why did apple skip to ios 26

Apple skipped from iOS 18 directly to iOS 26 to unify and simplify its operating system version numbers across all its platforms, aligning the version number with the upcoming year (2026) rather than the current year (2025). This change helps create continuity between iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and visionOS, whose version numbers were previously inconsistent and confusing. Apple's approach is similar to how the car industry names models by the year most users will experience the product. The jump to iOS 26 represents a more streamlined and future-proof naming system that reflects the software's intended lifespan and market clarity rather than a sequential count of updates.