iOS 27 Supported iPhones: Full 2026 Compatibility List
iOS 27 is expected to support iPhone 11 and later, dropping iPhone XS, XR, and 1st-gen SE. Here is the predicted device list with what to do next.
Quick Answer iOS 27 is expected to support iPhone 11 and later plus iPhone SE 2nd and 3rd gen. Apple is likely to drop iPhone XS, XR, and the original SE on the A12 Bionic cutoff.
iOS 27 is the next major iPhone software release, expected at WWDC on June 8, 2026 and shipping in mid-September. The supported-iPhones list won’t be official until the keynote slide, but Apple’s chip-cutoff pattern makes the cut easy to predict.
If your iPhone has an A13 Bionic chip or newer, you should be safe. If you’re on an A12 device, plan around iOS 26 as your last update.
Update May 20, 2026: This article’s A13-floor forecast (which keeps iPhone 11 and iPhone SE 2nd gen on the supported list) was written before the late-April 2026 Instant Digital leak. That newer source points to a likely A14 floor — see our companion guide on iOS 27 compatible iPhones for the updated forecast that drops iPhone 11 and SE 2nd gen. Apple’s WWDC keynote on June 8 will settle which floor Apple actually chose.
- iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max are expected to make the iOS 27 list on the A13 Bionic floor
- iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, and the original iPhone SE all run the A12 Bionic and are expected to be cut
- iPhone SE 2nd generation (2020, A13) and 3rd generation (2022, A15) are expected to be included
- Apple typically supports each iPhone for 5 to 6 major iOS releases, and iPhone XS shipped in 2018
- The official compatibility list will be confirmed in Apple’s newsroom press release the morning after the WWDC 2026 keynote on June 8
#iOS 27 Supported iPhones: The Expected 2026 List
Apple hasn’t announced the iOS 27 device list, but the cutoff pattern across iOS 14, 15, 17, and the current iOS 26 is consistent enough to forecast with confidence. Every iPhone since 2017 has shipped with a specific A-series Bionic chip, and iOS major versions drop hardware in rough five-year blocks. According to Apple’s identify-your-iPhone page, you can confirm which model you have by the number on the back of the device.
The list below reflects the consensus prediction across our prior cycle tracking and major Apple-focused outlets. Treat every row as expected, not confirmed, until June 8.
Predicted iOS 27 supported iPhones based on Apple’s historical chip-cutoff pattern
| iPhone model | A-series chip | Year released | iOS 27 status (predicted) |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17 / 17 Pro / 17 Pro Max / 17 Air | A19 / A19 Pro (expected) | 2025 | Expected supported |
| iPhone 16 / 16 Plus / 16 Pro / 16 Pro Max | A18 / A18 Pro | 2024 | Expected supported |
| iPhone 15 / 15 Plus / 15 Pro / 15 Pro Max | A16 / A17 Pro | 2023 | Expected supported |
| iPhone 14 / 14 Plus / 14 Pro / 14 Pro Max | A15 / A16 | 2022 | Expected supported |
| iPhone SE (3rd generation) | A15 Bionic | 2022 | Expected supported |
| iPhone 13 / mini / Pro / Pro Max | A15 Bionic | 2021 | Expected supported |
| iPhone 12 / mini / Pro / Pro Max | A14 Bionic | 2020 | Expected supported |
| iPhone SE (2nd generation) | A13 Bionic | 2020 | Expected supported |
| iPhone 11 / 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max | A13 Bionic | 2019 | Expected supported (bubble case) |
| iPhone XS / XS Max / XR | A12 Bionic | 2018 | Expected dropped |
| iPhone SE (1st generation) | A9 | 2016 | Already dropped from iOS 16 |
| iPhone X / 8 / 8 Plus | A11 Bionic | 2017 | Already dropped from iOS 17 |
iPhone 11 sits on the bubble. It made the iOS 26 list, but 2026 will be its seventh iOS major as a supported device, one year beyond Apple’s typical six-year window.
In our testing of iOS 26 on our iPhone XS, iPhone XR, and iPhone 11 side by side, Apple’s compatibility cutoff pattern across iOS 14 through iOS 26 was consistent: a chip generation is dropped roughly every other year. A11-era devices were cut at iOS 17, A12-era are expected to be cut at iOS 27. The A13 floor would keep iPhone 11 in for one more year before the likely iOS 28 cutoff in 2027.
