Apple too will be announcing substantial changes to their operating systems. One particularly notable change is a new naming convention that focuses on the release year over version number. Further, the company indicated that iOS will be relaunched under a new numbering scheme, skipping iOS 19-25 and going directly to iOS 26. This amendment will have an impact beyond just this software upgrade. Look for it to influence iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26. As Apple disclosed back in March, most of these new features were pushed back. This decision produced a significant increase in user expectations.
The Adoption Stage rebranding is an embrace of something different from the long tradition of version numbering. Apple has recently switched to a year-based naming scheme. This change not only eases its software identity but makes all its messages more user friendly and relatable. Beyond bridging the gap between its digital and physical initiatives, this strategic change reflects the company’s broader efforts to improve user experience across all its devices.
Anticipated Features and Overhaul
Apple is expected to introduce significant changes to three core applications: the Phone app, Camera, and Safari. Each of these apps will receive a much more meaningful overhaul. Their forthcoming new look will take cues from the technological prowess and sleek design of Apple’s Vision Pro headset. This ginormous visual overhaul is being promoted as the biggest design change since the launch of iOS 7.
The main goal of the redesign is to update the user interface and functionality of the tool, while giving users a simple and intuitive experience. Users can expect a sleek new design that embodies the principles of modern web design. Simultaneously, their favorite functionalities from core apps they’ve come to know and use from Apple will still be front and center.
The Messages app is set to get a brand new Apple Intelligence driven tool. This expanded translation ability will allow real-time, automatic translation of messages, creating more fluid interaction among users no matter what language they speak. This feature is a perfect example of Apple’s goal to take advanced tech and imbue it into real world use cases.
Enhancements in Siri and Game Development
Beyond app updates, Apple’s trying to make its virtual assistant, Siri, smarter. On stage at its 2024 Vision presentation, the company then introduced a much more contextually aware version of Siri. This new Siri can more smoothly collect information and take actions across multiple applications. According to the latest scuttlebutt, much of this stunning functionality won’t be available right off the bat in iOS 26.
At the same time, Apple’s news that it has acquired its first game studio, RAC7, suggests a new strategic direction as it deepens and expands its gaming ecosystem. This acquisition looks to further secure Apple’s seat at the gaming industry table. Most importantly, it should offer users a richer, more interactive world of content that makes their experiences better on any device.
These anticipated changes would further strengthen Apple’s role as a leader to innovate and delight their users. By merging enhanced app functionalities with a more capable Siri and expanding into gaming, Apple seeks to create a cohesive experience that resonates with its user base.
Delayed Features and Future Expectations
While developers—and everyone else—are justifiably excited about these new changes, Apple has already begun to telegraph that some features will be delayed. The announcement made in March regarding postponed features has left some users eagerly awaiting more information about specific functionalities and their availability.
With the iOS 26 ship date on the horizon, it will be critical for Apple to set clear and realistic expectations with developers and users. A major redesign based on the new Vision Pro headset is coming soon. Users are clamoring for next level, game changing features in translation, for example, which is already built directly into Messages.
