Apple’s sweeping iOS 26 update brings a bold new Liquid Glass UI, AI-powered features, and more—but not everyone gets to join in. Unfortunately, three older iPhone models are being left behind:
❌ iPhone XS • iPhone XS Max • iPhone XR
📱 Why These Models Lost Support
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Released in 2018 and powered by the A12 Bionic chip, these phones no longer meet Apple’s hardware requirements.
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iOS 26 demands an A13 Bionic or newer, which starts with the iPhone 11 series
🎉 iPhones Still Getting iOS 26
If you have any of these, you’re all set:
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iPhone 11 and later (iPhone 11 Pro, SE 2nd gen, up through iPhone 16 series)
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Including newer SE models, all the way to iPhone 16e, 16, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, and the upcoming iPhone 17
🧩 What You’ll Miss
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All users will enjoy the Liquid Glass design, improved apps, CarPlay, and messages.
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But Apple Intelligence (AI) features, like Visual Intelligence, GenMoji, live translation, and AI-powered reminders, are exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and newer models – though older supported phones still get non-AI updates
✅ Should You Upgrade?
If you're still on an iPhone XS, XS Max, or XR, iOS 26 will be your last major software update. Although Apple continues issuing security patches, you'll miss essential UI and feature upgrades—and future app compatibility may decline. Consider upgrading (e.g., to at least an iPhone 11 or SE 2nd gen) to stay current with features and security.
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