Apple’s getting ready to unveil iOS 19 at WWDC 2025. But here’s the catch: some older iPhones might miss out on the update. A recent rumor points to three models from 2018—the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max—potentially losing support.
This info comes from an anonymous source on X, known for their accuracy with Apple’s software predictions. If these models do get dropped, it aligns with Apple’s typical trend of providing roughly six years of major software updates before ending full support. Take the iPhone X; it missed out on iOS 18 last year, and the iPhone 8 series lost support after iOS 16.
So, which iPhones are likely to receive iOS 19? Here’s the list:
– iPhone 17, 17 Air, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max
– iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max
– iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max
– iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max
– iPhone 13, 13 Mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max
– iPhone 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max
– iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max
– iPhone SE 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation
But there’s a twist: not everyone agrees with the rumor about the XR, XS, and XS Max being dropped. An earlier leak from iPhoneSoft claimed that any device running iOS 18 would also be compatible with iOS 19. So, it’s still up in the air which report is accurate.
What does this mean for users? Even if the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR don’t get iOS 19, they won’t become obsolete right away. Apple usually rolls out security updates for older devices to shield them from vulnerabilities. For instance, the iPhone 8 and iPhone X recently received updates that included security patches.
On the iPad side, the 7th-gen iPad from 2019, which features the A10 Fusion chip, might also miss out. However, most other iPads are expected to receive the update.
As for iOS 19 itself, it’s rumored to bring the biggest redesign in a decade. Expect a fresh interface, upgraded Apple Intelligence features, a new camera app, and deeper AI capabilities. There are even talks of live translation for AirPods and AI-driven health coaching. But some features might only roll out on newer models, similar to how iOS 18 restricted certain AI features to the iPhone 15 Pro and later.
Apple is set to officially announce iOS 19 on June 9, 2025, during WWDC. A beta version should follow soon after, with the final release likely happening in September alongside the next-gen iPhone models.
