Mostly inaccurate clickbait. On US iPhone, they're playing games with iOS 18 users to only offer 26 using dark patterns that are escapable by joining the 18 beta program, which is currently offering 18.7.3 with similar security content as 26.2. 18 should be supported until around 2026 or 2027, depending on if/when 27 will be released. On iPad, they're not currently playing games with 18 updates.
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Mostly inaccurate clickbait. On US iPhone, they're playing games with iOS 18 users to only offer 26 using dark patterns that are escapable by joining the 18 beta program, which is currently offering 18.7.3 with similar security content as 26.2. 18 should be supported until around 2026 or 2027, depending on if/when 27 will be released. On iPad, they're not currently playing games with 18 updates.
tl;dr: Problem solved by joining 18 beta.
Beta is inappropriate as an exclusive channel to continue receiving security updates. If I hadn’t read HN today I wouldn’t have known.