Apple has announced that it will be launching iOS 26 next week, along with updates for iPad, Apple Watch, Mac and Vision Pro. The headline asks now are: Which iPhones are eligible, when the download typically becomes available, and what you need to do to get ready.
What iPhones Will Run iOS 26
Apple said iOS 26 would be compatible with iPhone 11 and higher. That includes the iPhone 11 family, iPhone 12 to iPhone 16 range and all the other current flagship models. You won’t see the update in Settings if you have anything older than an iPhone 11.
As ever, some features may be dependent upon newer chips or other hardware. Apple has in the past limited certain camera, AI or AR features to its most recent processors but continued to make the core OS and security updates available more widely. I’m going with the same logic for iOS 26.
When the Update Typically Arrives
Big iOS releases from Apple usually show up at around late morning Pacific Time, and then spread around the world over the subsequent hours. The update won’t roll out to everyone all at once, so be patient if you don’t see it right away, and the initial servers can get crowded — particularly in the early going — making for waits or slow downloads.
If you’re on the beta track, the final version will typically show up as a smaller install. If you’re on the public release channel, expect a larger download and longer install window.
What’s New in iOS 26
iOS 26 sees a design change up Apple calls Liquid Glass: a more translucent, layered look which adds depth to the interface while feeling heavy. Through hands-on testing in the beta period, the visual refresh appeared to be smoother than in recent versions, but was still familiar.
There is a redesigned Photos app to help weed and search, a one-handed mode for the Camera app to facilitate quick shots, Lock Screen expansion, and quality-of-life updates in Messages that have long been desired. Dozens of smaller tweaks will be coming to privacy, accessibility and performance too.
Getting Your iPhone Ready
Back up first. Use iCloud Backup or connect to a Mac to create a local encrypted backup to make sure your data and health records are secure. This is a must-have prior to any major OS leapfrogging.
Free up space. Big iOS releases usually require several gigabytes to download and unpack. I’d go for at least 10GB so you don’t end up with failed installs.
Update your apps. Developers optimize their apps for new APIs just before release. Adding now can help avoid crash bugs or missing feature support on day one.
Charge and connect. Begin the install with at least 50% battery and a solid Wi-Fi connection. And if you are on a metered plan, maybe wait till you’re on home or office Wi‑Fi.
Support for iPad, Watch, Mac, and Vision Pro
The rollout next week is a platform-wide moment. iPadOS 26 is expected to come to iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (3rd generation or later) and 11‑inch (1st generation or later), iPad Air (3rd generation or later, M‑series included), the iPad (8th generation or later) and iPad mini (5th generation or later).
watchOS 26 will also arrive on Apple Watch Series 6 and later, Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) and on all Apple Watch Ultra models. This does not include the first-generation SE.
On the desktop macOS 26 “Tahoe” side, expect support for MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Apple silicon models from 2020 to 2020 M1 Apple silicon models, and certain Intel era computers like the 16‑inch MacBook Pro (2019).
Other compatible Macs include Mac mini (2020 or later), iMac (2020 or later), Mac Studio (2022 or later), and Mac Pro (2019 or later).
Apple’s Vision Pro is coming visionOS 26 and tvOS 26 is still coming this fall with a staggered release window.
Adoption And Stability: A Look Back At History
Significant iOS updates generally enjoy wide and rapid adoption. Mixpanel’s own adoptiion tracker had iOS 17 topping 50% within a month, and Apple’s own developer documentation has previously pointed to faster upgrade cycles than other mobile platform counterparts. That momentum counts for app compatibility, security patches, and developer support.
Like any large release, expect a rapid follow-up patch that solves some early bugs or edge cases.
If you depend on mission-critical apps, waiting a day or two and consulting developer notes can make sense.
The Bottom Line
If you’re using an iPhone 11 or newer, you’re next in line for iOS 26 next Monday. Back up your device, make some space and prepare for a mid‑day launch. Liquify Glass refreshes, updates to the camera and Photos; these are broader usability tweaks that seem like they’re going to make a real difference without a difficult, tectonic shift in the interface. Keep checking your Settings app — and remember that a staggered release means not all of us will see the download at the same time.
