Simply when it appeared just like the web had lastly moved on from obsessing over Apple’s iPhone naming conventions… right here we go once more.
iOS 19 vs. 26
To be honest, I don’t truly hate in the present day’s report that Apple will rename its working programs to mirror the discharge yr. Or slightly, the following yr. Vehicles do it. Samsung does it… OK, that’s just about it. However it’s not that unusual.
As soon as we get previous the preliminary awkwardness of leaping straight to iOS 26, skipping a handful of model numbers alongside the best way, I’m fairly certain it’ll begin to sound pure sooner slightly than later.
But when Apple actually is shifting in that course, it solely will increase the strain to do one thing about iPhone naming. The concept of iOS 26 operating on an iPhone 18 already sounds disconnected, and some years from now, that mismatch might be going to really feel even worse.
Excellent timing?
I wrote lately about how Apple’s rumored transfer to interchange the “Plus” variant with an “Air” mannequin might give it an ideal alternative to scrub up the remainder of the lineup, too, retiring “Professional Max” and going all-in on “Extremely.”
This might carry iPhone naming in step with the remainder of Apple’s new top-tier branding names, like Apple Watch Extremely, the M-series Extremely chips, and CarPlay Extremely.
The reality is, again once we began creeping towards awkward names like iPhone 12 and iPhone 13, I’m fairly certain I wasn’t the one one who figured Apple would ultimately drop the numbers totally and undertake the MacBook Professional-style naming (which, to be honest, has had its personal versioning points).
However as time and iPhone releases marched on, I had made peace with the present numbering concept. As goofy because it as soon as sounded, we’d all gotten used to it and have extra urgent issues to fret about in our lives.
However now, in a world the place the software program may suggest 2026, however the {hardware} nonetheless says 17… yeah, which may begin to really feel a bit bizarre yet again.
Cue the podcast discussions.
So what might Apple truly do right here?
The primary possibility is fairly apparent and the almost certainly: nothing. Apple retains the present iPhone naming conference, whereas its working programs go on to undertake a unified, year-based conference.
The second possibility is to flip the swap on the title change for the iPhone as effectively. iPhone 26 comes out in September alongside iOS 26, and there’s little doubt as to that are the present telephone fashions or system variations. Besides, perhaps, from September via December. But when folks can determine this out about automobiles, they’ll determine this out about iPhones.
The third possibility is each my favourite and the least possible for all the apparent causes: Apple ditches iPhone numbering altogether. Advertising title? iPhone, iPhone Air, iPhone Professional, iPhone Extremely. Precise product title? iPhone (2026), and so forth.
The issue is that, opposite to Macs, Apple retains promoting earlier variations when it releases new ones. So, whereas everybody is aware of you possibly can stroll into an Apple Retailer and purchase the present MacBook Professional, it wouldn’t be so easy for iPhones.
After which there’s the elephant within the room: the iPhone 16e. Apple simply launched a mannequin whose entire pitch is that it’s the entry-level iPhone, clearly labeled by quantity. May Apple launch an… iPhone E? I hope not. Sixteeny is cacophonic sufficient.
Whether or not Apple decides to vary the iPhone title this yr, subsequent yr, or by no means, the rumored year-based OS title change can be greater than sufficient motive for folks to agree, disagree, or scoff on the concept of restarting these discussions yet again. The place do you land? Tell us within the feedback.
FTC: We use earnings incomes auto affiliate hyperlinks. Extra.
