Apple iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 Compatibility Leak: Older iPhones Continue to Receive Support, Some iPads Phased Out

Apple iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 Compatibility Leak: Older iPhones Continue to Receive Support, Some iPads Phased OutAccording to iPhoneSoft, a usually reliable source, information regarding device compatibility for Apple's next-generation mobile operating systems, iOS 19 and iPadOS 19, has been leaked. The leak suggests that all iPhones currently supporting iOS 18 will also support iOS 19

Apple iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 Compatibility Leak: Older iPhones Continue to Receive Support, Some iPads Phased Out

According to iPhoneSoft, a usually reliable source, information regarding device compatibility for Apple's next-generation mobile operating systems, iOS 19 and iPadOS 19, has been leaked. The leak suggests that all iPhones currently supporting iOS 18 will also support iOS 19. This means older models like the iPhone XS and XR, released in 2018, will receive another year of system updates. However, iPad compatibility is more restrictive, with some iPads slated to be left behind.

Specifically, iPads with the A10 chip (7th generation, released in 2019) are expected to be incompatible with iPadOS 19. This signifies a raised minimum hardware requirement for future iPadOS versions, with the A12 chip becoming the new threshold. This compatibility adjustment means some iPad users will miss out on the new features and performance improvements of iPadOS 19, marking the end of support for older iPad models. This decision is likely to generate discussion, particularly among users with A10-powered iPads, who will need to consider upgrading their devices or accepting the security risks and feature limitations of remaining on their current system.

iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 are expected to be previewed for developers in June 2025 and officially released around September 2025. While details remain scarce, some clues exist.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported that delays in certain iOS 18 features impacted iOS 19's development, and iPhoneSoft's leak suggests iOS 19 might be a relatively minor update in terms of major new features. This might disappoint users expecting significant upgrades. Several highly anticipated features promised for iOS 18 remain unreleased, even absent from developer betas.

These missing features include the "Priority Notifications" lock screen feature for managing notifications, the "AppIntents" feature for improved in-app interactions, a personalized contextual understanding feature using AI to provide tailored recommendations, and Siri's screen-aware functionality using image recognition.

The absence of these features dampens anticipation for iOS 19. If they don't appear, the update could feel lackluster, potentially reducing user enthusiasm for upgrading. This might also reflect challenges Apple faces in software development and its adjustment of update cadence.

In summary, information on iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 remains limited, with many details awaiting official confirmation. While all iPhones supporting iOS 18 will get iOS 19, some iPad users will miss out due to the A10 chip becoming the minimum requirement for iPadOS 19, effectively ending support for older iPads. iOS 19 seems poised to be a smaller update, focusing on performance optimization and bug fixes. The innovative features promised for iOS 18 but not yet released might arrive in future updates. Although discussions about iOS 19 are premature, the leaked compatibility information has already generated considerable interest and offers insights into Apple's future software direction. Ultimately, whether iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 meet user expectations remains to be seen.