iOS 26 Is Official and HyperOS 26 Could Be Next for Xiaomi

What you need to Know

• Apple has skipped iOS 19 through 25 and jumped directly to iOS 26.

• Xiaomi is currently developing HyperOS 3, scheduled for release in October 2025.

• HyperOS 3 will be based on Android 16 and improve performance across devices.

• Apple’s naming change may influence other tech brands like Xiaomi.

• A shift to HyperOS 26 could standardize Xiaomi’s software strategy for the future.

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In a stunning move that’s sending ripples through the global tech community, Apple has decided to skip several iOS version numbers and go directly from iOS 18 to iOS 26. This bold leap isn’t just a numbers game it represents a major shift in how Apple wants users to view and relate to software updates. The new year-based naming system aligns software versions with the calendar year they’re primarily intended for, meaning iOS 26 will dominate the 2026 Apple experience. Now, the industry watches as other manufacturers consider whether to follow this trend. One of the biggest names in the Android world, Xiaomi, may soon face a pivotal decision: should it also abandon the traditional versioning of HyperOS and align with Apple’s futuristic approach?

Apple’s Year-Based Naming Strategy

Apple skipping iOS 19 through iOS 25 in favor of iOS 26 is a reflection of an attempt to make versioning easier and align with the calendar in the real world. The new operating system will be introduced at WWDC 2025 in June, with a public release scheduled for September 2025. Early beta versions are already live for developers and testers.

The year in which it will be actively supported and used. This brand makeover is not merely a marketing ploy. It's a decision aimed at clearing up version confusion so that users can better understand how up-to-date their software is and where it stands in the life cycle of Apple's universe.

The nomenclature also creates a trend that other businesses will feel compelled to adopt particularly those competing with Apple for sales in international markets.

HyperOS 3 Is in Development

Currently, Xiaomi is working on HyperOS 3, with development progressing steadily for a launch expected in October 2025. This follows the company's usual software timeline that syncs with its flagship smartphone releases. HyperOS 3 will be built on the Android 16 platform and is set to bring improved performance, enhanced UI, tighter AI integration, and broader compatibility across Xiaomi’s vast ecosystem including smart TVs, tablets, smartphones, and IoT devices.

But Apple’s shift has sparked a conversation within the Android community. Should Xiaomi follow Apple’s lead and skip straight from HyperOS 2 to HyperOS 26, especially given the similar timeline of their respective launches?

Why Xiaomi Might Align Its Naming with Apple

There are multiple compelling reasons why Xiaomi might adopt Apple’s new naming strategy and transition to year-based versioning for HyperOS:

• Industry Alignment: Apple is often seen as a trendsetter. Aligning with its naming strategy may position Xiaomi as an adaptive and competitive global player.

• User Clarity: A year-based system makes it easier for users to immediately understand the relevance and recency of the software they’re using.

• Marketing Consistency: With product releases and software rollouts worldwide, a uniform calendar-based naming convention could cut down on confusion across regions.

• Future-Proofing Software Roadmaps: As Xiaomi expands its ecosystem and software platforms, embracing a sustainable and easily expandable naming convention might make long-term development easier.

In the hypercompetitive mobile market, such a naming shift could also serve as a powerful branding move, allowing Xiaomi to market itself as being in step with global software trends.

Challenges Xiaomi Would Face with a Name Change

Though the advantages might be tempting, Xiaomi will not have a smooth ride if it decides to rename HyperOS 3 to HyperOS 26. There are some challenges staring it in the face:

• Disruption of Established Roadmaps: HyperOS 3 is already at an advanced stage of development. To make an abrupt change would stretch release timelines, affect testing, and baffle early adopters.

• User Education & Communication: Many users may not immediately understand the reason for the jump in version numbers. Xiaomi would need a clear and aggressive marketing campaign to explain the rationale.

• Ecosystem Synchronization: Xiaomi’s software powers a wide array of devices. Synchronizing this change across smartphones, tablets, smart home products, and more would be a complex task.

• Risk of Misperception: A sudden jump in version numbers might be perceived as a marketing gimmick rather than a genuine innovation unless the company pairs it with strong feature upgrades and improvements.

HyperOS 26

While no words have come from Xiaomi itself in confirmation, the industry has been abuzz with speculations. Should HyperOS 26 finally roll out soon enough, right after HyperOS 2? And skip a few version numbers, like Apple? It's definitely doable. With both companies trying to establish the next era in mobile software experience, Xiaomi may feel tempted to take bold initiatives to capture the attention of the media and consumers alike with how dramatically they will rename their future operating systems.

However, given that HyperOS 3 is already planned for an October launch, Xiaomi may either stay the course for now or delay a shift to the year-based model starting from 2026 onwards, possibly with HyperOS 26 launching in late 2026 to match the calendar year.

Apple has again rewritten the rules with iOS 26, adding a year-based software naming convention that has the potential to make users' lives easier and enhance brand differentiation. Now it's the turn of Xiaomi, a giant player in the Android community. Will Xiaomi continue with HyperOS 3 or take a radical step to HyperOS 26 in a bid to remain at the top of the software game?

Only time will reveal but what is certain is that Apple's move has once again kicked up a debate about how we refer to and think about mobile operating systems. And if Xiaomi follows suit, we might be seeing the dawn of a new industry standard.