As anticipation builds for Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025, set for June, details about the upcoming iOS 19 update are beginning to emerge. Apple is expected to unveil its latest version of the iPhone operating system during the keynote, offering a glimpse at new features, performance improvements, and UI refinements. However, alongside the excitement, a new report suggests that not all current iPhones will make the cut when it comes to compatibility with the new OS.
According to a report by 9to5Mac, which cites a private but credible source on X (formerly Twitter), iOS 19 may not support several iPhone models that are powered by the A12 Bionic chip. This includes the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max — all of which debuted in 2018. If true, this marks a significant shift as Apple appears to be phasing out software updates for devices using the A12 chipset, signaling a growing focus on newer hardware.
Should the report prove accurate, the iPhone 11 series and later — including the second-generation iPhone SE (2020) — would become the baseline for iOS 19 eligibility. That said, even among supported devices, not all features will be universally available. Apple has increasingly tailored some of its latest functionalities, especially AI-driven ones, to newer iPhones. For instance, the Apple Intelligence suite introduced last year remains limited to devices with the A17 Pro chip and newer, such as the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 series.
It’s not just iPhones facing the chop either — iPads may also see a narrowing of support. The same source reports that the seventh-generation iPad, released in 2019 and running on the A10 Fusion chip, will likely not receive the upcoming iPadOS 19 update. As Apple continues to push forward with more demanding software features, dropping support for older hardware appears to be part of a broader strategy to streamline performance and deliver a more unified user experience across its ecosystem.