Apple iOS 26 Release Date, iPhones Eligible For iOS Update: All You Need To Know

Apple has announced its largest software overhaul in a decade at 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference, launching a “Liquid Glass” interface and announcing that iOS (and other Apple OS) will be rebranded as per year, making the next OS update iOS 26.

The Cupertino major has promised that Liquid Glass, a new translucent material, will make the UI more fluid, dynamic, and personalised, add a new dimension to elements such as screen, apps, and widgets, and bring content front and centre.

But when exactly is Apple iOS 26 release date, and which iPhones will be eligible for iOS 26? Read on to know more. 

To give developers early access to software, Apple has released the first developer betas for iOS 26. The public beta will be available next month.

New software features will be available this fall, Apple has confirmed. Apple launched iOS 18 in September last year, and the same goes for iOS 17 in 2023. Going by history, iOS 26 release date should be in September this year, and users with eligible devices would get access to the new interface and features.

Which begets the next question: Which iPhones are eligible for iOS 26?

According to Apple, iOS 26 features will be available for iPhone 11 and later:

• iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max.

• iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max.

• iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max.

• iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max.

• iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max.

• iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16e.

• iPhone SE (2020), iPhone SE 3rd (2022).

However, Apple Intelligence features compatible with iOS 26 will only be available on the following iPhones:

• iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max.

• iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16e.