Thanks to a usually-reliable tip off from iPhoneSoft, we may already know device compatibility for Apple’s next major operating system updates coming next year.
The report says that every iPhone model that currently supports iOS 18 will also support iOS 19, although like every year, some features may be limited to newer phones. Nevertheless, that means another year of support for iPhones as old as the iPhone XS and XR, first released in 2018.
However, some iPad models will be cutoff from updating to iPadOS 19.
The A10 powered iPad (7th generation, released 2019) will apparently not be able to update to iPadOS 19, nor will the second-generation iPad Pro (released 2017). This will bring the minimum processor spec for iPadOS up to the A12 chip. Apart from those exceptions, all other iPad owners can breathe a sign of relief as they will seemingly be getting 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 therefore remain ‘current’ until September 2026.
It isn’t clear yet what features iOS 19 will include. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has already suggested that prolonged work on iOS 18 features has delayed the iOS 19 schedule somewhat. iPhoneSoft indicates iOS 19 may be a smaller update in terms of major new features, too.
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 premature to be thinking about iOS 19 when several high-profile features promised for iOS 18 are yet to ship, or even appear in the developer beta channel. That includes AI features like Priority Notifications on the lock screen, App Intents powered in-app actions, personal context understanding and on-screen awareness for Siri.
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