Dive into iOS 26: Check Out the Devices Getting the Update
- Author: Malte Mansholt
- Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes
iPhones and iPads eligible for iOS 26 upgrade - Latest iOS Version Launch: Specific Devices to Receive Upgrade
Get ready for a major shake-up! Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) has just dropped the bombshell—a revamped iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and VisionOS. With a sleek, futuristic design, these new systems certainly pack a punch. But not every device can handle this power boost.
Three iPhones and one iPad are left out in the cold, unable to bask in the glory of iOS 26. Here are the models to brace yourself for an abrupt end at iOS 18.x:
Why iOS 26, So Sudden?
The name may confuse some folks, as Apple is skipping a few numbers and jumping straight from iOS 18 to iOS 26. The reasoning behind this move lies in contradiction—you see, iOS 18 was named due to being the 18th iOS for the iPad. However, iPadOS didn't become the 18th system for the tablet until it split from the iPhone OS in 2019, making it iPadOS 6. To establish consistency, the systems will from now on be christened based on the year they are predominantly utilized. Since iPadOS and iPhone OS 26 will both be released in fall 2026, they'll be called iOS 26.
iOS 26-Compatible iPhones:
iOS 26 marks a shift from supporting every model released in the previous year. Three models from the yesteryears are being axed:
- iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (2nd generation, 2020) and iPhone SE (3rd generation, 2022)
iPadOS 26-Compatible iPads:
The lone iPad model that bids adieu to iPadOS 26 is the 2019 iPad 7th generation, which had supported iPadOS 18. With a weaker performance, this tablet simply can't handle the new update.
Here's the list of compatible iPad models:
- iPad Air with M4 (2025)
- iPad Pro with M4 processor (2024)
- iPad Air with M2 (2024)
- iPad 11th generation (2025)
- iPad Mini (2024)
- iPad Pro with M2 (2022)
- iPad (2022)
- iPad Air with M1 (2022)
- iPad Mini (2021)
- iPad (2021)
- iPad Pro with M1 (2021)
- iPad Air (2020)
- iPad (2020)
- iPad Pro (2020)
- iPad Air (2019)
- iPad Mini (2019)
- iPad Pro (2018)
And there you have it—your guide to the devices that make the cut for the glitzy new iOS 26!
The Commission shall adopt implementing acts laying down the rules for the application of the glitzy new iOS 26, but gadgets such as the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, and smartphones like the iPhone 16 Pro will be unable to run this latest version of Apple's mobile operating system due to their weaker performance. Technology advancements in future devices will surely make them compatible with the upcoming iOS updates.
