Apple has officially unveiled iOS 26, bringing a stunning new design, powerful AI tools, and smart app enhancements.
But not every iPhone user will enjoy the full experience—raising a critical question: Is your current iPhone still worth it in 2025?
The update introduces the eye-catching Liquid Glass design, adding translucent effects and 3D spatial elements to app icons, widgets, and system controls. The Lock Screen and Home Screen are now more interactive and dynamic, offering a fresh visual upgrade for all supported devices.
However, the real game-changer is Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI-driven features powering everything from live translation and visual content analysis to creative tools like Genmoji and Image Playground. These tools redefine how users interact with their devices—but there’s a catch.
Apple Intelligence will only be available on:
iPhone 16 models
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
This means users with older devices—even those using iPhone 15 or iPhone 14—won’t get access to these AI capabilities. While iOS 26 will be available for iPhone 11 and newer, many headline features are locked behind the latest hardware.
Redesigned Phone and Messages apps also offer new smart features like Call Screening, Hold Assist, polls, chat backgrounds, and smarter message filters. But again, these AI-based functions are reserved for the newest models.
Even CarPlay gets a facelift with floating widgets and pinned conversations, while Apple Music now includes Lyrics Translation and DJ-style transitions. Meanwhile, Apple Maps introduces Visited Places with added privacy, and Wallet now supports Apple Pay installments and live flight tracking.
With the iOS 26 developer beta out now and a public beta set for next month, users must consider whether holding onto an older iPhone is worth it. For those who want the full Apple Intelligence experience, upgrading to the latest hardware is becoming less of a luxury—and more of a necessity.
In 2025, your iPhone might still work, but it may no longer offer the cutting-edge experience Apple now reserves for its most recent devices.