Last Updated: June 1, 2014

Apple has taken the wraps off its newest version of the operating system that runs the iPhone and iPod touch: iOS 8. With its hundreds of new features like Handoff and iCloudDrive, user interface improvements, and new built-in apps like Healthkit, you'll want to install it on your device as soon as it's available (that won't be until Fall 2014, by the way). But just because you want to install it doesn't mean you can or should.

Before you start downloading software, you need to find out what devices can run iOS 8.

The devices that are iOS 8 compatible are:

iPhone

• iPhone 5S
• iPhone 5C
• iPhone 5
• iPhone 4S

 

iPod touch

• 5th generation iPod touch

 

iPad

• iPad Air
• 4th Generation iPad
• iPad 2
• iPad mini with Retina Display
• iPad mini

 

Unlike in previous years, all devices that are iOS 8 compatible appear to be able to use all features of the new OS. In the past, older devices were unable to use certain advanced features.

If your device isn't on this list, it can't run iOS 8. That isn't necessarily terrible. It would be great to be able to have the latest and greatest, but almost every device on this list can run almost every feature of last year's version, iOS 7—which is a very good operating system in its own right (see the full list of iOS 7-compatible device).

If you have one of the oldest models on the iOS 8 or iOS 7 compatibility lists, it might be time to consider upgrading (especially if you have an iPhone that's more than two years old; in that case, you should be eligible for a major discount on a new phone from your phone company).

Not only will be able to run the latest OS, but you'll also benefit from a ton of valuable new hardware features like a faster processor, longer battery life, and an improved camera.