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Which devices are compatible with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and more?

Tom Rolfe

Apple’s 2025 software updates include iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, and watchOS 26.

But which devices are capable of running these updates? Apple typically supports devices with the latest software for 5+ years, but inevitably some models drop off the compatibility list each year. So here’s a cheat sheet to which kit works with the latest updates in 2025.

iOS 26

Most of the iPhones than could run iOS 18 last year will have no problem with iOS 26 – with a few notable exceptions. If you still use an iPhone XR, XS, or XS Max, you’re out of luck. Those three devices have dropped off the compatibility list this year and will be stuck at iOS 18 for the rest of their lifespan.

Also remember that as before, most of the Apple Intelligence features are only available on certain models – broadly speaking, that’s the iPhone 15 Pro and later.

Here’s the full list of iPhones compatible with iOS 26. We’ve put a lightning bolt next to the AI-ready models.

iPadOS 26

Only one device is on the chopping block compared to last year’s list. If you own a 7th-gen iPad, sadly you’ll be stuck with iOS 18. Everything else listed below is compatible with iPadOS 26.

Again, we’ve marked the models that work with Apple Intelligence with a lightning bolt.

macOS Tahoe 26

The newest operating system for Mac culls some older machines. Last year’s update worked on some models from 2017, but you’ll need something a minimum of two years newer to run Tahoe. Apple Intelligence compatibility is a bit different for Mac – essentially, if it has Apple silicon (M1 and above) it’s AI-ready. If you’re not sure which Mac you have, see Apple’s identification guide.

watchOS 26

Good news for Apple Watch owners. No models have been cut this year – it’s the exact same compatibility list we published for the previous update!

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