A leaked device compatibility list suggests that Apple’s iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 updates could lose support for some older iPhones and iPads.
Whereas iOS 18 requires Apple’s A12 Bionic chip, leaked system requirements suggest iOS 26 (Apple will rename its operating systems) will drop support for the A12 chip and require at least the A13 Bionic, which powers the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, second-generation iPhone SE and ninth-generation iPad. In other words, iOS 26 should support the iPhone 11 and later.
MacRumors says the information was shared via a private account on X that has accurately provided information on device compatibility in the past. “The source that shared the information also provided details on the devices that would be compatible with iOS 18 ahead of when iOS 18 was unveiled,” notes the publication. A week later, the site ran a similar story reiterating these requirements by “a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing iOS-related information.”
Alleged iOS 26 19 and iPadOS 26 device compatibility list
Due to the rumored A12 requirement, iOS 26 should lose support for the 2018-released iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. iPadOS 26 apparently won’t run on the seventh-generation iPad, which runs the A10 Fusion chip. Interestingly, the leaked iPadOS 26 system requirements suggest that iPads powered by the A12 chip, like the fifth-generation iPad mini, might actually be supported.
iOS 26 device compatibility list:
- 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 generation or later)
iOS and iPadOS 26 continue gradually phasing out older devices, a trend that started in prior releases. For example, even though the current iOS 18 operating system runs on precisely the same iPhone models as iOS 17, iPadOS 18 drops support for the iPad models powered by the A10 Fusion chip: the 10.5-inch iPad Pro (2017), second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2017) and 9.7-inch iPad (2018).
iOS and iPadOS 26 wont’ support all features across all compatible devices. Some capabilities require newer hardware, like Apple Intelligence on iOS 18, which requires an iPhone 15 Pro or newer. Also, some features are restricted to specific countries, regions and locales, as highlighted on Apple’s iOS Feature Availability page.
Apple will preview iOS 26 and other updates to its operating systems at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which will run from June 9 through 13. The updates will be released to the public this fall. iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS 26 are rumored to bring a significant redesign of the user interface.