iOS 26 & iPadOS 26 — What to expect

Apple will hold its iPhone event on Tuesday, Sept 9, 2025. The public release of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 is expected about a week later (around Sept 15–16), shortly before new iPhones hit stores.

Quick summary

• Major visual refresh called “Liquid Glass” with new app icons, floating buttons and more cohesive UI across devices.
• Other headline features: Live Translate (real-time call/text translation), Polls in Messages, redesigned Phone app, new lock screen options, longer/shorter alarm snooze choices, screenshot tools (Google search & ChatGPT integration), and Camera app refinements.
• Public beta available via the Apple Beta Software Program; developer betas (e.g., beta 9) include more features but are less stable. Beta installs carry typical risks.

Dropped iPhone models

Three iPhones first released in 2018 won’t be supported by iOS 26:

• iPhone XR
• iPhone XS
• iPhone XS Max

iPhones expected to be compatible (2019 and later)

If your iPhone was announced in 2019 or later, it should be able to run iOS 26. Notable supported models include:

• iPhone SE (2nd gen or later)
• iPhone 11 / 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max
• iPhone 12 / 12 mini / 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 / 13 mini / 13 Pro / 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 14 / 14 Plus / 14 Pro / 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 15 / 15 Plus / 15 Pro / 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 16 / 16 Plus / 16 Pro / 16 Pro Max / 16e

iPads compatible with iPadOS 26

• iPad Pro (M4)
• iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (3rd gen and later)
• iPad Pro 11‑inch (1st gen and later)
• iPad Air (3rd gen and later, including M2 and M3)
• iPad (8th gen and later, including A16)
• iPad mini (5th gen and later, including A17 Pro)

What if you don’t upgrade?

You can keep using an older, unsupported iPhone, but it will miss future iOS features and may stop receiving security updates — increasing exposure to security risks and app incompatibilities.

Where to find official info

• Apple newsroom preview: Apple — iOS 26 preview
• Apple Beta Software Program: beta.apple.com
• Apple support (iOS update info & release notes): support.apple.com

Planning tips

• Back up your device before installing any beta or the final release.
• If you depend on your phone for daily work, avoid early betas — use the public beta only if you can tolerate occasional bugs.

Have questions or want a deeper walkthrough of a specific feature? Reply below and we’ll expand the post.