With WWDC25 wrapping up, the next big milestone on Apple’s calendar is the fall OS release season. And while many already have a mental map of how these rollouts usually go, a new chart making the rounds offers a great visual snapshot of when each OS has landed since 2013.
Originally posted by Reddit user alexkaessner, the Datawrapper interactive timeline highlights the usual pattern: Fall Keynote in the first half of September (blue dots), iOS and iPadOS release about a week after that (red dots), and then macOS trailing a bit behind (orange dots).
What stands out is just how far macOS slipped between 2019 and 2022, often landing well into October and even November. But in the past couple of years, Apple has managed to close that gap, with macOS releases creeping closer to iOS and iPadOS once again, even landing a combined release last year.
What to expect for 2025
If history is any guide, iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 will likely ship in mid-to-late September, just after Apple’s fall iPhone event.
macOS Tahoe 26, meanwhile, is a question mark. Last year marked the first combined release of macOS alongside iOS and iPadOS, but as this chart makes clear, that’s far from the norm.
That said, timelines could shift. Apple is now juggling more complex cross-platform features, new AI integrations, and the realities of building for multiple device categories. And while this year’s Liquid Glass UI overhaul might help align things, it could just as easily create new challenges.
It’s also worth noting that iOS releases are tied to iPhone launches, and Apple has faced its share of supply chain uncertainty amid ongoing US-China trade tensions. And while the past few days have brought signs of de-escalation, recent history makes it clear that nothing is guaranteed on that front.
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