Thanks to a reliable tip from iPhoneSoft, we may already know device compatibility for the upcoming updates to Apple’s flagship operating system coming next year.
The report indicates that each and every iPhone model that recently supports iOS 18 will also support iOS 19, like every year, some features would possibly be limited to newer phones. Still, it means another year of help for iPhones as old as the iPhone XS and XR, first released in 2018.
However, some iPad models will no longer be able to be updated to iPadOS 19.
The iPad powered by A10 (seventh generation, released in 2019) may not be able to be updated to iPadOS 19. This will bring the minimum processor specification for iPadOS to the A12 chip. Otherwise, all other iPad owners may give a sign of relief, as they will receive another full year of free iPad software updates with new features.
iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 are expected to be previewed in Developer starting in June 2025, with a public release around September 2025. They will remain “updated” until September 2026.
It’s still unclear what features iOS 19 will include. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman previously warned that extended work on iOS 18 features had fallen a bit behind iOS 19’s schedule. iPhoneSoft says iOS 19 may also be another update small in terms of new core features
There is also the question of ongoing Apple Intelligence updates. If many of the new features in the new OS will require Apple Intelligence, then the effective supported hardware cutoff is much more recent.
It may even seem inappropriate to think about iOS 19 when several high-level features promised for iOS 18 are not yet available, or don’t even appear in the developer beta channel. This includes AI features such as priority notifications on the lock screen, in-app movements driven by app intents, understanding of non-public context, and on-screen Siri detection.
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