Just as it seemed that the internet had finally moved past obsessing about Apple’s iPhone name conventions… we are back at it again.
iOS 19 vs. iOS 26
To my fairness, I don’t hate today’s version. Report states that Apple will rename their operating systems to reflect their release year. Or, rather, the next years. Cars do it. Samsung does it… Okay, that’s about it. It’s not strange.
I’m sure that once we get over the initial awkwardness, it will start to sound more natural.
If Apple is really moving in this direction, then it will only increase the pressure on Apple to do something about iPhone names. The idea of iOS 26 running in an iPhone 18 sounds already disconnected. In a few more years, this mismatch will probably feel even worse.
Perfect timing?
Recently, I wrote about how Apple could use the rumored move of replacing the “Plus” model with an “Air” to clean up its entire lineup, retiring the “Pro Max” model and going all in on the “Ultra”.
This would bring iPhone naming in line with the rest of Apple’s new top-tier branding names, like Apple Watch Ultra, the M-series Ultra chips, and CarPlay Ultra.
The truth is, back when we started creeping toward awkward names like iPhone 12 and iPhone 13, I’m pretty sure I wasn’t the only one who figured Apple would eventually drop the numbers entirely and adopt the MacBook Pro-style naming (which, to be fair, has had its own versioning issues).
But as time and iPhone releases marched on, I had made peace with the current numbering idea. As goofy as it once sounded, we’d all gotten used to it and have more pressing things to worry about in our lives.
But now, in a world where the software might imply 2026, but the hardware still says 17… yeah, that might start to feel a bit weird all over again.
Cue the podcast discussions.
What could Apple do?
This is the most obvious option and it’s also the most likely one: nothing. Apple keeps its current iPhone naming scheme, while its operating system adopts a unified year-based convention.
A second option would be to switch the name change on for the iPhone. iPhone 26 and iOS 26 will be released in September, so there is no confusion about the current versions of phones or operating systems. From September to December, perhaps. If people can figure out this about cars, then they can figure out this about iPhones.
My favorite option and the least likely is that Apple will stop using iPhone numbers. Marketing name? iPhone, iPhone Air, iPhone Pro, iPhone Ultra. Actual product name? iPhone (2026), etc.
Apple, unlike Macs, continues to sell older versions of its products when they release new ones. While everyone knows that you can walk into any Apple Store and purchase the current MacBook Pro, this wouldn’t be as simple for iPhones.
Then there’s that elephant in the room, the iPhone 16e. Apple has just released a model that is clearly labeled as the entry-level iPhone. Could Apple release… an iPhone E? I hope not. Sixteeny sounds cacophonous enough.
Apple’s rumored change in the iPhone’s name will be enough to make people agree, disagree or laugh at the idea of re-starting these discussions. What is your opinion? Comment and let us know. Add 9to5Mac’s Google News feed to your Google News.FTC: we use auto affiliate links that earn income. More.
