Apple enthusiasts across the globe are likely eagerly anticipating the main keynote taking place next week, which will kick off this year’s WWDC. This event is where Apple introduces its newest operating systems annually, allowing beta testers to access them and explore the new features immediately following the presentation.
The operating system announcements this year are particularly thrilling, as we’re set to receive not only fresh features for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, AirPods, and Vision Pro. Apple is implementing a significant redesign across all its operating systems, one that has been rumored multiple times in recent months.
A rebranding is also on the way, with Apple opting to replace the anticipated iOS 19 label with a new iOS 26 title, intended to reflect the year of its release. The official launch of iOS 26 is expected to occur in September or late 2025, making it the latest iPhone OS for the majority of 2026.
This new naming convention will be consistently applied. All of Apple’s operating systems will adhere to the same numbering format.
Considering all of this, iOS 26 stands out as the most eagerly awaited OS debuting at WWDC. It’s the operating system that users will be keen to experiment with immediately on their smartphones, to experience the new design and to explore whatever iOS 26 features are accessible to early adopters on launch day.
Regrettably, some older iPhones still in operation will not be capable of running iOS 26.
Apple boasts an impressive history of supporting older iPhones. While the latest iOS features may not be available on devices introduced five years ago, they will still receive most of the iOS functionalities along with the new design.
