoming announcements have already leaked. Along with a new approach to version numbering, Apple is planning some significant changes to the iPhone’s operating system.
On Monday, June 9, Apple will host its annual developer conference, WWDC. The company will reveal the latest version of its operating systems, including the successor to iOS 18 for iPhones. However, don’t expect iOS 19. According to Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, a trusted source for Apple news, the company has decided to follow in Microsoft’s footsteps from the 1990s, using the year to number versions. This change will not just apply to the iPhone; Apple intends to align version numbers across all of its operating systems, including macOS 15, watchOS 12, and tvOS 18.
So, iOS 26 will be the new version introduced, starting with a developer beta, followed by a public beta in mid-July, and the official release in September. Apple is working on a significant graphic interface overhaul, the first since iOS 7 (2013). The goal is to unify the experience across macOS, iOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS (for the Apple Vision Pro). While the exact details aren’t revealed yet, this new interface, dubbed Solarium, will bring greater transparency, a redesign of the icons, and exciting new animations.
Apple’s New Approach: An Equivalent to Steam
One of the major updates expected is a new app that could rival Steam. This app will bring together your installed video games, achievements, rankings, and gaming news in one place. The new iOS will also harness AI to better manage battery life, adjusting it based on your habits and showing the remaining charge time. Additionally, Google Gemini will be integrated into Apple Intelligence, and Siri is finally set for an upgrade. Another exciting feature is that AirPods will get a real-time translation mode. Apple is also introducing a new Health+ service, leveraging AI and personal data to provide users with a health coach.
Despite all these new features, iOS 26 won’t be available to everyone. Based on the rumors, you’ll need an iPhone 11 or later, or an iPhone SE (2nd generation, 2020) or newer. This means older models like the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR will be left behind in this update.
Edward Back
Journalist
My passion for programming began with my very first computer, an Amstrad CPC 6128. I started coding in Basic, then moved on to Turbo Pascal on a 286, eventually exploring more modern languages including web development. I’m also deeply interested in science, which led me to attend a math-focused preparatory program. Later, I studied psychology with a focus on the cognitive aspects of artificial intelligence.
