iOS 16, iPadOS 16, watchOS 9 and macOS 13 Ventura eligible devices

Apple's operating systems are updated with fresh lists of compatible hardware on a regular basis. To run iOS 16, watch OS 9, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, and tvOS 16, you'll need the following.

The main keynote talk for WWDC 2022 has just ended, and with it came new big releases of Apple software for all of Apple's product categories. The hardware generations you'll need to run the new software are listed below.

iOS 16

The new iOS 16 features the new Lock Screen, Focus, and iMessage improvements alongside new Maps and Apple Pay features.

While previously iPhone 6s, iPhone 7, and the final iPod touch were supported, they were dropped this year.

iOS 16 is compatible with these models of iPhone:

• iPhone 8
• iPhone 8 Plus
• iPhone-X
• iPhone XR
• iPhone XS
• iPhone-XS Max
• iPhone SE (2nd generation)
• iPhone 11
• iPhone-11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone-12
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone-SE (3rd generation)
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 13
• iPhone-13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max

To utilize iOS 16, you'll need an iPhone that was released in the autumn of 2017 or later.

watchOS 9

Three new watch faces, a new Heart Rate Zone and customizable fitness features, and a new Medications utility are all included in watchOS 9.

While the Apple Watch Series 3 was previously supported, it was discontinued this year.

These Apple Watch models are compatible with watchOS 9:

• Apple Watch Series 4
• Apple Watch Series 5
• Apple-Watch SE
• Apple Watch Series 6
• Apple Watch Series 7

To utilize the updated watchOS software, you'll also need an iPhone running iOS 16 linked to the Apple Watch.

To utilize watchOS 9, you'll need an Apple Watch that was released in the autumn of 2018 or later.

macOS Ventura

Shared Tab groups, a new Stage Manager, a new Spotlight Search design, increased collaboration tools, and support for Continuity Camera are all included in macOS Ventura.

Previously, support was provided for iMac models issued between 2015 and 2016, MacBook Pro models released between 2015 and 2017, MacBook Pro models released between 2015 and 2017, the 2013 Mac Pro, the late 2014 Mac mini, and the 2016 MacBook.

These Mac models are compatible with macOS Ventura:

• iMac, 2017 or later
• iMac Pro, 2017
• MacBook, 2017 or later
• MacBook Pro, 2017 or later
• Mac mini, 2018 or later
• MacBook Air, 2018 or later
• Mac Pro, 2019 or later

iPadOS 16

The new iPadOS 16 includes the Stage Manager, improved external display compatibility, reference modes for the Liquid Retina XDR display, and the Weather app, among other things.

While the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4 were previously supported, they were no longer supported this year.

iPadOS 16 is compatible with the following iPad models:

• iPad Air (10.5-inch, 3rd generation)
• iPad Air (10.9-inch, 4th generation)
• iPad-Air (10.9-inch, 5th generation)
• iPad mini (5th generation)
• iPad mini (6th generation)
• iPad-(5th generation)
• iPad (6th generation)
• iPad (7th generation)
• iPad-(8th generation)
• iPad (9th generation)
• iPad Pro (12.9-inch, late 2015)
• iPad-Pro (9.7-inch, early 2016)
• iPad Pro (12.9-inch, mid 2017)
• iPad Pro (10.5-inch, mid 2017)
• iPad-Pro (12.9-inch, late 2018)
• iPad Pro (11-inch, late 2018)
• iPad Pro (12.9-inch, early 2020)
• iPad-Pro (11-inch, early 2020)
• iPad Pro (12.9-inch, late 2021)
• iPad Pro (11-inch, late 2021)

To run iPadOS 16, you'll need an iPad that was released in the autumn of 2015 or later and has at least an A9X CPU.

To summarize, all of your Apple devices in the ecosystem will receive the updated software if they were purchased fresh from Apple in the autumn of 2018 or later.