iOS Version Compatibility Checker
Compare API features (SwiftData, @Observable, NavigationStack, Widgets) across iOS 15, 16, 17, and 18, and calculate the ideal minimum deployment target for your app.
Deployment Target Calculator
Best for indie builders. Unlocks SwiftData and @Observable, eliminating 50% of state boilerplate while maintaining ~85% device coverage.
SwiftUI & Apple API Availability Matrix
| Feature / API | Minimum iOS | Category | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| SwiftData (@Model) | iOS 17.0 | Persistence | Declarative, macro-powered database framework replacing CoreData. |
| Observation (@Observable) | iOS 17.0 | State | Fine-grained SwiftUI state observation replacing ObservableObject. |
| NavigationStack | iOS 16.0 | Navigation | Type-safe path-based routing replacing buggy NavigationView. |
| Live Activities & Dynamic Island | iOS 16.1 | System UI | Real-time updates on Lock Screen and Dynamic Island. |
| SwiftUI Interactive Widgets | iOS 17.0 | System UI | Buttons and toggles directly inside Home Screen widgets. |
| StoreKit 2 (async/await) | iOS 15.0 | In-App Purchases | Modern Swift concurrency APIs for subscriptions and purchases. |
| Control Center Controls | iOS 18.0 | System UI | Customizable quick controls for Control Center and Action button. |
| Swift 6 Strict Concurrency | iOS 15.0 | Language | Compile-time data-race safety with Sendable and actors. |
| ShareLink & PhotosPicker | iOS 16.0 | Media | Native system share sheet and privacy-preserving photo selector. |
// Conditional execution based on iOS version
if #available(iOS 17.0, *) {
// Use SwiftData or @Observable
ModernContainerView()
} else {
// Fallback implementation for earlier versions
LegacyContainerView()
}
// Target-level declaration
@available(iOS 16.0, *)
struct ModernFeatureView: View {
var body: some View {
Text("Requires iOS 16+")
}
}How to pick your Minimum iOS Deployment Target
iOS 17+ (Indie Standard)
Targeting iOS 17 unlocks SwiftData and the @Observable macro. It reaches approximately 85% of active iPhones without carrying legacy SwiftUI technical debt.
iOS 16+ (Broad Reach)
Reaches ~96% of iPhones while providing modern NavigationStack, SwiftUI Charts, and ShareLink. Good balance between features and market coverage.
iOS 15+ (Maximum Legacy)
Reaches older devices like iPhone 6s and 7, but requires deprecated NavigationView and older async workarounds.
Build full iPhone apps without touching Xcode
Enjoying this free Compatibility Checker? Thorous turns your natural language prompts into compiled native SwiftUI apps, with real-time iOS simulator streaming and visual on-screen editing.
Native Mac app · macOS 14 Sonoma or later · Apple silicon & Intel