September 17, 2024, 8:15 am | Read time: 4 minutes
When Apple’s new major software update is released soon, it will have exciting new functions. However, many iPhones already appear to be too old for iOS 18.
When Apple announces the prospect of a major new iOS version, there is great excitement within the smartphone industry. New functions and improvements gradually come to light in the run-up. Apple already presented some of them at WWDC in June. Users are also now discovering others in the first beta versions. The major update will probably be released after the Apple keynote on September 9. However, there are signs that many iPhones may already be too old for iOS 18.
iPhones too old for iOS 18: Which models are affected?
The annual Apple Event 2024 will take place at the beginning of September. Experts expect several new products to be unveiled. Of course, the flagship will be the iPhone 16 and its variants. As befits a new generation of smartphones, it will be technically state-of-the-art (especially the Pro models). It will, therefore, meet all the requirements for the upcoming update to iOS 18.
Apple Intelligence, with which the company from Cupertino, California, will bring its AI system to its devices, is already considered the big flagship of the new software. Although this major innovation will probably only come with iOS 18.1, Apple Intelligence is perhaps also the reason most iPhones will be too old for iOS 18. This is because their hardware will no longer be able to handle the new feature set adequately.
When Apple published the list of devices compatible with Apple Intelligence according to “9to5Mac“, the very short section with iPhones stood out. According to this, apart from the iPhone 16, only the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be able to support the new artificial intelligence. All other models will miss out on this feature. Unsurprisingly, Macs and iPad models will also no longer receive the update.
A16 vs. A17 – the chip makes the difference
The reason why the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models, which were only launched last year, will not receive Apple Intelligence is purely technical. As reported by “TechRadar” and others, the AI system requires at least an A17 Pro chip. This is only installed in the two Pro variants. However, the cheaper alternatives only have an A16 Bionic. The iPhone 16, on the other hand, will come with a new A18 chipset.
Furthermore, the well-known Apple expert Ming-Chi Kuo speculated that it is not primarily about pure computing power (TOPS) but, above all, about RAM. Among other things, he used a comparison with the M1 chipset, which is found in some MacBooks that are also suitable for Apple Intelligence, as an indication. The M1 is said to deliver a performance of 11 TOPS, while the A16 achieves 17 TOPS. However, the A16 only has 6 GB of RAM, while the M1 has 8 GB. It is precisely this small disparity that is said to make the difference.
The A17 Pro chip also has 8 GB of RAM. This explains why only half of the iPhone 15 models are fully suitable for iOS 18.
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What happens now with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus?
It’s common for Apple to reserve certain features for the newest models upon the release of a new iPhone generation. Occasionally, these features are later added to older models. However, it is doubtful whether this will also be the case here due to the hardware limitations.
Apple is also announcing a new economy model with the iPhone SE 4. This will probably also be equipped with the A18 and will, therefore, be fully designed for iOS 18. This means that the SE 4 will, in all likelihood, not only be cheaper than the two iPhone 15 entry-level versions but will also be superior to them in terms of hardware and software. At “9to5Mac“, they are considering that the advantages of the 2023 models still include an improved camera and Dynamic Island. But will that still hold up as a selling point against modern AI?
Owners of an iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus can, of course, still expect several functional and security-related updates in the coming years. However, they will only have to be satisfied with a slimmed-down iOS 18 version. If you don’t want to do without AI, you will need a new device. However, due to EU regulations, customers in Germany will have to wait and see when and in what form Apple Intelligence will be available. However, anyone who does not yet own an iPhone 15 and is looking for a new phone will soon have little reason to opt for the current series. As a result, these models may become obsolete more quickly than previous series.