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Apple has unveiled iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, two of the most ambitious updates in recent years. Both platforms introduce a bold Liquid Glass design, smarter system intelligence, and major app enhancements. But the question on everyone's mind is: "Will my iPhone or iPad support it?"
This article gives you a complete compatibility guide for iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, covering which iPhones and iPads are supported, which features require newer chips, and what makes these updates worth installing.
iOS 26 Compatible iPhones
Apple has drawn a clear line: iOS 26 requires the A13 Bionic chip or newer, meaning older devices like the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max won't make the cut. If you own an iPhone 11 or later, you're in luck.
Supported iPhone Models
- iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation)
- iPhone 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13, 13 Mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16 series (16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, 16e)
- iPhone 17 series (expected to ship with iOS 26 pre-installed)
Dropped iPhones
- iPhone XR
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
These models stop receiving major updates, although security patches may continue briefly.
Apple Intelligence on iPhones: Limited to A17 Pro and Newer
While iOS 26 runs on many iPhones, Apple Intelligence—Apple's AI-powered assistant—is limited to the most powerful models:
- iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
- All iPhone 16 models
These devices can generate Genmoji, summarize voicemails, translate calls in real time, and more. Standard iPhone 11–15 models get the new design and usability improvements but miss out on deep AI features.
iPadOS 26 Compatible iPads
Like iPhones, iPads also face a hardware cutoff. iPadOS 26 requires at least an A12 chip, which means the 7th-gen iPad with an A10 is left behind.
Supported iPad Models
- iPad (8th generation and newer)
- iPad mini (5th generation and newer)
- iPad Air (3rd generation and newer), including M1, M2, and M3 models
- iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and newer)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and newer)
Dropped iPad
iPad (7th generation)
Apple Intelligence on iPads: M-Series and A17 Pro Required
Just like with iPhones, Apple Intelligence requires modern silicon. Only iPads with M1/M2/M3/M4 chips or the A17 Pro chip support features like:
- Genmoji
- Smart Writing Tools
- Visual understanding of screenshots
- System-wide language translation
That includes newer iPad Air, iPad mini, and iPad Pro models.
Perhaps the biggest win for iPad users: Stage Manager—Apple's multitasking feature—now runs on all iPads that support iPadOS 26. That means iPad 8, iPad mini 5, and iPad Air 3 users can finally enjoy resizable, overlapping windows.
However, external display support for Stage Manager remains exclusive to M1 iPads and newer due to performance requirements.What's New in iOS 26 and iPadOS 26?
Liquid Glass Design
A fresh, translucent interface where app elements react dynamically to light and content.
Revamped Control Center, widgets, Safari menus, and Lock Screen for a more modern look.
App Enhancements
- Phone & Messages: call screening, live translation, group polls, voicemail summaries.
- Safari: cleaner menus and better accessibility features.
- Apple Music: lyric translation and phonetic guides.
- Camera: new swipe-based controls and lens-cleaning alerts.
Device Intelligence Features
- Smart battery charge estimates
- Personalized wake-up alarms
- HDR screenshots and spatial photos
- On-device summaries for reminders and notifications
Compatibility Summary Table
| Device Family | OS 26 Compatible? | Apple Intelligence? | Key Notes |
| iPhone 11 series | √ | × | Entry-level support |
| iPhone 12–14 series | √ | × | No AI tools |
| iPhone 15 (base) | √ | × | AI only on Pro |
| iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max | √ | √ | Full AI support |
| iPhone 16 series | √ | √ | Ships with iOS 26 |
| iPad (8th gen+) | √ | × | Stage Manager local only |
| iPad mini (5th gen+) | √ | Partial (A17 Pro) | Compact AI support |
| iPad Air (3rd gen+) | √ | √ (M-series) | Full multitasking |
| iPad Pro (2018+) | √ | √ (M-series) | Pro-level features |
| iPhone XR / XS / XS Max | × | — | Dropped |
| iPad (7th gen) | × | — | Dropped |
Final Thoughts
Apple's iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 strike a balance between forward-looking innovation and wide accessibility. If you own an iPhone 11 or newer or an iPad (8th gen or later), you'll get the update. But if you want Apple Intelligence, you'll need the latest chips.
Whether you're after the futuristic Liquid Glass design, smarter multitasking, or cutting-edge AI tools, OS 26 represents a milestone in Apple's software evolution.
