Recent updates to the iPhone have ushered in significant changes, especially with the release of iOS 18.2, which introduced several innovative AI-driven features. If you’re using an older iPhone, it’s natural to wonder whether your device can keep up with future updates. Thankfully, there’s good news: if your iPhone is compatible with iOS 18, it should also support iOS 19, as suggested by a recent leak.
This information comes from the French website iPhoneSoft. While Apple typically offers five years of support for its devices, some models enjoy extended compatibility. According to the leak, any device capable of downloading and running iOS 18 will also be able to install iOS 19, though certain features may be restricted.
Limiting features to optimize update compatibility isn’t a new practice. This is part of the regular iPhone update cycle, and the latest update has already rolled out features that are exclusive to the newest iPhones. Even the iPhone 14 has fallen behind in this regard.
The leak indicates that any device starting from the iPhone XR and newer will be eligible for the upcoming update. This includes models like the iPhone XS, XS Max, and the 2020 iPhone SE, as well as the iPhone 11 and later. However, the upcoming iPadOS 19 will leave certain iPad models unsupported.
The iPad Mini (5th generation), iPad (8th generation), iPad Air (3rd generation), and iPad Pro (2018 or newer) are expected to be compatible with the new update, while devices older than these will lack the necessary capabilities to run iOS 19.
The continued support for devices as far back as 2018 suggests that iOS 19 might not represent a drastic shift from the current features. It seems Apple’s focus may lean more towards enhancing existing functionalities, particularly around its AI capabilities.
