iPhone and iPad approved by NATO for up to “restricted” level of classified data - 'a level of government certification no other consumer mobile device has met'
Some iPhones and iPads are now NATO-approved
· TechRadarNews By Craig Hale published 27 February 2026
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- iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 get NATO Restricted approval with no software changes required
- Apple stressed it makes secure devices for "all its users" – not just NATO
- The latest M5 and A19 chips get a special shoutout
Apple has confirmed iPhones and iPads running iOS/iPadOS 26 and later have been approved to handle classified information up to NATO Restricted level – the first time any consumer devices have been rated to such an extreme.
NATO's Information Assurance Product Catalogue also lists eligible devices running the indigo configuration, stating that they provide secure access to Mail, Calendar and Contacts data.
"Indigo doesn’t require any special additional software or settings beyond managing and supervising devices using a device management service," NATO wrote, acknowledging that off-the-shelf iPhones and iPads are covered.
iPhones and iPads are now NATO Restricted-certified
Apple credited features like "best-in-class encryption, biometric authentication with Face ID, and groundbreaking features like Memory Integrity Enforcement" for its certification. NATO also acknowledged Apple Silicon, which features Secure Enclave's encryption.
iOS 26 is backwards compatible all the way back to the iPhone 11 family and iPhone SE 2. iPadOS 26 also supports older devices, spanning beyond M-series chips to some A-series chips.
Though the NATO certification covers the operating systems suggesting all supported devices are covered, the organization did reference the always-on memory safety for M5 and A19 devices, implying newer devices may be more suitable.
Devices aside, the accreditation comes from Germany's Federal Office for Information Security (BSI)'s testing and analysis.
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