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Newsgroups: misc.phone.mobile.iphone
Subject: Re: iPhone model mumber vs. iOS version #
Date: Tue, 27 Aug 2024 10:35:54 +1200
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On 2024-08-26 21:00:58 +0000, Cameo said:
> 
> Why are iOS major versions two whole numbers ahead of the iPhone’s model
> numbers, considering that both numbers are incremented at the same time of
> the year when the new phone model comes out? Why not just keep both numbers
> the same?

Apple's OS versions and device models are not always updated at the 
same time. For the iPhone, there has sometimes been a two year gap 
between updated iPhone model numbers (with an "s" model released 
inbetween), but the iOS version numbers have been updated. You can see 
the mismatches on the table at <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone> 
with the releases of the iPhone 4s, iPhone 5s, and iPhone 6s. There was 
a slight re-correction in 2017 when the "iPhone 9" name was skipped and 
the then-new model was released as the iPhone X instead.


At least iOS, iPadsOS, tvOS, watchOS, etc. do all sensibly have version 
numbers ... unlike MacOS which stubbornly sticks to using stupid, 
incomprehensible codenames instead (yes, there are version numbers as 
well, but few people, including Apple, actually use them when talking 
about the MacOS versions).

Similarly, the iPhone model names do sensibly include the model number, 
whereas Mac models (for example) are simply called "MacBook Pro" or 
"MacBook Pro 14in" year after year, so the only way to tell them apart 
is to also include the year you're talking about - although with the 
new Apple Silicon Macs you can include the chip model instead (e.g. 
MacBook Pro M3).

Apple really needs to sort out this mess and standardise it across all 
their device ranges to sensibly use model / version numbers. It would 
also help if they cut the number of slightly different models being 
sold.