iOS 10 is going to be out in just a few months, and you’re going to start wondering if you’re eligible for the upgrade or not. The answer, I’m afraid, is not a simple yes or no. iOS 10 compatibility with your device is way more complicated. But not to worry, we’ve got it all neatly laid out for you. So let’s start with the basics —
Which devices will get the iOS 10 upgrade?
Apple has posted on their website an iOS 10 compatibility table. Here it is:
As can be seen, all iPhones from the iPhone 5 onwards, all iPads from the mini 2, and the sixth generation iPod touch are all eligible for the upgrade.
My device is eligible, YAY!
Whoa! Hold on there. Your excitement is preliminary. If you look carefully, a disclaimer at the bottom of the image says: “Features are subject to change. Some features may not be available in all regions or all languages.”
This means just because your device is iOS 10 compatible, doesn’t mean you’ll get to use all of the features!
Bummer, huh!
Some of the features are subject to the device configuration. 3D Touch plays an important role in many of the features in iOS 10. Some devices will support a few features, some will not. So here is a feature-wise iOS 10 compatibility list for various devices.
Rich Notifications
As for the beta available right now, Rich Notifications are only available on iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. AppleInsider believes that future betas (or the final version) will be able to support the feature without relying on 3D Touch. We cannot be sure right now, but we are hopeful that this will be true.
Raise to Wake
Raise to Wake is a feature that lets your iPhone screen turn on just by picking up the device (thanks to the inbuilt accelerometer and gyroscope). Again, the feature is only available on the latest of devices. According to CultOfMac, “iOS 10 will only add the Raise to Wake feature to iOS devices with an M9 processor.”
That means we’ll get to see the feature only on the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, and the SE. Also, although both the variations of the iPad Pro have M9 processors, the iPads will not be having this feature.
Side by Side Safari browsing
Until now you could only use two different apps while using the Split Screen feature in iOS. With iOS 10, you can now open two tabs of Safari as two separate screens. And given that Split Screen is only supported by iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 4, and iPad Pro, this feature too will be functional only on those devices.
Apple Pay on Web
Apple Pay compatibility is well defined by the company. Here’s the list of compatible devices —
New shortcuts for Control Centre
Amazing new updates are coming to the Control Centre. However, because they are all based on the 3d Touch technology, they will be available only on 6s and 6s Plus.
The same thing extends to other 3D touch based features, like Touch & Go. As explained by Apple, you can “use 3D Touch in apps like Calendar, Weather, and Stocks for a quick glance at the information you need.”
Should you upgrade?
If you are using an iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, or either of the two iPad Pro devices, you should definitely upgrade. The 6 and 6 Plus are also good candidates for an upgrade.
On the other hand, if you are using any iOS device that’s older than 2014, then we strongly suggest you wait and observe how other devices are behaving. In about a month after the release, you’ll be able to read discussion boards with first-hand experiences of people who have taken the upgrade.
Or, you could count on AppleSutra to fill you in. You know we’ll give you the best advice. So keep your eyes and ears open and check the blog regularly for the latest updates.
