iOS 26 Public Beta 6 Is Here: Is Your iPhone Eligible?

[justseyi]

 

Apple has just rolled out iOS 26 public beta 6, and the big question is: will your iPhone or iPad make the cut? Alongside the new beta, the countdown is on for Apple’s next event — the iPhone 17 launch, themed “awe dropping,” set for Tuesday, Sept. 9. If Apple sticks to its usual timeline, iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 should arrive for everyone about a week later.

And yes, the update is packed with changes — from the eye-catching Liquid Glass design to fresh tools like Live Translate on AirPods and redesigned core apps. After two weeks of hands-on testing, Apple says the public beta is stable enough for everyday use, though as always with beta software, you’ll want to proceed with caution.

But before you rush to install it, let’s break down which iPhones and iPads are confirmed to run iOS 26 — and which ones are losing support this year.

iPhones That Won’t Support iOS 26
Unlike last year, when every eligible model carried over, three iPhones from 2018 are officially getting left behind:

iPhone XR
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max

iPhones Compatible With iOS 26
If your iPhone was released in 2019 or later, you’re safe. Here’s the full list:

iPhone SE (2nd gen or later)
iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max
iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max
iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max
iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max
iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max
iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, 16e

iPads Compatible With iPadOS 26
iPad Pro (M4)
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd gen and later)
iPad Pro 11-inch (1st gen and later)
iPad Air (3rd gen and later, including M2 & M3)
iPad (8th gen and later, including A16)
iPad mini (5th gen and later, including A17 Pro)
Plus, any new iPads launching later this year

What If Your iPhone Isn’t Eligible?
You can keep using your older device, but you’ll miss out on security updates, future app compatibility, and of course, iOS 26’s newest features. That could leave your phone more vulnerable over time.

Expected Release Date
Looking at Apple’s usual rollout, iOS 26 should land on Tuesday, Sept. 16 — one week after the iPhone 17 event.

iOS 26 Features We’re Excited About
Liquid Glass design: Revamped home screen, redesigned icons, floating buttons, dark mode, and a sleeker unified look across Apple devices.

Phone app redesign: Unified screen for contacts, recents, and voicemail, plus Hold Assist to alert you when a call connects.

Live Translate: Real-time translation for calls and texts, rumored to extend to AirPods.

Polls in Messages: Group chats can now vote instead of spamming replies.

Lock screen upgrades: 3D wallpapers, new clocks, better widgets, and improved Focus mode.

Custom snooze times: Change alarm snoozes from 1–15 minutes.

Camera app refresh: Cleaner layout, smart lens-clean alert.

Screenshot tools: Built-in Google search and ChatGPT integration directly from the edit screen.

Bottom Line

The arrival of iOS 26 marks one of Apple’s biggest design overhauls in years. If your device is eligible, you’ll be able to try features like Liquid Glass, smarter apps, and a streamlined experience as early as mid-September. But if you’re holding onto an older iPhone from 2018, now may be the time to consider an upgrade.

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