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iOS 26 is the next major operating system update for iPhones. Apple is skipping seven numbers (from the current iOS 18) to bring the software nomenclature up to speed with the current year. Given that new releases are annual, this would help users stay on track and refer to versions easily. Moreover, this is the first major redesign of the OS since iOS 7, adding a nice easter egg to how many generations of names are being skipped.
That said, Apple's new design merges elements from VisionOS, focusing on a minimalist and clean UI that's more responsive to touch. This will be achieved with added animations that could drain the battery, but the larger cell sizes and LTPO tech shipped with the latest devices should help battery life stay competitive.
While the update will drop a few devices from the supported list, Apple remains committed to providing six years of major updates. Let's review the list of devices that can upgrade to the new software version this fall.
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Which iPhones will get the iOS 26 update?
Apple is set to drop the iPhone X lineup from the list of supported devices this year. This includes the XR, XS, and XS Max (note that the original iPhone X was discontinued last year). These smartphones were introduced in 2018 and are currently running the iOS 18.3 update, marking six and a half years of support.
The oldest devices supported by iOS 26 are from the iPhone 11 lineup. These smartphones will be over six years old when the update arrives globally later this year. For now, all eligible devices can switch to the Preview build to test the new features.
Apple has confirmed the following devices for the iOS 26 update:
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 Mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 Mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone SE 2nd gen
- iPhone SE 3rd gen
- iPhone 16e
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
This year marks the second-last major update for the iPhone SE 2nd gen. The device was introduced in 2020 with a slightly slower A13 Bionic chipset, which seems to be the minimum requirement for running iOS 26. Across the board, there are animation upgrades and a heightened focus on Apple Intelligence for supported devices. This is significantly shifting the compute barrier up, strengthening the requirement for a capable chipset.
However, the fact that Apple can pull off such a major overhaul without compromising its upgrade timeline is impressive. What remains to be seen is how performance and battery life are impacted, especially on the older devices.
