At Apple’s “Awe Dropping” event, one of Apple’s biggest events of the year, where the iPhone 17 series and other new hardware were unveiled, good news also came from the software front. The official release date for iOS 26, which has been in beta testing for months, has finally been announced. Here are the details.
iOS 26 New Features and Supported Models
First unveiled at WWDC in June and in beta since then, iOS 26 is now ready for all users after three months of testing. Apple will release the new operating system for all compatible iPhone models on Monday, September 15th.
iOS 26 comes with many new features that will significantly enhance the user experience. Among the most notable innovations are the “Liquid Glass” interface design and major updates to Apple Wallet, CarPlay, and Messages.
Here’s the list of compatible iPhones announced by Apple:
- All new iPhone 17 models
- iPhone 16e, iPhone 16, and 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 15 and 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 14 and 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13 and 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12 and 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11 and 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)
An important detail to note in this list is that the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR do not support iOS 26. While these devices can run iOS 18, they are being phased out by the new major update. Although Apple will continue to provide security updates for these older models, you will need to own one of the models listed to take advantage of iOS 26’s new features and “Liquid Glass” design.
So, what do you think of iOS 26? Share your thoughts in the comments.
