Every Iphone That Can Be Updated To Ios 26 (and When You Can Install It)

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On nan heels of its Awe-Dropping iPhone 17 motorboat event, Apple announced nan nationalist merchandise of iOS 26 connected September 15. Earlier this year, Apple unveiled immoderate important updates to its operating systems at WWDC 2025, including a ocular redesign for iOS 26. The new Liquid Glass interface offers users a much accordant creation and acquisition crossed each Apple devices.

Also: iPhone Air vs. Samsung S25 Edge: I compared some bladed phones, and there's a clear winner

The iOS 26 nationalist beta is disposable now, but nan charismatic type is slated to beryllium released arsenic a free package update connected Monday. While nationalist betas springiness enthusiasts and mundane users a measurement to trial nan latest loop of Apple's software, astir iPhone users hold for nan unchangeable merchandise of iOS. If you're 1 of them, you're apt wondering if your iPhone will beryllium compatible pinch nan latest operating system. Read connected to study which iPhone models will support iOS 26 and which ones will not.

According to Apple, nan pursuing iPhone models can upgrade to iOS 26 erstwhile it becomes wide available:

iPhone 17
iPhone 17 Air
iPhone 17 Pro
iPhone 17 Pro Max
iPhone 16e
iPhone 16
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone SE (2nd procreation aliases later)

Also: Will your aged iPhone, Mac, aliases iPad tally Apple's latest updates? Check this list

Notably, nan once-popular iPhone X, XS, XR, and XS Max models are not connected nan list.

If you're acquainted pinch erstwhile iOS versions, you apt noticed that Apple skipped from iOS 18 to iOS 26. After years of sequentially numbering package updates for each its devices, Apple rebranded each its operating systems pinch 26.

That doesn't mean that this is nan 26th procreation of Apple's yearly update cycle; Apple simply renamed its package versions to usage nan upcoming almanac year, overmuch for illustration car models.

Also: Every iPhone 17 exemplary compared: Should you bargain nan guidelines model, Air, Pro, aliases Max?

This was decidedly a branding move, arsenic Apple unified its OS versions crossed each its platforms. You'll now person iPadOS 25, MacOS 26, WatchOS 26, etc. This alignment goes on pinch nan Liquid Glass decorativeness crossed each devices, which reflects nan unified upgrade.

The Apple marque is beardown and holds important resale value, truthful you tin ever waste your older iPhone and disclose that it's nary longer supported for package updates. There's a batch of request for older iPhones that are still functional and budget-friendly, but you tin besides waste and acquisition them for in installments toward a caller device.

Apple, Best Buy, and Amazon are conscionable immoderate retailers that judge iPhone trade-ins. iPhones' resale and trade-in values dangle heavy connected their information and retention capacity. Features for illustration an intact surface and a moving camera greatly power resale aliases trade-in values.

You tin cheque your iPhone's trade-in worth astatine 1 of these retailers aliases astatine a telecommunications company's authorized dealer.

Apple launches its caller operating systems successful 3 phases: developer beta, nationalist beta, and charismatic wide release.

Developer beta: This is nan rawest package type that goes retired to a ample audience: developers. The first developer beta of iOS 26 was released connected June 9 during WWDC 2025. Subsequent developer beta updates followed to correct bugs and amended nan personification experience.
Public beta: The nationalist beta launched successful July. This programme lets anyone pinch a compatible iPhone, not conscionable registered developers, trial early package versions. It besides helps Apple place and hole bugs aliases capacity issues earlier nan last release.
General release: Also called a unchangeable aliases charismatic release, nan wide merchandise of an operating strategy is erstwhile nan institution down it makes it disposable to each users. The wide merchandise of iOS 26 is connected September 15.

Also: iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Why I'm upgrading to this years exemplary aft 3 years

The iOS 26 beta version, which is disposable now, up of nan wide release, differs somewhat from nan wide release. The beta shape gathers feedback, which Apple uses to repair bugs and reside immoderate personification interface issues earlier nan package is wide distributed.

Beta versions tin besides beryllium incomplete and are not nan last product. This intends nan iOS 26 developer and nationalist betas are much prone to bugs, glitches, and instability.

Also: How to clear your iPhone cache (and why you should do it earlier upgrading to iPhone 17)

The wide merchandise will person ironed retired astir of these bugs and problems utilizing nan personification feedback gathered during nan beta phase, delivering package that isn't arsenic prone to issues. However, they tin still happen.

For example, successful nan 2023 iOS 17 beta, Apple moved nan in-call "End" fastener from its acquainted halfway position to nan right. After beta testers voiced frustration, Apple restored nan fastener to nan halfway earlier nan nationalist release.

A package beta is an early preview of an exertion aliases operating system, released to a prime group of developers aliases users to stitchery feedback and uncover bugs nether real-world conditions. It follows an soul alpha shape and helps Apple reside issues earlier an charismatic wide release.