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Will iOS 26 Be Compatible With Your iPhone? Here's the Rumored List
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Indeed, that's why I said similar to iPhone 13 despite the 14 using the same chip. I could've been clearer.
No. It won’t be compatible with my XS Max. And frankly, I’m fine with that.
What sucks though is that means my Series 8 Apple Watch will be stuck on watchOS 11 until I get a new phone.
What sucks though is that means my Series 8 Apple Watch will be stuck on watchOS 11 until I get a new phone.
An iPhone and top-of-the-line Samsung are effectively the same price… right? If my Wikipedia-ing is correct… an S10 from 2019 wasn’t upgradable beyond 2022? That’s got to affect the resale value.
Although I noticed Samsung going to start providing security updates for 7 years starting in 2024.
Although I noticed Samsung going to start providing security updates for 7 years starting in 2024.
Did not know that iPhone 11 was such a big step up from the XS that the will not be able to handle iOS 26. Okay, fine, will hang on to my XS nonetheless.
iOS 26 will be compatible with the iPhone 11 and newer, according to a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing iOS-related information.
We are unable to identify the source, but we consider them to be very reliable.
If this rumor proves to be accurate, iOS 18 will be the final version that supports the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. However, the devices will continue to receive security updates for the foreseeable future, even after iOS 26 is released.
iOS 26 would be compatible with the following iPhone models, per this rumor:
Of course, iOS 26 will also be compatible with all future iPhone 17 models.
- iPhone 16e
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)
As usual, some features will be unavailable on older iPhone models. For example, Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro or newer.
Last year, the same account accurately leaked iOS 18 compatibility details, so there is a good chance that their latest information is true.
The first iOS 26 beta should be released following the WWDC 2025 keynote on June 9, and the update should be released to everyone in September.
Article Link: Will iOS 26 Be Compatible With Your iPhone? Here's the Rumored List
No, it's on 87% bought it late -23, and I know I can replace the battrty. No hurry though.
Feels weird that they will jump from 18 to 26, I don't fully follow the reasoning, espeically if they have to adjust everything else, like the watch or homepod.
It is likely to continue to get security updates, though for how long is unknown. But no shiny frosted glass!
I think they're doing it in a move similar to what Samsung did back in 2020 when they went from the S10 to the S20
To me, when I saw said news I was like "Ok, this seems so weird; why would they do a complete 180 and jump from 18 to 26"
Only to then remember that Microsoft also did this back then from Windows 95 to 2000/ME before going to the naming structure we have now
Yeah, that’s my prediction as well.
If iOS/macOS 26 was that deep overhaul that many of us thought it would (not only the UI but lower level stuff), then optimizing everything for the 16 core Neural Engine on the A14 and higher, or the CPU/GPU performance increase in the A14/M1 and higher, made sense.
But given how macOS 26, despite the big redesign, isn’t going to be the first Apple Silicon only macOS, I think it’s fair to assume this is, for now, just a high level redesign. That means they don’t need to optimize (yet) the whole operating system for the A14/M1 architecture as the bare minimum. Yeah, the A13 will probably be the minimum, especially given how big of a performance leap it was compared to the A12.
However, I wish iOS/macOS 27 or 28, whenever they completely drop support for Intel computers, will experience a lower level refinement, optimizing all the system for the A14/M1 and higher, taking full advantage of the 16 core Neural Engine and the newer CPU and GPU cores. To take the most out of the Apple Silicon.
By the way… with A17, A18, M3 and M4 chips supporting Ray Tracing, do you think that will enable better quality effects on the new “glassy” interface?
That shiny frosted glass is definitely compelling. I was just wondering why people say they need to change their phone right away. Sure, if having the latest user interface is a priority, that makes sense—but a phone doesn’t suddenly become unusable if it’s still receiving security updates.
It will be VERY interesting to see how many of the new iOS 26 features will work on my iPhone 16 Plus.
Not necessarily. some iOS 26 features may be iPhone 17 Air/iPhone 17 Pro exclusive only.