Apple just unveiled the iPhone 17 lineup alongside iOS 26, it's latest software update which will be available starting Monday, September 15th 2025.
If you’re an iPhone owner and you’re wondering what this update means for you, you’re not alone.
Here’s a simple breakdown to clear things up.
What are iOS upgrades and why do they matter?
Every September, Apple rolls out a major update to the software that powers your iPhone. Each release comes with a new number — iOS 16, iOS 17, iOS 18, and so on. But this year, Apple surprised everyone by jumping straight to iOS 26, breaking from its usual naming sequence.
These major releases contain new features designed to make your phone overall easier and more enjoyable to use. They also offer new functionality for app developers to make their apps more capable.
Between major releases, Apple also rolls out a series of minor releases (ie iOS 18.1, iOS 18.2 etc) which primarily fix bugs and patch any newly discovered security gaps.
[By the way, the jump to iOS26 wasn’t complete marketing nonsense: they synced the release number with the year to get naming consistency across their iPhone, iPad and Macbook software]
Will my phone get iOS 26?
Because each major iOS upgrade requires more computing power, Apple usually removes one generation of iPhone to the list of devices that will receive the upgrade - though last year, in a rare move, every phone that supported iOS 17 also made the cut for iOS 18.
This year, however, Apple is reverting to its usual approach, adding the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max to the list of devices excluded from the iOS 26 update.
Older phones that already did not receive a previous major release (see list below for full breakdown) were also on the list of excluded models for iOS 26.
The iPhone 11, iPhone SE 2nd Gen and newer generations will all be eligible to upgrade to iOS 26.
I own an iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max – what does this mean for me?
If you own one of these models, you are in what we call the Goldilocks Zone.
iPhones in the Goldilocks zone are one major OS behind (in this case iOS 18) and won’t get the new features included in iOS 26, but are covered when it comes to the two most important considerations: 1) app compatibility 2) security.
App compatibility refers to the number of apps that still support your major iOS version. Many large app developers have a policy of supporting the current iOS version and the previous iOS release. So if you have an iPhone that's one generation behind, all of your apps should work flawlessly … until the new update rolls around next September, at which point, some apps will stop working on your phone.
If you're wondering about a specific app, make sure to check out our App Compatibility Checker. It will tell you which operating system the app requires, and which phones will run the app (and for how long)!
Security refers to whether or not Apple is patching all known security vulnerabilities for your phone. Apple is a bit cagey about this, but our read is that — like the app developers — they are committed to supporting the current and one previous major iOS release. Older iOS versions should get some security updates, but they do not seem to guarantee coverage any further back.
So if you own an iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max, your phone will work exactly as-is for another year: you won’t get any of the new features of iOS 26, but you’ll be able to use all you’re favourite apps for (at least) one more year, and you’ll continue to get security updates as well.
I own an iPhone 8/8 Plus/X or an older generation of phone
As an owner of an older model iPhone, you are already (at least) three major operating systems ‘behind’: the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X did not receive iOS17.
In terms of security, Apple has been a bit cagey here, but our understanding is that they do not patch all security vulnerabilities for phones running operating systems more than one major release old (in this case iOS18). So, you have some vulnerability in terms of security.
Secondly, app developers will increasingly stop supporting your iOS version. By now, you have probably seen the “Cannot download“ message, pictured below when trying to download an app incompatible with your current iOS.
This does not happen all at once, but as app developers release versions that take advantage of iOS 26’s new features, they will drop support for older iOS versions. It all depends on the sophistication of the app in question, and developers’ commitment to supporting all potential customers: many app developers will support iOS 26, iOS 18 and even iOS17. But increasingly, apps will drop support for iOS 16.
Is there an app you just can't live without? Use our compatibility tool to determine what devices can run that app (and for how long!)
For these two reasons, if you own an iPhone X or earlier model, we recommend upgrading your phone to an iPhone SE 3rd Gen, iPhone 12 or more recent model as those models will continue to receive software support for another 2 years.
If you'd like to compare different iPhone (and even Android) models side by side, we built a nifty comparison tool with all the important info!
A List of iPhone models and their latest major iOS version
iPhone: iOS3 (3.1.3)
iPhone 3G: iOS4 (4.2.1)
iPhone 3GS: iOS6 (6.16)
iPhone 4: iOS7 (7.1.2)
iPhone 4S: iOS9 (9.3.5)
iPhone 5: iOS10 (10.3.4)
iPhone 5C iOS10 (iOS10.3.4)
iPhone 5S iOS12 (12.5.5)
iPhone 6: iOS12 (12.5.5)
iPhone 6 Plus: iOS12 (12.5.5)
iPhone 6S: iOS15 (15.6)
iPhone 6S Plus: iOS15 (15.6)
iPhone SE 2016: iOS15 (15.6)
iPhone 7: iOS15 (15.6)
iPhone 7 Plus: iOS15 (15.6)
iPhone 8: iOS16
iPhone 8 Plus: iOS 16
iPhone X: iOS16
iPhone XR: iOS18 (Goldilocks zone)
iPhone XS: iOS18 (Goldilocks zone)
iPhone XS Max: iOS18 (Goldilocks zone)
iPhone SE 2020: iOS 26 (latest available version)
iPhone 11 Pro: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 11 Pro Max: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 12 Mini: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone SE 2022: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 12: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 12 Pro: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 12 Pro Max: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 13 Mini: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 13: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 13 Pro: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 13 Pro Max: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 14: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 14 Plus: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 14 Pro: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 14 Pro Max: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 15: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 15 Plus: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 15 Pro: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 15 Pro Max: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 16: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 16 Plus: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 16 Pro: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 16 Pro Max: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 17: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone Air: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 17 Pro: iOS26 (latest available version)
iPhone 17 Pro Max: iOS26 (latest available version)