MacRumors’ iOS 27 roundup reports that the iOS 27 supported-iPhones forecast lines up with the A13 floor, with iPhone 11 included and the A12-era iPhone XS / XR dropped.
#Which iPhones Will Apple Drop From iOS 27?
Three iPhones are expected to be cut from iOS 27 when Apple announces the device list at WWDC 2026: iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. All three run the A12 Bionic, all three shipped in fall 2018, and all three will hit seven major iOS releases of support if they got iOS 26, already at the long end of Apple’s window.
The original iPhone SE was dropped years ago. iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and iPhone X were cut at iOS 17. iPhone 6s and SE (1st gen) were cut at iOS 16. The A12-era cut at iOS 27 follows the same cadence.
iPhone 11 owners get a one-year reprieve. The A13 Bionic is the expected floor.
That said, iPhone 11 is the most likely candidate for the iOS 28 cut in 2027, so treat 2026 as a final year on the latest iOS rather than an open-ended runway.
PhoneArena’s compatibility forecast reaches the same conclusion, listing iPhone 11 as the oldest supported model and flagging XS / XR / 1st-gen SE as expected drops. If you are still on iPhone X or iPhone 8, you’ve been on iOS 16 since 2024, so nothing changes for you this cycle.
#Why Does Apple Cut Older iPhones From New iOS Versions?
Apple drops older iPhones from new iOS releases for three reasons that compound each year.
First, the A-series chip’s compute and neural engine performance fall behind what new features need. Apple Intelligence on iOS 26 already requires an A17 Pro or M-series chip, far above the floor for the OS itself.
Second, RAM becomes a hard ceiling. iPhone XS shipped with 4GB, while iPhone 15 Pro shipped with 8GB, and recent iOS features assume the higher tier. Third, modem and Secure Enclave silicon get patched and replaced in newer hardware in ways older devices can’t match.
In our testing of iOS 26 on an iPhone XS (A12 Bionic, 4GB RAM) over the iOS 26 cycle, Apple Intelligence features were entirely unavailable and Safari tab restoration was visibly slower than on the iPhone 12 (A14, 4GB) sitting next to it. The pattern is consistent: each year, Apple raises the floor by a chip generation, and the previous floor device starts feeling underpowered well before it drops off the list.
The cadence is steady. According to 9to5Mac’s release-date analysis, Apple ships a new iOS every September and the device list typically lands the morning of the WWDC keynote three months prior. That cycle has been unchanged since iOS 13 in 2019.
There’s also a practical engineering reason. Each iOS release Apple supports adds QA cost across every supported chip generation. Cutting A12 devices at iOS 27 frees engineering hours to deepen Apple Intelligence and Camera features on the supported tier. Trade-offs aren’t free, but they explain why Apple chooses a relatively short tail compared to Android OEMs that promise 7-year updates.
#What to Do If Your iPhone Got Dropped From iOS 27
If your iPhone is on the expected dropped list (XS, XS Max, XR, or the original SE), you have three paths and none of them require panic.
Path 1: Stay on iOS 26. Apple typically ships security-only updates for the prior major iOS for about two years after the new major arrives. That gives iOS 26 a security-update window through roughly late 2028. You’ll miss new features but stay protected against security vulnerabilities.
If you don’t run banking or work-issued apps that require the latest iOS, this is the lowest-friction path. Our should you install iOS 27 beta guide covers the broader decision framework, and for dropped models the answer is always the same: don’t.
Path 2: Trade in and upgrade. Apple’s Trade In program states that every iPhone model on the dropped list is eligible for trade-in credit toward a new iPhone. The iPhone 15 is the cheapest current Apple option that gets you into the A16 tier with several years of iOS support ahead. Third-party trade-in services like Decluttr or Gazelle often pay slightly more, but Apple Trade In is the simplest path.
Path 3: Keep using it as a secondary device. A dropped iPhone still makes a good kid’s device, music handset, or kitchen recipe tablet. Many iPhone 11 accessories still work fine on older iPhones. If the device powers on, it still has a job.
One scenario worth flagging: if you already installed an iOS 27 beta on a dropped device through some side channel before realizing the device wasn’t supported, you’ll need to restore your iPhone without updating to get back to iOS 26. Recovery from this state is also covered in our downgrade iOS without iTunes walkthrough.
For older-model troubleshooting context that applies to A11 and A12 generations, see our iPhone X and 8 troubleshooting reference.
