Just when it seemed the internet had finally stopped fixating on Apple’s iPhone naming schemes, here we go again.
## iOS 19 vs. 26
To be honest, I don’t actually mind today’s news that Apple will modify its operating system names to reflect the release year. Or more accurately, the year after. Cars do it. Samsung does it… Well, that’s about it. But it’s not particularly unusual.
Once we hurdle past the initial awkwardness of leaping directly to iOS 26, bypassing several version numbers in the process, I’m fairly confident it’ll start to feel normal sooner rather than later.
However, if Apple is truly heading in that direction, it only heightens the urgency to address iPhone naming. The concept of iOS 26 operating on an iPhone 18 already seems out of sync, and a few years down the line, that disparity is probably going to feel even more pronounced.
## Perfect timing?
I recently discussed how Apple’s speculated shift to replace the “Plus” variant with an “Air” model could provide a perfect chance to tidy up the rest of the lineup, too, retiring “Pro Max” and fully adopting “Ultra.”
This would align iPhone naming with the rest of Apple’s new premium branding terms, such as Apple Watch Ultra, the M-series Ultra chips, and CarPlay Ultra.
The reality is, back when we started edging toward awkward names like iPhone 12 and iPhone 13, I’m fairly certain I wasn’t the only one who thought Apple would eventually ditch the numbers entirely and embrace the MacBook Pro-style naming (which, to be fair, has had its own versioning challenges).
But as time and iPhone launches progressed, I had come to terms with the existing numbering scheme. As silly as it initially sounded, we had all acclimated to it and had more significant matters to attend to in our lives.
But now, in a scenario where the software may suggest 2026, while the hardware still states 17… yeah, that could start to feel a little peculiar all over again.
Cue the podcast debates.
## So what could Apple actually do here?
The first option is quite clear and the most probable: nothing. Apple retains the current iPhone naming system, while its operating systems transition to a unified, year-based system.
The second option is to implement the name change for the iPhone as well. iPhone 26 releases in September alongside iOS 26, and there’s no uncertainty as to which are the current phone models or system versions. Except, perhaps, from September through December. But if people can figure this out about cars, they can solve this with iPhones.
The third option is both my favorite and the least likely for all the obvious reasons: Apple completely abandons iPhone numbering. Marketing name? iPhone, iPhone Air, iPhone Pro, iPhone Ultra. Actual product name? iPhone (2026), and so forth.
The issue is that, unlike Macs, Apple continues to sell previous versions when it launches new ones. So, while everyone knows they can walk into an Apple Store and buy the latest MacBook Pro, it wouldn’t be as straightforward for iPhones.
And then there’s the elephant in the room: the iPhone 16e. Apple just introduced a model whose entire pitch is that it’s the entry-level iPhone, clearly identified by number. Could Apple launch an… iPhone E? I hope not. Sixteeny is jarring enough.
Whether Apple chooses to alter the iPhone name this year, next year, or never, the speculated year-based OS name change will provide more than enough reason for people to agree, disagree, or scoff at the notion of reigniting these discussions anew. Where do you stand? Let us know in the comments.
