Apple Drops iOS 26.2.1 and Surprise Updates for Older iPhones and iPads

John Quintet
3 months ago

Apple has released iOS 26.2.1 for the iPhone and more today. This update comes after this morning’s launch of the new AirTag second-gen and the new Apple Watch Black Unity watch band.

What’s new in iOS 26.2.1? Apple says it includes bug fixes plus support for AirTag 2.

Check out what’s available for download below, including support for older devices:

  • iOS 26.2.1 (23C71)
  • iPadOS 26.2.1 (23C71)
  • watchOS 26.2.1 (23S314)
  • iOS 18.7.4 (22H218)
  • iPadOS 18.7.4 (22H218)
  • iOS 16.7.13 (20H365)
  • iPadOS 16.7.13 (20H365)
  • iOS 15.8.6 (19H402)
  • iPadOS 15.8.6 (19H402)
  • iOS 12.5.8 (16H88)
  • iPadOS 12.5.8 (16H88)

Here’s a breakdown of supported devices for these older software updates…

iOS 18.7.4

This is the final destination for devices that survived into the iOS 18 era but were cut off from the current iOS 26.

  • iPhone: iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.
  • iPad: iPad (7th generation).

iOS 16.7.13

Aimed at the “Face ID transition” era, these devices are restricted to iOS 16.

  • iPhone: iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X.
  • iPad: iPad (5th generation), iPad Pro 9.7-inch, and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st generation).

iOS 15.8.6

This update covers several fan-favourite models that remain in active use.

  • iPhone: iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, and iPhone SE (1st generation).
  • iPad: iPad Air 2 and iPad mini (4th generation).
  • iPod: iPod touch (7th generation).

iOS 12.5.8

It is impressive to see support for the iPhone 5s, which was released in 2013—that’s 13 years ago!

  • iPhone: iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus.
  • iPad: iPad Air (1st generation), iPad mini 2, and iPad mini 3.
  • iPod: iPod touch (6th generation).

You can update your iPhone and iPad by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

Direct download links are below for all of these software updates:

  • iOS 12.5.8 (Build 16H88) for:
    • iPad Air (Wi-Fi) (iPad4,1) — Download
    • iPad Air (Cellular) (iPad4,2) — Download
    • iPad Air (China) (iPad4,3) — Download
    • iPad mini 2 (Wi-Fi) (iPad4,4) — Download
    • iPad mini 2 (Cellular) (iPad4,5) — Download
    • iPad mini 2 (China) (iPad4,6) — Download
    • iPad mini 3 (Wi-Fi) (iPad4,7) — Download
    • iPad mini 3 (Cellular) (iPad4,8) — Download
    • iPad mini 3 (China) (iPad4,9) — Download
    • iPhone 5s (GSM/LTE) (iPhone6,1) — Download
    • iPhone 5s (CDMA/LTE) (iPhone6,2) — Download
    • iPhone 6 Plus (iPhone7,1) — Download
    • iPhone 6 (iPhone7,2) — Download
    • iPod touch 6G (iPod7,1) — Download
  • iOS 15.8.6 (Build 19H402) for:
    • iPad mini 4 (Wi-Fi) (iPad5,1) — Download
    • iPad mini 4 (Cellular) (iPad5,2) — Download
    • iPad Air 2 (Wi-Fi) (iPad5,3) — Download
    • iPad Air 2 (Cellular) (iPad5,4) — Download
    • iPhone 6s (iPhone8,1) — Download
    • iPhone 6s Plus (iPhone8,2) — Download
    • iPhone SE (iPhone8,4) — Download
    • iPhone 7 (CDMA/GSM/LTE) (iPhone9,1) — Download
    • iPhone 7 Plus (CDMA/GSM/LTE) (iPhone9,2) — Download
    • iPhone 7 (GSM/LTE) (iPhone9,3) — Download
    • iPhone 7 Plus (GSM/LTE) (iPhone9,4) — Download
    • iPod touch 7G (iPod9,1) — Download
  • iOS 16.7.13 (Build 20H365) for:
    • iPad Pro (9.7”, Wi-Fi) (iPad6,3) — Download
    • iPad Pro (9.7”, Cellular) (iPad6,4) — Download
    • iPad Pro (Wi-Fi) (iPad6,7) — Download
    • iPad Pro (Cellular) (iPad6,8) — Download
    • iPad 5 (Wi-Fi) (iPad6,11) — Download
    • iPad 5 (Cellular) (iPad6,12) — Download
    • iPhone 8 (CDMA/GSM/LTE) (iPhone10,1) — Download
    • iPhone 8 Plus (CDMA/GSM/LTE) (iPhone10,2) — Download
    • iPhone X (CDMA/GSM/LTE) (iPhone10,3) — Download
    • iPhone 8 (GSM/LTE) (iPhone10,4) — Download
    • iPhone 8 Plus (GSM/LTE) (iPhone10,5) — Download
    • iPhone X (GSM/LTE) (iPhone10,6) — Download
  • iOS 18.7.4 (Build 22H218) for:
    • iPad 7 (Wi-Fi) (iPad7,11) — Download
    • iPad 7 (Cellular) (iPad7,12) — Download
    • iPhone XS (iPhone11,2) — Download
    • iPhone XS Max (China) (iPhone11,6) — Download
    • iPhone XR (iPhone11,8) — Download
  • iOS 26.2.1 (Build 23C71) for:

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