iOS 27 Update: Key New Features and Which iPhones Support It

Apple unveiled iOS 27 at WWDC on June 8, 2026, marking its biggest Siri and AI overhaul to date. The final version is expected to roll out to everyone around September 14, 2026, alongside the new iPhone 18 lineup.

Top New Features in iOS 27

Siri AI: A Complete Overhaul

The headline change in this release is "Siri AI," a rebuilt assistant with a new interface and a standalone app of its own. It can hold natural back-and-forth conversations and draws on personal context, on-screen awareness, and web knowledge to complete tasks across apps, with many multi-step, cross-app actions processed on-device rather than in the cloud.

New AI Tools in Photos

The Photos app gains an improved Clean Up tool for removing unwanted objects, plus new Extend and Spatial Reframing tools that use generative AI to change a photo's composition or expand its crop. A new "Captured by Me" collection, keyword tagging, and star ratings round out the update.

Security and Child Safety Improvements

Apple has strengthened parental controls and child-safety tools, alongside broader trust-and-safety improvements across the system.

Performance Improvements

A new CPU scheduler helps every compatible device handle tasks more efficiently, alongside a rebuilt system search and refinements to the Liquid Glass design.

Which iPhones Support the Update

iOS 27 supports every iPhone currently running iOS 26, with no models dropped this year, starting from the iPhone 11 up to the newest models:

iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air, iPhone 17, iPhone 17e, the entire iPhone 16 lineup (16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, 16e), iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, the full iPhone 14 lineup, the full iPhone 13 lineup, the full iPhone 12 lineup, the full iPhone 11 lineup, and iPhone SE (2nd generation and later).

The update will also ship pre-installed on the new iPhone 18 lineup expected this fall, including the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and Apple's first foldable iPhone.

The Most Important Phones: Full AI Feature Support

Despite the broad compatibility list, support for Apple Intelligence and Siri AI splits into three clear tiers:

Tier 1 – Full support (requires 12GB of RAM):

• iPhone 17 Pro Max

• iPhone 17 Pro

• iPhone Air

These are the only models that can run Apple's most powerful on-device AI model, unlocking exclusive features like customizable Siri voice expressiveness and pace, plus more accurate on-device dictation.

Tier 2 – Standard Apple Intelligence and Siri AI support:

• iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e (both ship with 8GB of RAM)

• The entire iPhone 16 lineup

• iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max

Notably, the iPhone 16 Pro itself misses out on Tier 1 features despite being a "Pro" model, since its memory falls short of the 12GB threshold.

Tier 3 – iOS 27 without Apple Intelligence: Every device older than the iPhone 15 Pro — the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, and the full iPhone 14, 13, 12, and 11 lineups, plus iPhone SE — gets iOS 27 with all its general improvements, but without Apple Intelligence or the new Siri.

A Note for EU Users

Siri AI will not be available in the European Union at launch due to regulatory constraints — a restriction that does not apply to users in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, or the rest of the Arab world.

When Does It Arrive?

iOS 27 is currently in public beta testing (beta 4 as of this writing), with the stable release expected for everyone around September 14, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is iOS 27 officially releasing?

The public release is expected around September 14, 2026, alongside the new iPhone 18 lineup.

Does my iPhone support Apple Intelligence on iOS 27?

You'll need an iPhone 15 Pro or newer with at least 8GB of RAM. Apple's most powerful on-device model is limited further to the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air, which have 12GB of RAM.

Why doesn't the standard iPhone 17 get every Siri AI feature?

Because it ships with only 8GB of RAM, while Apple's most powerful on-device AI model requires at least 12GB — available only on the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air.

Will Siri AI work in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE at launch?

Yes. The regulatory restrictions announced so far apply only to the European Union at launch, not to Arab countries.