Now that iOS 26 is offered to obtain for a lot of iPhone customers — this is easy methods to set up it — it is time to examine your telephone to see when you’re eligible for the replace. The brand new OS grew to become out there on Monday this week, together with iPadOS 26 and Apple’s different working system updates.
In case your telephone is appropriate with the most recent OS, you may discover substantial modifications while you set up the brand new replace. You could have already heard about “Liquid Glass,” which (intentional or not) is form of like Apple’s tackle the outdated Home windows Vista design language. That is probably the most notable change, however we spent two weeks test-driving most of the different options included within the replace — you may try our hands-on iOS 26 preview for extra impressions.
Undecided when you have an eligible smartphone or pill but in addition do not wish to improve? No worries, we’ll allow you to discover out in case your units will have the ability to run iOS 26.
Whereas Apple did not nix any iPhones from its eligibility checklist final 12 months, that is not the case for 2025, as a couple of fashions are getting the axe this time round. All iPhone 8 fashions and the iPhone X have been the final to obtain the boot in 2023, and this 12 months, iPhones launched in 2018 can be left behind.
You’ll find a full checklist of iPhones and iPads that help iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 under. To see every little thing you get with the most recent OS updates, you may try our massive rundown of what to anticipate from iOS 26. Moreover, this is every little thing Apple revealed on the iPhone 17 launch occasion, together with the all-new iPhone Air. (Take a look at Engadget’s liveblog of the occasion for full particulars.)
These three iOS 18 iPhones aren’t appropriate with iOS 26
Not like final 12 months, a trio of iPhones will not be eligible to obtain the latest iOS. These three fashions that have been first launched in 2018 will not be coming to the iOS 26 social gathering:
iPhones appropriate with iOS 26
Per Apple’s web site, the units listed under can be appropriate with iOS 26. Briefly, when you have an iPhone that was introduced in 2019 or later, you are within the clear:
iPhone SE (second era or later)
iPads appropriate with iPadOS 26
In the meantime, the iPads listed under are eligible to obtain iPadOS 26:
iPad Professional 12.9‑inch (third era and later)
iPad Professional 11‑inch (1st era and later)
iPad Air (third era and later, together with M2 and M3)
iPad (eighth era and later, together with A16)
iPad mini (fifth era and later, together with A17 Professional)
What if I do not wish to purchase a brand new iPhone?
If you wish to proceed utilizing your older iPhone that is not supported by iOS 26, that is superb. Nevertheless, you may finally miss out on safety updates which may probably put your telephone in danger for malware and different threats. Moreover, some apps could cease working in the event that they require a sure model of iOS or later. And, in fact, you will not have the ability to entry the most recent options iOS 26 gives.
Ought to I improve to iOS 18.7 or iOS 26?
Whenever you first open Software program Replace in Settings, you may discover two totally different improve choices: iOS 18.7 and iOS 26. Apple launched the previous to handle safety points, so you may not less than obtain that one when you’re uncertain about all the massive modifications on iOS 26. It additionally offers you extra time to attend for Apple to care for any bugs on the brand new OS.
Nevertheless, when you’re excited to lastly have the Liquid Glass aesthetic in your telephone and use all the brand new options iOS 26 has to supply, go forward and set up that one. In any case, Apple had all summer time to weed by way of probably the most problematic bugs throughout its beta section and often releases a brand new replace shortly after the preliminary launch.
iOS 26 options to check out first
Liquid Glass design: Your private home display is getting revamped with new app icons, together with darkish mode and all-clear choices. You may additionally discover buttons with a brand new floating design. Liquid Glass, in Apple’s phrases, was designed to make the entire firm’s working techniques extra visually cohesive.
Telephone app redesign: You’ll be able to lastly scroll by way of contacts, latest calls and voicemail messages all on one display. It additionally comes with a brand new function known as Maintain Help that’ll notify you when an agent involves the telephone so you may keep away from the elevator music.
Reside Translate: iOS 26 brings the power to have a dialog by way of telephone name or textual content message with somebody who speaks one other language. Reside Translate will translate your dialog in actual time.
Polls function: Coming to group messages within the Messages app, chat members can now create polls. This may help forestall the undesirable 30+ messages on the subject of deciding which restaurant you are assembly at this weekend.
New lock display choices: Extra customizable iPhone lock display choices can be found with iOS 26, together with a cooler clock, 3D wallpaper results, extra widgets and higher focus mode choices.
Snooze longer (or shorter): Say goodbye to the 9-minute snooze setting in your alarms (if you would like). You now have the choice to alter your snooze time from one to fifteen minutes.
Recent Digital camera app design: You may discover the Digital camera app is less complicated to navigate in iOS 26, with all of the buttons and menus positioned in handy spots. Meaning much less swiping, extra picture taking. Plus, there is a new function that tells you in case your lens is just too soiled.
Screenshot revamps: Whenever you take a screenshot, you now have the choice to seek for the picture on Google (possibly you are searching for a sweater you noticed on a celeb) and you may ask ChatGPT questions concerning the picture — all from the edit display. It is like a reverse picture search however with out all of the laborious work.
