(Credit: Apple/PCMag)
Apple's upcoming iOS 18 release is set to bring tons of new features and functionality to iPhone users, and while the company's new iPhone 16 lineup is designed to help you make the most of those new features, having the latest and greatest phone isn't necessarily a requirement. Even if you're rocking an iPhone that's a few years old, you'll still be able to upgrade to iOS 18 and use many (but not all) of the new AI features the company teased during its Glowtime launch event.
If you're unsure whether your phone will support the new OS or not, don't worry—we dug into the release notes to find exactly which devices will be able to run iOS 18 when it's released on September 16. Those devices include:
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)
If you have one of these models, when update day arrives, you can either wait for your phone to remind you with a pop-up alert that it's available, or you can force a manual update by heading to Settings > General, then tapping Software Update.
If you're still rocking an older model that's not listed above, it might be time for an upgrade. Doing so will not only allow you to reap the benefits of the latest version of iOS, but also ensure that your device stays up to date on critical software patches and security updates. To that end, here's a quick rundown of how to preorder the iPhone 16, and how to sell your existing iPhone.
Alternatively, you could also come to the dark side and switch to an Android phone. There's plenty of great options available right now (we're particularly fond of Samsung's Galaxy S24 and Google's new Pixel 9), and you don't have to wait around for them to launch.