Ready To Download Ios 26? Make Sure Your Iphone Is Eligible For The Free Update First

Have you updated your iPhone to nan caller iOS 26 yet aliases are you holding off? It's been disposable to download since September 15 — here's really to instal it if you haven't yet. The caller OS was released alongside iPadOS 26 and Apple's different operating strategy updates. Since then, nan first beta of iOS 26.1 has already been released pinch immoderate newer features.

If your telephone is compatible pinch nan latest OS, you'll notice important changes erstwhile you instal nan caller update. You whitethorn person already heard astir "Liquid Glass," which (intentional aliases not) is benignant of for illustration Apple's return connected nan old Windows Vista creation language. That's nan astir notable change, but we spent 2 weeks test-driving galore of nan different features included successful nan update — you tin cheque retired our hands-on iOS 26 preview for much impressions.

Not judge if you person an eligible smartphone aliases tablet but besides don't want to upgrade? No worries, we'll thief you find retired if your devices will beryllium capable to tally iOS 26.

While Apple didn't nix immoderate iPhones from its eligibility database past year, that's not nan lawsuit for 2025, arsenic a fewer models sewage axed this clip around. All iPhone 8 models and nan iPhone X were nan past to person nan footwear successful 2023, and this year, iPhones released successful 2018 will beryllium near behind.

You tin find a afloat database of iPhones and iPads that support iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 below. To spot everything you get pinch nan latest OS updates, you tin cheque retired our large rundown of what to expect from iOS 26. Additionally, here's everything Apple revealed astatine nan iPhone 17 motorboat event, including nan all-new iPhone Air. (Check retired Engadget's liveblog of nan event for afloat details.)

These 3 iOS 18 iPhones aren't compatible pinch iOS 26

Unlike past year, a trio of iPhones won't beryllium eligible to download nan newest iOS. These 3 models that were first released successful 2018 won't beryllium coming to nan iOS 26 party:

• iPhone XR

• iPhone XS

• iPhone XS Max

iPhones compatible pinch iOS 26

Per Apple's site, nan devices listed beneath will beryllium compatible pinch iOS 26. In short, if you person an iPhone that was announced successful 2019 aliases later, you're successful nan clear:

• iPhone SE (second procreation aliases later)

• iPhone 11

• iPhone 11 Pro

• iPhone 11 Pro Max

• iPhone 12

• iPhone 12 mini

• iPhone 12 Pro

• iPhone 12 Pro Max

• iPhone 13

• iPhone 13 mini

• iPhone 13 Pro

• iPhone 13 Pro Max

• iPhone 14

• iPhone 14 Plus

• iPhone 14 Pro

• iPhone 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

• iPhone 16e

• iPhone 17

• iPhone 17 Pro

• iPhone 17 Pro Max

• iPhone Air

iPads compatible pinch iPadOS 26

Meanwhile, nan iPads listed beneath are eligible to download iPadOS 26:

• iPad Pro (M4)

• iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (3rd procreation and later)

• iPad Pro 11‑inch (1st procreation and later)

• iPad Air (3rd procreation and later, including M2 and M3)

• iPad (8th procreation and later, including A16)

• iPad mini (5th procreation and later, including A17 Pro)

What if I don't want to bargain a caller iPhone?

If you want to proceed utilizing your older iPhone that isn't supported by iOS 26, that's fine. However, you'll yet miss retired connected information updates which could perchance put your telephone astatine consequence for malware and different threats. Additionally, immoderate apps whitethorn extremity moving if they require a definite type of iOS aliases later. And, of course, you won't beryllium capable to entree nan latest features iOS 26 offers.

Should I upgrade to iOS 18.7 aliases iOS 26?

When you first unfastened Software Update successful Settings, you'll announcement 2 different upgrade options: iOS 18.7 and iOS 26. Apple released nan erstwhile to reside information issues, truthful you tin astatine slightest download that 1 if you're unsure astir each nan large changes connected iOS 26. It besides gives you much clip to hold for Apple to return attraction of immoderate bugs connected nan caller OS.

However, if you're excited to yet person nan Liquid Glass artistic connected your telephone and usage each nan caller features iOS 26 has to offer, spell up and instal that one. After all, Apple had each summertime to weed done nan astir problematic bugs during its beta shape and usually releases a caller update soon aft nan first launch.

iOS 26 features to effort retired first

Liquid Glass design: Your location surface is getting revamped pinch caller app icons, including acheronian mode and all-clear options. You'll besides announcement buttons pinch a caller floating design. Liquid Glass, successful Apple's terms, was designed to make each of nan company's operating systems much visually cohesive.

Phone app redesign: You tin yet scroll done contacts, caller calls and voicemail messages each connected 1 screen. It besides comes pinch a caller characteristic called Hold Assist that'll notify you erstwhile an supplier comes to nan telephone truthful you tin debar nan elevator music.

Live Translate: iOS 26 brings nan expertise to person a speech via telephone telephone aliases matter connection pinch personification who speaks different language. Live Translate will construe your speech successful existent time.

Polls feature: Coming to group messages successful nan Messages app, chat members tin now create polls. This tin thief forestall nan unwanted 30+ messages erstwhile it comes to deciding which edifice you're gathering astatine this weekend.

New fastener surface options: More customizable iPhone fastener surface options are disposable pinch iOS 26, including a cooler clock, 3D wallpaper effects, much widgets and amended attraction mode options.

Snooze longer (or shorter): Say goodbye to nan 9-minute snooze mounting successful your alarms (if you want). You now person nan action to alteration your snooze time from 1 to 15 minutes.

Fresh Camera app design: You'll find nan Camera app is simpler to navigate successful iOS 26, pinch each nan buttons and menus located successful convenient spots. That intends little swiping, much photograph taking. Plus, there's a caller characteristic that tells you if your lens is excessively dirty.

Screenshot revamps: When you return a screenshot, you now person nan action to hunt for nan image connected Google (maybe you're looking for a sweater you saw connected a celeb) and you tin inquire ChatGPT questions astir nan photograph — each from nan edit screen. It's for illustration a reverse image hunt but without each nan difficult work.