. Apple has officially unveiled iOS 26 at WWDC 2025, marking a major leap in AI integration and system-wide enhancements. But with the new features come changes to device eligibility — and for the first time, Apple is retiring support for a few popular older models. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and XS Max, released in 2018, will not be getting iOS 26.
Despite the cutoff, Apple confirmed that these older models will continue to receive essential security updates, a move aimed at easing concerns for users holding on to legacy devices.
iOS 26 Supported Devices – Full List
iOS 26 will be available for the following iPhones:
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iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max
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iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation)
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iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12
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iPhone 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max
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iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13
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iPhone 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max
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iPhone 14, 14 Plus
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iPhone 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max
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iPhone 15, 15 Plus
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iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max
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iPhone 16, 16 Plus
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iPhone 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max
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iPhone 16e
It’s worth noting that Apple Intelligence, the new suite of generative AI features, will only be available on select models. According to Apple, these require the power of newer hardware and will be supported only on:
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All iPhone 16 models
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iPhone 15 Pro
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iPhone 15 Pro Max
That leaves out base iPhone 15 and older devices from accessing features like AI summaries, writing assistance, and on-device intelligence for task management.
What’s New in iOS 26
Beyond the hardware eligibility shift, iOS 26 introduces deeper AI-powered features, better integration across Apple devices, and refinements to core apps like Messages, Photos, Mail, and Safari. Siri gets smarter with on-device intelligence, supporting more natural language and contextual understanding.
There’s also a noticeable push toward privacy and personalization, with Apple Intelligence able to generate summaries, draft messages, and manage tasks — all while keeping user data private and processed locally. Accessibility and productivity improvements round out the release, making it one of Apple’s most AI-centric software upgrades yet.
What Happens to iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max?
The iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max are officially out of the iOS upgrade cycle with version 26. However, Apple emphasised that these devices will continue receiving security updates for the foreseeable future. That means bug fixes, critical patches, and stability improvements will still be delivered, just not the latest iOS features.
When will the public beta for iOS be available?
The public beta of iOS 26 is expected in July 2025, with a stable rollout alongside the iPhone 16 series later this year. Developers can already access early builds through the Apple Developer Program.
For those planning an upgrade, iOS 26 offers plenty of incentive, especially with Apple Intelligence-exclusive features only available on newer models. The shift also signals a clear future direction: AI-first experiences.
