It seems that Apple is giving its operating systems a significant overhaul this year, and not just on the visual and usability fronts. It was expected that the next major versions of iOS and iPadOS (set to be announced at WWDC 2025 in a few weeks) would be followed by the number 19, Macs would move onto macOS 15 and so on. That would continue the numbering system Apple has used for many years.That could be about to change, according to Bloomberg. The next versions of the operating systems may be earmarked by the year, according to the publication's sources. That means we could soon see the debut of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26 and visionOS 26.The numbers would align with the year after each major OS release, since Apple typically rolls out the first public versions of those each fall. So the versions of iOS, iPadOS and so on that arrive this September or October may be named after 2026.We'll know for sure whether this shift is happening on June 9, when the keynote of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference takes place. It's widely expected that Apple will be giving its operating systems a major user interface overhaul to deliver a more unified experience across various devices.It seems like a wise move to align the branding of all of the various operating systems. The software powering Apple Watch devices is currently up to watchOS 11. Apple Vision Pro is running visionOS 2. It's a little messy as is. Applying the same numbering to all of the operating systems and aligning it with the release year should make things easier for everyone to keep up with.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-is-rumored-to-release-ios-26-not-ios-19-at-wwdc-2025-193424610.html?src=rss

As an iPhone user who has watched the release of foldable Android mobile phones with envy, I can't wait for 2026. Yes, Apple's 2025 iPhone launch event is next month, but I've been eyeing Apple's first foldable iPhone, rumored to launch next year. It's part of three years of Apple's planned iPhone redesigns.While this would be a new addition to Apple's lineup, Bloomberg reports that it will come with a throwback feature: Touch ID. Why it's reverting to Touch ID from Face ID is unclear as the last use was on the third-generation iPhone SE. Apple did something similar when it brought back its MagSafe charging line with the iPhone 12's release - it initially worked with MacBooks.According to Bloomberg, Apple was initially going to give the new iPhone on-cell touch sensors, but pivoted to an in-cell option, similar to the current iPhone. An in-cell screen builds the touch sensors directly into the display, while an on-cell adds a layer on top, creating a thicker end product, which can be more noticeable in folding phones where its display creases. The foldable iPhone is also rumored to have four cameras and come in white, black, light blue and light gold.While we'll have to wait a while for the foldable rumors to be confirmed, this year's event shouldn't be without its interesting moments. There will likely be an ultra-thin device called the iPhone Air, reported to have just one camera and a basic A19 chip.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/apple-will-reportedly-bring-back-touch-id-on-a-foldable-iphone-135831748.html?src=rss