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iPhone Q&A
Update Published September 20, 2021
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Which iPhone and iPod touch models support iOS 14? Do some models "partially" support iOS 14? Which ones?
Please note that iOS 14 has been discontinued. However, the below Q&A has been updated subsequently and is quite useful for anyone who is running or who wants to run iOS 14 on a compatible iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad.
Apple first previewed iOS 14 on June 22, 2020 with immediate availability for Apple Developers. It first was released as a "public beta" on July 9, 2020 and shipped in its "final" consumer version on September 16, 2020.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iOS 14 on iPhone 11 Pro)
Apple provides general iOS 14 compatibility in its company press release, and more specific details in fine print elsewhere, but independent insight and objectivity is useful as always.
New iOS 14 Features
In its press release, Apple boasts that the company "reimagines the iPhone experience with iOS 14" and "introduces new ways to customize the Home Screen, discover and use apps with App Clips, and stay connected in Messages."
"Reimagine" is a stretch -- iOS 14 mostly is copying features that have long been available on Android and in competing messaging apps -- but improvements to usability and organization always are worthwhile. Apple's ever increasing focus on privacy is important and the promised speed boost for Javascript and camera use is welcomed, too.
Significant iOS 14 additions include:
- Home Screen Widgets: Just like Android has provided for more than a decade, it now is possible to add weather, appointment info, health stats, music, and more to the home screen for quick reference and access.
- App Library: A simple way to access all apps, like Android's "drawer" albeit with some potentially improved organization.
- App Clips: Similar to Android's "Instant Apps," this provides quick access to "small parts" of an app for a transaction without needing to download the app.
- Improved Messages: Largely borrowing features from other messaging apps, it is now easier to manage group conversations, find emoticons, and more.
- Improved Maps: Cycling directions and other improvements for city life.
- Enhanced Privacy: Provides more control and transparency for app access to tracking as well as the microphone and camera. Almost immediately upon release of iOS 14 to developers, the operating system busted notoriously insecure Chinese spyware TikTok for reading the clipboard almost constantly. If privacy is important to you, TikTok is an app to avoid, certainly.
- Translate: Like the Google Translate app, promises "quick and natural translation of voice and text" for 11 languages.
- Car Keys: For very recent iPhone models, this feature promises to replace your car keys. For now, it works with specific BMW models, but this will expand in time. One less thing to carry!
There are hundreds of other minor improvements and additions that you may find worthwhile, as well. However, compared to its predecessor, iOS 13, which brought major improvements to speed and storage optimization, iOS 14 improvements are more modest.
iOS 14 supports the same devices as its predecessor, iOS 13. Apple's press release notes that iOS 14 supports the "iPhone 6s and later." The press release ignores the iPod touch, but support for the iPod touch 7th Gen is mentioned in other documentation.
A full list of iPhone and iPod touch devices supported when iOS 14 was released is below. The iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max shipped with iOS 14 by default, as well.
Just because a device supports iOS 14 does not mean that it will support all features, though. There are some significant feature differences documented further below.
Identification Help (Skip)
If you are not certain which iPhone or iPad touch you have, a relatively convenient way to identify your device is by Model Number. Older iPhone models -- iPhone 7 and earlier -- and all iPod touch models have this Model Number listed externally on the back toward the bottom, but newer iPhone devices do not.
Regardless of the age of your iPhone, though, you can find this Model Number in the iOS "Settings" app on your iPhone or iPod touch under General > Regulatory >.
These specific iPhone and iPod touch devices support iOS 14:
iPhone/iPod touch |
Model No |
* These devices do not have an external Model Number. You can find this identifier on these models in the iOS "Settings" app under General > Regulatory >.
If your iPhone or iPod touch isn't listed above, and it isn't a newer model that shipped after iOS 14 was released on September 16, 2020, it isn't compatible with the operating system.
Although it is much more complicated, you might also consider using the Order Number for identification, which is specified as "Model" within the iOS "Settings" app under General > About.
For example, in the United States, this "Model" within the iOS looks like MWJM2LL/A, which specifically refers to an iPhone 11 (US/Canada/A2111) in white with 128 GB of storage sold on T-Mobile.
Everyi.com's Ultimate iLookup feature can identify these devices by order numbers from around the world and by device Serial Numbers, too.
All of the above iPhone and iPod touch models support iOS 14, but in fine print, Apple notes that only the iPhone XR, iPhone XS/XS Max, and iPhone 11 lineup support all features.
The iPhone 6s, iPhone SE (Original), and iPod touch (7th Gen), on the other hand, do not support any of the below features.
Support for other iPhone models varies accordingly:
| 7/7+ | 8/8+ | X | SE 2 | |
| Car Keys | No | No | No | Yes |
| Spatial Audio (AirPods) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| App Clips (NFC Scan)* | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes** |
| Location Anchors (ARKit) | No | No | No | Yes |
| Exposure Compensation | No | No | No | Yes |
| Burst (+)/QuickTake (-)† | No | No | No | Yes |
| On-Device Dictation | No | No | No | Yes |
* On newer iPhone models, App Clips are supported automatically. On these iPhone models, App Clips are supported "after turning on NFC scan mode from Control Center."
** Apple does not state whether the iPhone SE (2nd Gen) provides automatic support or NFC scan support for App Clips. The assumption is that the iPhone SE (2nd Gen) does not provide automatic support, but should this be incorrect, this Q&A will be updated.
† Compatible iPhone models support taking "burst photos" by pressing the volume up button (+) and "QuickTake video" by pressing the volume down button (-) on the side of the device.
iOS 14 Summary
Ultimately, iOS 14 provides worthwhile new features, but it is only a "reimagined" version of the operating system for those who either have limited imagination or who never have used Android. Nevertheless, for those with recent iPhone models, in particular, iOS 14 is a worthwhile upgrade.
When it was released in beta, Everyi.com recommended waiting until the "final" version was released as well as a "bug fix" update or two after the final release before upgrading, particularly for those with older supported iPhone models.
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