Apple will host its annual event on September 9 where it will announce at least four new iPhone models. While the spotlight will be on the iPhone 16 series, Apple will also introduce iOS 18, the next operating system version for the iPhone. In addition to new features, iOS 18 will pack Apple’s generative artificial intelligence, known as Apple Intelligence. While the new iPhone 16 series will come with iOS 18 already installed, the existing iPhone models will need an upgrade to switch to the latest operating system. However, only some of them will be eligible for iOS 18, and even fewer for Apple Intelligence.

Each year Apple removes older iPhone models from the eligibility list for the latest iOS version. Last year, Apple removed iPhone X, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone 8 from the list of devices supported by the existing iOS 17. However, the company will not remove any iPhone models further. In other words, older iPhone models that support iOS 17 will also support iOS 18. Here is a list of devices that will be compatible with iOS 18, according to the Apple website:

• 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 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 14
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 15
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max

Owners of iPhone X or later will need to upgrade to a new iPhone model to get the latest features as part of iOS 18. However, if one is waiting to experience Apple Intelligence, owners of any iPhone model, except for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, must upgrade. That is because Apple has limited the Apple Intelligence functionality to iPhone models with at least 8GB of RAM, which excludes even the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus from last year. Only iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will be eligible, in addition to the upcoming iPhone 16 series, all models of which will have at least 8GB of RAM.