Powered by Apple Intelligence, iOS 18 will be Apple's most important OS yet. Is your iPhone ready for it?

Apple is preparing to unveil its highly anticipated iPhone 16 lineup during the “It’s Glowtime” event today. These new devices will come pre-installed with iOS 18, so buyers won’t need to worry about upgrading their software upon purchase.

If you are not planning to get one of the new iPhones, it’s important to check if your current device will support iOS 18. Typically, Apple excludes some older iPhone models from the new operating system each year.

For example, last year, the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X were not eligible for the iOS 17 update, meaning those users missed out on several new features.

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To find out if your iPhone will be compatible with iOS 18, which is expected to become available in approximately two weeks, here is an overview of the models that will support the update.

iPhone Models Supported by iOS 18

If your iPhone was eligible for iOS 17, it should also support iOS 18. This means you won’t need to buy a new device to access most of the new features. The iPhones that will be compatible with iOS 18 include:
- iPhone SE (second generation or later)
- iPhone XR
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max

If you own an iPhone from 2017 or earlier, such as the iPhone 8 or iPhone X, you will not be able to upgrade to iOS 18. However, these older models will continue to function, albeit without the newest features.

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Apple Intelligence and iOS 18 Features
One of the most significant updates in iOS 18 is the introduction of Apple Intelligence. This advanced feature is expected to be available initially only on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. It is anticipated that the new iPhone 16 models will also support Apple Intelligence, but this will be confirmed during the September 9 event.

iOS 18 will bring a range of new features, though the most advanced ones will be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro series. Other iPhone models will still benefit from various updates. Among the notable changes is the introduction of a new app dedicated to securely storing all your credentials, including passwords and security alerts. This app is designed to make accessing your information easier compared to the current approach in Settings.

The Messages app will receive enhancements, including the ability to bold, italicise, underline, and strikethrough text. Text messages will also be able to include animations, and iPhones will gain support for Rich Communication Services (RCS), which improves compatibility with Android devices.

The Photos app will be redesigned to allow users to create and pin custom collections, such as trips to your favourite holidays, or your favourite cafes. The update shifts from the current tabbed layout to a grid format, although the carousel view showcased at WWDC has been removed during the beta phase.

Additionally, the home screen will become more customisable, with users able to rearrange apps and leave the centre space open for a home screen photo. Apps can also be tinted with various colours or made larger, offering a more personalised experience.

A beta version of iOS 18 is currently available for download. However, as beta software often includes glitches and other issues, it might be advisable to wait for the official release, which is just days away.