Apple's iOS 26, launched on 15 September, introduces a new 'Liquid Glass' aesthetic and requires an A13 Bionic chip or newer. This means the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR are no longer supported for new features, though they will still receive critical security updates for a year or two.
The update brings a redesigned camera app with a minimalist interface, an improved photos app, new messaging features like polls and dynamic backgrounds, and call screening in the phone app. The full list of compatible iPhones includes all models from the iPhone 11 series onwards, as well as the iPhone SE (2nd generation) and newer.
However, Apple Intelligence features—such as generative writing tools, advanced photo editing, and a smarter Siri—are reserved for iPhones with the A17 Pro chip or newer, limiting these AI capabilities to the latest flagship devices.
For those looking to upgrade, the iPhone 17 Pro features a new horizontal camera bar, A19 Pro chip, and 8x optical zoom. Users can check for the iOS 26.1 update by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
