The expected iOS 28 device list
Apple announces compatibility at the keynote and never expands it afterward — so the question every year is only ever which models fall off the bottom. Based on Apple's support cadence, here's where every iPhone stands for iOS 28:
| iPhone | Chip | iOS 28 outlook |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 series (2026) | A20 | Certain |
| iPhone 17 / 17 Pro / Air (2025) | A19 | Certain |
| iPhone 16 series (2024) | A18 | Certain |
| iPhone 15 / 15 Pro (2023) | A16 / A17 Pro | Safe |
| iPhone 14 series (2022) | A15 / A16 | Safe |
| iPhone SE 3rd gen (2022) | A15 | Likely |
| iPhone 13 series (2021) | A15 | Likely |
| iPhone 12 series (2020) | A14 | On the bubble |
| iPhone 11 series and older | A13 and earlier | Unlikely |
The bubble: iPhone 12 and iPhone 13
Every year one or two generations sit on the cut line, and for iOS 28 that's the A14 and A15 phones.
iPhone 13 series — probably in
The A15 Bionic is one of the most widely deployed chips Apple has ever made: it powers the iPhone 13 lineup, the SE 3rd gen, and the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus. Dropping the A15 would cut five popular models at once, which is exactly the kind of cliff Apple avoids. That shared silicon is the iPhone 13's best insurance policy for iOS 28.
iPhone 12 series — genuinely uncertain
By September 2027 the iPhone 12 turns seven — the outer edge of Apple's software support window. The A14 is still capable, but it's the oldest chip in the lineup once the iPhone 11 exits, and 4 GB of RAM is increasingly tight for a system that keeps growing AI workloads. Our call: slightly more likely dropped than kept. If you own one and were considering an upgrade anyway, don't let iOS 28 be the only reason — but know it may be your phone's last major version either way, since dropped devices still receive security updates for years.
How Apple has drawn the line before
The projection above follows directly from this table — Apple supports iPhones for six to seven years, trimming from the bottom in most cycles:
| Version | Year | Oldest supported iPhone | Age at cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS 16 | 2022 | iPhone 8 / X | 5 years |
| iOS 17 | 2023 | iPhone XR / XS | 5 years |
| iOS 18 | 2024 | iPhone XR / XS | 6 years |
| iOS 26 | 2025 | iPhone 11 | 6 years |
| iOS 27 | 2026 | iPhone 11 or 12 (cycle in progress) | 6–7 years |
| iOS 28 | 2027 | iPhone 13 projected (12 possible) | 6–7 years |
The second line: Apple Intelligence requirements
Since 2024 there have effectively been two compatibility lists each year: phones that run iOS, and phones that run its AI features. Apple Intelligence has required iPhone 15 Pro or newer — a line drawn by RAM (8 GB) and Neural Engine performance, not marketing.
Expect iOS 28 to inherit that split. The base OS, redesign, and quality-of-life features should reach every supported device, while the flagship AI capabilities — especially the next-generation Siri — run on iPhone 15 Pro and later, and the heaviest on-device models may prefer even newer hardware. If AI features are the reason you're upgrading, treat "supports iOS 28" and "supports all of iOS 28" as different questions.
What about iPad?
iPadOS 28 ships the same day with its own device list. As a rule of thumb, iPads with an A13 or newer chip — and every M-series iPad — should track closely with the iPhone list above. We'll break out the full iPadOS 28 list once the first credible reports land.
How to check your model in 10 seconds
- Open Settings → General → About.
- Read the Model Name row.
- Find it in the table above. If you're in the green, you can plan on the iOS 28 beta next June; on the bubble, check back — this page updates as reporting firms up.