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Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Technology
Philip Michaels

iOS 26 — do you need to upgrade your iPhone this fall?

Liquid Glass lock screens on iPhones.

Getting an updated operating system can be like getting a brand new phone sometimes, especially if that update brings vital new features to your old device. And certainly, the recently previewed iOS 26 promises big changes, starting with an entirely new look for your iPhone.

But as we've previously noted, not every advertised iOS 26 feature is going to reach every iPhone capable of running the software update. Several major additions depend on Apple Intelligence, meaning you'll need an iPhone 15 Pro or later to reap the full benefits of iOS 26.

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