iOS 26 supported devices: here's what Apple will likely support

A few of Apple's older iPhones could be left off the list

(Credit: The Shortcut)

• 🍎 Apple is expected to announce iOS 26 at WWDC 2025

• 📱 The update will come with a complete redesign and a bunch of new features

• 📋 We expect a majority of iPhones to be supported, but some could be left on the cutting room floor

• 📲 Here are the devices we expect iOS 26 to support

Apple is readying the launch of one of its biggest upgrades to iOS in its history. Rumors say that iOS 26 is right around the corner, adopting a new year-based naming scheme that’ll also be reflected in other big software updates Apple has planned. Between that and a complete redesign, it seems like iOS 26 could be even bigger than the debut of iOS 7.

With so much anticipation building, you may be wondering if your phone will have support for iOS 26. After all, we’re all using our phones for much longer after we buy them, and your phone might be a few years old and nearly due for an upgrade.

While we’ll have to wait for Apple to publish its official list of iOS 26 supported devices, based on our own expert research and analysis, we can make a prediction as to which phones iOS 26 will run on. Here’s what we found.

• More: iOS 26 release date: rumors, features, and what to expect

iOS 26 supported devices prediction

(Credit: @Ameeromidvar / X)

Here’s the list of devices we expect iOS 26 to support, with ones that were supported by iOS 18 crossed out for context.

• iPhone 16e

• iPhone 16 Pro Max

• iPhone 16 Pro

• iPhone 16 Plus

• iPhone 16

• iPhone 15 Pro Max

• iPhone 15 Pro

• iPhone 15 Plus

• iPhone 15

• iPhone 14 Pro Max

• iPhone 14 Pro

• iPhone 14 Plus

• iPhone 14

• iPhone SE (3rd generation)

• iPhone 13 Pro Max

• iPhone 13 Pro

• iPhone 13

• iPhone 13 mini

• iPhone 12 Pro Max

• iPhone 12 Pro

• iPhone 12

• iPhone 12 mini

• iPhone SE (2nd generation)

• iPhone 11 Pro Max

• iPhone 11 Pro

• iPhone 11

• iPhone XS Max

• iPhone XS

• iPhone XR

Why not iPhone XS and XR?

(Credit: Apple)

The iPhone XS and lower-end XR were released back in 2018, which means they turn seven years old in 2025. Up until this point, Apple has supported them with both major and minor software updates, but we expect that to go away starting with iOS 26.

Apple typically supports iPhones for 6-7 years after they’re released. The iPhone X, which came out in 2017, was supported until iOS 17 came out in 2023. The longest-supported iPhones, the 2014 iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, were supported until iOS 15 in 2021. Apple’s iPhone XS and XR are approaching the same timeframe, which likely signals their inevitable end of support.

Apple is also making a lot of changes to how iOS works, which could be too much for the XS and XR’s aging A12 Bionic processors to handle. With a stronger focus on AI, new under-the-hood optimizations, and a system-wide redesign, it would make sense that the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR weren’t fully equipped to run everything.

• More: Another iPhone 17 leaks says the display will get bigger

We’ve seen Apple surprise us, though

(Credit: Apple).

That being said, Apple is known for keeping a few things up its sleeve, and one of them could be broad iOS 26 support for all devices that currently run iOS 18, especially if there are performance and battery life improvements (two aspects of iOS 18 that have frustrated users since its release last year).

We don’t have any official confirmation from Apple on which iPhones will support iOS 26, but we won’t have to wait much longer. The company’s WWDC keynote kicks off next Monday at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET, and we’ll be covering everything here on The Shortcut. Stay tuned.

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Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut. He’s been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.