Apple’s massive iPhone software update is going on general release on Monday, Sept. 16. So, the big question is, will it work with your iPhone. The good news is there’s a lot of backward compatibility here, as you’ll see from the list of supported phones below. But there’s a fly in the ointment: the marquee feature of Apple Intelligence will only work with two current iPhones. Here’s all you need to know.
Back in June 2024, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman referred to iOS 18 like this: “In fact, some engineers are signaling that it will be the biggest-ever revamp to iOS.”
Exciting, no? And if you’re mid-contract or for some other reason can’t update your iPhone to the iPhone 16 series, you may still be in luck. Compatible phones stretch all the way back to the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xr released in 2018. Here’s the list in full:
iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, iPhone Xr, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, 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 SE 2nd generation and iPhone SE 3rd generation.
If that list looks familiar, it’s because it’s identical to the list of supported devices for iOS 17. Nothing dropped off the list this time around. In other words, if your iPhone can run iOS 17, it can handle iOS 18.
But. While it’s usual for new software releases to bring some but not all new features to older phones, the big difference this time around is Apple Intelligence.
As you’ll know, this is Apple’s take on AI, promising new tools that are designed, as CEO Tim Cook put it at the recent Apple special event, “to change people’s lives.” It includes ways to improve your writing, instantly generated images and emoji, plus a more powerful Siri.
The trouble is, apart from the upcoming iPhone 16 series, the only handsets that can run Apple Intelligence are the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
That’s not to say there’s not a lot to love about iOS 18 outside Apple Intelligence. There’s a lot more customization, cool features like real-time transcription of voice memos (brilliant for students in lectures, for instance), improvements to Messages including better compatibility with Android users, a very useful Passwords app and lots more. That may be enough for you. But if you must have Apple Intelligence too, and you don’t run an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, then an upgrade to the iPhone 16 series awaits.
