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These are the device requirements for iOS 26 and iPadOS 26
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An iPhone and iPad running iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, respectively
(Image credit: Apple / Future)
iOS 26 compatibility
iPadOS 26 compatibility
Feature compatibility
Both iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 are now available to download, but which iPhone and iPad models are supported by Apple’s latest updates?
Apple confirmed the device requirements for iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 at its WWDC 2025 showcase in June, and now that both updates are out in the wild, we’ve listed every supported model in this dedicated compatibility guide.
If your device supports iOS 26 or iPadOS 26, it will also be compatible with all subsequent versions of the software (e.g., iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and so on).
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We also have details on which iOS or iPadOS features aren’t available on every device, since Apple continues to restrict certain tools to newer Apple chipsets.
iOS 26 compatibility
An iPhone 16 Pro Max running iOS 26 (Image credit: Apple)
Apple has confirmed that all iPhone models including and newer than the iPhone 11 – in other words, any iPhone with the A13 Bionic chipset or better – are compatible with iOS 26.
Note that this is a slightly different eligibility criteria from iOS 18, which included the iPhone XS and iPhone XR. So, if you’re currently using either of those models, you’ll need to upgrade to a newer iPhone to qualify for iOS 26.
The full list of iOS 26-compatible iPhones is as follows:
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iPhone 17 Pro
iPhone 17 Pro Max
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone SE (2022)
iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone SE (2020)
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPadOS 26 compatibility
iPadOS 26 was announced at WWDC 2025 (Image credit: Apple)
Almost all iPad models are available in multiple sizes, as well as Wi-Fi-only and Wi-Fi + Cellular configurations, so in the interest of readability, we’ve grouped the below list of iPadOS 26-compatible models into dated categories:
iPad Pro models from 2018 and later (3rd generation onwards)
iPad Air models from 2019 and later (3rd generation onwards)
iPad models from 2020 and later (8th generation onwards)
iPad mini models from 2019 and later (5th generation onwards)
As with iOS 26, not every iPad that runs iPadOS 18 is compatible with iPadOS 26. Specifically, Apple has dropped support for the iPad 10.2-inch (2019).
If, however, you own a newer iPad that’s already running iPadOS 18, you’ll be able to download iPadOS 26.
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Feature compatibility
Some features, like Genmoji, are exclusive to certain iPhones (Image credit: Future)
Not every iOS 26 and iPadOS 26-compatible iPhone and iPad can benefit from every iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 feature.
Apple Intelligence features, for instance, are exclusive to devices running Apple’s M-series, A19, A19 Pro, A18, A18 Pro, and A17 Pro chipsets, while the Messages via Satellite tool is limited to the iPhone 14 series and newer.
These features were, however, already introduced with iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, so it’s best to think of them as exclusive to those software packages, rather than to iOS 26 and iPadOS 26.
Below, we’ve detailed a list of exclusive iOS and iPadOS features, alongside their respective device requirements.
Apple Intelligence features – iPhone Air, iPhone 17 series, iPhone 16 series, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and M1/A17 Pro-equipped iPads
Messages via Satellite – iPhone 14 or newer, no iPads
Audio transcription in Notes – iPhone 12 or newer, see here for compatible iPad models
Eye tracking – iPhone 12 or newer, see here for compatible iPad models
Music Haptics – iPhone 12 or newer, no iPads
Wireless smart lock opening – iPhone XR or newer, no iPads
Enhance Dialogue feature in Apple TV – iPhone 11 or newer, all iOS 18-compatible iPads
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Phones Editor
Axel is TechRadar’s Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site’s Mobile Computing vertical. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion.
Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.
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