The anticipated iPhone 16 series, which will be officially announced at Apple in less than a week, will be accompanied by iOS 18.
However, if you don't plan to upgrade to a newer iPhone model this year, you may find yourself with an operating system that is no longer supported by Apple.
Every year, several older iPhone models are removed from Apple's iOS compatibility list. For example, last year, the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X were excluded from the list. This meant that owners of these devices could not upgrade to iOS 17 and lost out on some important features.
Read more: iOS 18.1 beta 3 features – See what's new
iPhones compatible with iOS 18
We have good news: If your iPhone was compatible with iOS 17, it will remain compatible with iOS 18, according to Apple. That means you won't need to get a new device to enjoy most of the new features in the new software.
iPhone SE (second generation or later)
iPhone XR
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
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
In other words, if you have an iPhone from 2017 or earlier (like the iPhone 8 or iPhone X), you won't be able to upgrade to the latest version of iOS. However, your phone will still work, just without the latest features and innovations.
Is your iPhone compatible with Apple Intelligence?
While your older device may support the latest version of iOS, it's likely that you won't have access to the beta version of Apple Intelligence. Unless you have the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max — the top models of 2023. It's certain that the new iPhone 16 models will be fully compatible with Apple Intelligence, but we'll have to wait for official announcements at the September 9 event.
See more: iOS 18.1 Beta: New Apple Clean Up AI is coming
New iOS 18 features expected
Apple Intelligence is the biggest update coming with iOS 18, though the new features will roll out gradually over the coming months. The most advanced features won't be available on older iPhone models, except for the iPhone 15 Pro series. However, the rest of iOS 18's features will be accessible on the aforementioned devices. Here are some of the highlights you can expect when you download Apple's new software this month.
Password App: Securely store all your credentials in one place, including passwords and security alerts that you can access directly in the app. While this feature is already available in Settings, moving it to a new app will make it easier to find and access.
Improved Messages app: A new iMessages experience offers the ability to bold, italicize, underline, and strikethrough your text. Plus, you’ll be able to add animations to your messages. The update also brings RCS to iPhones, ensuring better compatibility with Android devices.
Organized photo library: The Photos app is getting a redesign, letting you create and pin your own collections — like “wedding photos” or “trip to Aruba.” It removes the current tabbed layout and adopts a grid layout. The updated “carousel” view introduced at WWDC has been removed during the beta process.
Personalized Home Screen Layout: Now you have the opportunity to rearrange your apps — you can, for example, leave the middle space open to display your home screen photo, keeping your apps only on the screen frame. You can also change the appearance of apps by painting them any color you like and adjusting their size.
Read more: iOS 18: The Phone app is upgraded with Apple Intelligence
There are many other tweaks and improvements to core apps like Maps, Calendar, Safari , and more.
Source: engadget
