By the time you read these words, Apple will likely be previewing iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 at the all-virtual WWDC 2020.
While the latest version of Apple's OS will no doubt be packed with features you'll love, unfortunately, it may not be compatible with some older iPhones and iPads. That could mean you'll have to pay for a pricey upgrade if you want to take full advantage of all the latest bells and whistles.
There's a lot we don't currently know about Apple's latest offering. The persistent rumor is that if your device will run iOS 13, then you should be able to upgrade to iOS 14 without difficulty. Thankfully, that covers a broad range of devices dating back to 2015 and more.
The device list includes, among other things:
- The iPhone SE (2020 release)
- The iPhone 11/11
- The iPhone Pro/11 and Pro Max
- The iPhone XS and XS Max
- The iPhone XR
- The iPhone X
- The iPhone 8/8 Plus
- The iPhone 7/7 Plus
- The iPhone SE
- The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus
- The 7th generation iPod Touch
Where the iPad is concerned, note that beginning with the new OS, Apple is dropping support for the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 4. If you have either of those, unfortunately, you won't be able to make use of the latest OS.
Finally, it's worth mentioning that, as is the case with most products, the older your Apple device is, the worse it's likely to perform when you upgrade your OS. That may put you back in the camp of wanting or needing to upgrade your equipment to get the most out of iOS 14.
Overall, the update is good news, and we're looking forward to seeing exactly what the new operating system has to offer.