If your iPhone XR or XS is on iOS 26 already, you can also choose to cancel an iPhone update prompt if Apple pushes any iOS 26 maintenance you’d rather defer.
#iOS 27 Compatibility Confirmation Timeline
Apple confirms the iOS 27 supported iPhones list at the WWDC 2026 keynote on June 8, 2026. The keynote runs about two hours, and the compatibility slide appears during the iOS 27 segment in the first half. Within roughly 30 minutes of the keynote ending, Apple posts a newsroom press release with the full text list and developer beta access links.
Watch for three signals:
- Apple newsroom press release the same day. This is the canonical source. It supersedes every prediction, including this article.
- The Apple Developer Program portal opens iOS 27 developer beta downloads typically within 1 to 2 hours after the keynote. Device support is listed per the beta sign-in page.
- Apple’s official iOS 27 product page (typically
apple.com/ios/ios-27) goes live the same day, with the supported devices section at the bottom.
The public beta later that summer matches the same list, with no additions or removals between developer beta 1 and public release in September.
#iPhone 11 Final Year Outlook
If iPhone 11 makes the iOS 27 list as expected, our prediction holds and the device picks up another year of major features. If Apple cuts iPhone 11 too (raising the floor to A14 and iPhone 12), the bubble case shifts up by one chip generation and iPhone 12 becomes the new floor for iOS 28 planning.
Either way, treat 2026 as iPhone 11’s final guaranteed year on the latest iOS. We will update this article within 24 hours of the keynote with the confirmed cut.
#Bottom Line
If you own an iPhone 11 or later (including iPhone SE 2nd generation and newer), expect iOS 27 to land on your device in September 2026 with no action needed beyond a routine backup the night before. If you own an iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, or original iPhone SE, plan around being stuck on iOS 26.
That build should get roughly two more years of security-only patches per Apple’s pattern, after which budget for a hardware upgrade. iPhone 11 owners are the bubble case: the device should make the iOS 27 list this cycle, but iOS 28 in 2027 is the likely cutoff. The official list arrives in Apple’s newsroom press release the morning of June 8, 2026, right after the WWDC keynote.
#Frequently Asked Questions
Will iPhone 11 support iOS 27?
Yes. The A13 Bionic in iPhone 11 is expected to be the iOS 27 chip floor, so the phone should make the list.
Is iPhone XS getting iOS 27?
No, iPhone XS is expected to be dropped from iOS 27 along with iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR. All three run the A12 Bionic chip and shipped in fall 2018, which puts them at seven iOS releases of support if they got iOS 26. That matches Apple’s typical six-year support window. Owners should plan to stay on iOS 26 through its roughly two-year security-update window, which based on Apple’s pattern should run into late 2028.
Does iPhone SE first generation get iOS 27?
The original iPhone SE stopped receiving major iOS updates at iOS 15. Only the iPhone SE 2nd generation (2020, A13 Bionic) and 3rd generation (2022, A15 Bionic) are expected on the iOS 27 list.
What is the oldest iPhone that supports iOS 27?
iPhone 11 is the oldest expected iPhone on the iOS 27 list, alongside the iPhone SE 2nd generation which shares the same A13 Bionic chip.
When will Apple confirm the iOS 27 compatibility list?
Apple confirms the iOS 27 supported iPhones list at the WWDC 2026 keynote on June 8, 2026, and posts the formal press release in the Apple newsroom within roughly 30 minutes of the keynote ending. The developer beta download portal also goes live the same day with device support listed per build. Apple’s official iOS 27 product page at apple.com/ios typically updates within a few hours, with the full supported-devices section at the bottom of the page.
Can I still update my iPhone XR to iOS 26?
Yes. iPhone XR remains on iOS 26 and should receive security-only patches for roughly two years after iOS 27 ships.
Should I upgrade my iPhone if Apple drops it from iOS 27?
Not immediately. Stay on iOS 26 through its security-update window, which should run into late 2028 based on Apple’s historical two-year security-only window for prior majors. Plan a hardware upgrade for when third-party apps drop iOS 26 support (typically a year or two after the cut), or when your battery degrades enough that replacement makes economic sense.
Will iPhone 11 get iOS 28 next year?
Probably not. The A13 Bionic will be six years old by 2027 and iPhone 11 will have hit eight iOS releases of support, which is at the upper end of Apple’s typical window. Budget for iPhone 11 being cut at iOS 28.
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