Apple announced that iOS 26 will be officially released on September 15, 2023, after three months of beta testing, bringing new features and a Liquid Glass redesign to supported iPhone models, excluding iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR.
A leak reveals the iPhone 17 Air will have a 3,149mAh battery, smaller than previous models, but its new ultra-thin design and features like ProMotion support may influence overall battery performance. The device will feature a 6.6-inch display and is expected to offer 'great all-day battery life,' though specifics are yet to be confirmed.
iOS 26 introduces an Adaptive Power Mode that intelligently extends iPhone battery life by making subtle performance adjustments, available on select newer iPhone models like the iPhone 15 Pro and later, and can be enabled in Settings to work automatically behind the scenes.
iOS 26 introduces several new features for iPhones, with some exclusive to newer models like iPhone 15 Pro and beyond, including visual intelligence for screenshots, live translation, Lock Screen 3D effects, AI-powered shortcuts, reminders, order tracking in Wallet, and upgraded Genmoji and Image Playground tools.
iOS 26 will support most recent iPhone models starting from iPhone 11 and newer, but will not support iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR. Features may be limited on older supported models, with full AI features exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models. The update is expected to launch this fall after a developer beta release.
Rumors suggest that iOS 18 will be compatible with iPhone models featuring the A12 Bionic chip, including the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max. The update is expected to be announced at WWDC in June and released in September, with rumored features such as new generative AI functionality for Siri and RCS support in the Messages app. Additionally, iPadOS 18 may drop support for iPad models with the A10X Fusion chip.
The iPhone 15 Plus has emerged as the new champion in battery life tests, surpassing all previous iPhone models. With over 13 hours of screen-on time, the 15 Plus now holds the record for the longest battery life on an iPhone. While Apple's official numbers indicate that the iPhone 15 Pro Max lasts the longest for streaming video playback, the 15 Plus outperforms it in terms of audio playback, lasting 100 hours compared to the Max's 95 hours. In a realistic daily usage test, the 15 Pro Max lasted 11 hours and 41 minutes, while the 15 Plus achieved an impressive 13 hours and 19 minutes.
With the release of the iPhone 15 this fall, some current iPhone models are likely to be discontinued to make way for the new ones. While Apple is expected to drop some older phones, some more current devices may also be on the chopping block. The iPhone 15 lineup is expected to include four models: iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The iPhone 12 is likely to be discontinued, while the fate of the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 13 mini is uncertain. The iPhone 13 is expected to remain in the lineup at a lower price.