Apple’s iOS 26 feels fresh, with “Liquid Glass” appearing for the first time and a new naming system that directly ties software versions to the year in which they are released. As far as the headline change goes, that is entirely cosmetic, but for most people the practical question is pretty straight forward: will your iPhone be able to run it? Here’s what you need to know about which devices work with iOS 26 and those that don’t.
All iPhone models that will work with iOS 26
According to Apple’s own compatibility list, iOS 26 is compatible with many recent devices. These are the very latest iPhones 17 Family, coming with iOS 26, and any model from load down is free to upgrade.
iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone SE (2nd generation) and iPhone SE (3rd generation)
iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 14iPhone 14 PlusiPhone 14 ProiPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max
Real-world tip: Although all of these models will support the installation of iOS 26, some advanced features (like Apple Pay and Pressure Sensitive Touch) may not be available on all models and certain features may require an Apple ID. As is its wont, Apple usually enables the most compute-heavy features first (in this case, features that leverage the Neural Engine for on-device AI) on its newest Pro-class silicon and then spreads the love as the hardware allows.
Models that are not eligible to for update
iOS 26 ends support for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR. The iPhone X, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus — and all older models, including the original iPhone SE — are also excluded.
If you own one of these devices, your current iOS version will stay the same. Apple maintains patch release processes for old iOS branches for a while after a major release, if you read its public security updates, but it stops new feature releases at the cutoff.
Why the bar was raised to A13 and up
The cutoff mark in this cycle is Apple’s A13 Bionic processor, which made its debut with the iPhone 11 series. That’s not arbitrary. Every year’s new platform has lifted the bar on graphics, machine learning, and memory bandwidth. Capabilities relying on on-device intelligence, real-time rendering and advanced camera pipelines are extremely dependent on newer Neural Engine and GPU architectures.
Analysts that monitor Apples support windows observe that the company typically keeps iPhones going for 5-7 years of major updates based on silicon capabilities. Now that the A12-based phones (XS/XR) are aging out, that year’s line-up is consolidated to keep everything smooth with the new UI effects et cetera system-wide ML capabilities while leaving the phone’s performance and battery life alone.
Beta vs. general release: What to expect
The developer and public betas of iOS 26 are all about shaking out the bugs and refining the interface and functionality before release to the general public. Betas can be a little rough around the edges — some apps might crash, battery life could be inconsistent, UI changes could still be made as Apple takes in feedback from testers and accessibility groups.
A helpful lesson from the past: when Apple slightly moved the in-call End button in the iOS 17 beta, user response caused a rethinking of the matter before general release. The loop — iterate, test, refine — is the same for iOS 26, so most people should wait for the stable build unless they are adept or comfortable troubleshooting.
What to do if your iPhone skipped iOS 26
Not eligible? You still have options. And trade-in programs from Apple, big mobile carriers and large retailers can help to defray the expense of a new device. Independent resale trackers like SellCell and research groups like CIRP have consistently discovered that iPhones retain more of their value than most Android phones, particularly when screen and cameras are scratch- and crack-free and battery health is strong.
If you’re going to keep an unsupported model around for a little while, concentrate on security basics: activate a strong passcode, set up two-factor authentication for your Apple ID, keep crucial apps updated and review app permissions. Even without new features, those measures would significantly lower risk.
Bottom line
iOS 26 works with iPhone 11 and later, and the second‑generation and third‑generation iPhone SE. The XS/XR generation and older remain on their existing software track. If your device makes the cut, you’ll have the Liquid Glass makeover and unspecified under-the-hood changes; if it doesn’t, this is a decent time to balance trade-in money against the velocity of a modern chip, extra support runway and the full iOS 26 feature set.