iOS 27 is coming, but it won't be available on every iPhone — here's the devices we don't think will make the cut

WWDC 2026 is fast approaching, and with it will come our first glimpse at iOS 27. The updated operating system will officially arrive around the same time as the iPhone 18 Pro, and will power all the best iPhones money can buy. But there will still be some iPhones that are left behind, stuck running iOS 26 forevermore.

Apple offers some of the longest software support of any smartphone, but it doesn't offer indefinite support. There comes a point where older models get left behind and miss out on all the new features and upgrades Apple has developed. This typically happens after six or seven years, though Apple has never imposed any hard-and-fast timelines on when support will officially end.

We can, however, make a pretty reasonable guess about which phones will be losing support this year. Here's which iPhones should get the upgrade to iOS 27 and, perhaps more importantly, which ones may not.

Which phones already run iOS 26?

iOS 26 logo on iPhone sitting on a laptop keyboard

(Image credit: Future)

Last year, it was confirmed that every iPhone up to (and including) the iPhone 11 series would be able to run iOS 26. This means that the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR, which were released back in 2018, were losing support, and would be left running on iOS 18. A full list of compatible devices includes:

iPhone 17 series, including iPhone 17e, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max
iPhone 16 series, including iPhone 16e, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 15 series, including iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14 series, including iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13 series, including iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12 series, including iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11 series, including iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone SE 2020 and iPhone SE 2022

However, the full suite of iOS 26 features was only available on iPhones that had at least 8GB of RAM and could run Apple Intelligence. This was everything from the iPhone 15 Pro onwards, including the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus didn't have the right hardware and were left out, along with all older iPhones.

Which phones are likely to be left behind this year?

iOS 27 features — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Since the 2018 iPhones missed out on the iOS 26 upgrade last year, it's safe to assume that the 2019 iPhones will not be getting upgraded to iOS 27. That means the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are the phones likely to be missing out on the next upgrade.

Every iPhone released since then, from iPhone 12 onwards, should still be able to download and install the upgrade.

Of course, that's no guarantee that they definitely will, or that other phones won't also miss out. The iPhone 6s is a phone notable for extended longevity, with Apple supporting the phone with full iOS updates for a full seven years — and was formally discontinued at the same time as the original iPhone SE and the iPhone 7 series.

So there's always a chance that the iPhone 11 could stick around for one more year.

It's also possible that newer iPhones will be discontinued as well, and cut off from iOS 27 in the process. The most likely candidate is probably the iPhone SE 2020, since it runs on the same A13 chipset as the iPhone 11 series and was released mid-way through the year.

However, that didn't happen with the original iPhone SE, so it may still be supported for a little while longer. It all depends on whether the iPhone 11 is dropped for hardware compatibility reasons or because Apple has decided it's the right time to start sunsetting the device.

When will we know for sure?

WWDC 2026 shiny logo

(Image credit: Apple)

When it comes to loss of software support, Apple often does things very quietly. Instead of making an official announcement that certain iPhones will not be getting iOS 27 support, Apple simply lists the devices that are eligible for the beta.

Anything not listed isn't able to test the new software, and won't be getting the final version when it arrives this fall.

Like all previous iOS betas, the first details about iOS 27 beta will be revealed at WWDC 2026 on June 8, followed by details on how to sign up and test the new software. The small print will then confirm exactly which devices are compatible with the beta, and thus which older models are being restricted to security updates for the remainder of their lives.

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Tom is the Tom's Guide's UK Phones Editor, tackling the latest smartphone news and vocally expressing his opinions about upcoming features or changes. It's long way from his days as editor of Gizmodo UK, when pretty much everything was on the table. He’s usually found trying to squeeze another giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very large cups of coffee, or complaining about how terrible his Smart TV is.