Every iPhone model that supports iOS 27 (and which older ones don't)
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Tech Why you can trust ZDNET : ZDNET independently tests and researches products to bring you our best recommendations and advice. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Our process 'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean? ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form. Close Home Tech Smartphones iPhone Every iPhone model that supports iOS 27 (and which older ones don't) Here's a breakdown of which iPhone models support the next iOS update (now available on public beta) - and which ones Apple is leaving behind. Written by Maria Diaz, Staff WriterStaff Writer July 14, 2026 at 10:48 a.m. PT Kerry Wan/ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.Last month, Apple announced some interesting upgrades coming to iOS 27 this fall. The latest software update is only available in public beta and developer beta, with its general release likely coming this September. Also: What's new with iPhone 18 Pro Max? Guess correctly for a chance to win an Apple WatchWhile public betas give enthusiasts and everyday users a way to test the latest iteration of Apple's software, it's almost always best for iPhone users to wait for the stable release of iOS.If you're an iPhone user, you may be wondering if your phone will get iOS 27 when it becomes available. We've confirmed which iPhone models will be compatible with iOS 27, and which ones will not. Which iPhone models will get iOS 27? According to Apple, the following iPhone models can upgrade to iOS 27 public beta:iPhone 17iPhone 17 AiriPhone 17 ProiPhone 17 Pro MaxiPhone 16eiPhone 16iPhone 16 PlusiPhone 16 ProiPhone 16 Pro MaxiPhone 15iPhone 15 PlusiPhone 15 ProiPhone 15 Pro MaxiPhone 14iPhone 14 PlusiPhone 14 ProiPhone 14 Pro MaxiPhone 13iPhone 13 miniiPhone 13 ProiPhone 13 Pro MaxiPhone 12iPhone 12 miniiPhone 12 ProiPhone 12 Pro MaxiPhone SE (3rd generation or later)iPhone 11iPhone 11 ProiPhone 11 Pro MaxNotably, the iPhone X lineup and 2nd-generation SE models are not on the list. Show more Why is it called iOS 27? If you're familiar with previous iOS versions, you likely noticed that Apple skipped from iOS 18 to iOS 26 last year and is now continuing with iOS 27. After years of sequentially numbering software updates across all its devices, Apple rebranded its operating systems with 26. That doesn't mean that this was the 26th generation of Apple's yearly update cycle; Apple simply renamed its software versions to use the upcoming calendar year, much like car models. This was done as a branding move, as Apple unified its OS versions across all its platforms. Show more Which iPhone models can't run iOS 27? iOS 27 will not be supported on the iPhone X, XR, XS, XS Max, 2nd-generation SE, or earlier models. Show more What if my old iPhone can't run iOS 27? The Apple brand is strong and holds significant resale value, so you can always sell your older iPhone and disclose that it's no longer supported for software updates. There's a lot of demand for older iPhones that are still functional and budget-friendly, but you can also trade them for credit toward a new device.Apple, Best Buy, and Amazon are some of the retailers that accept iPhone trade-ins. iPhones' resale and trade-in values depend heavily on their condition and storage capacity. Features like an intact screen and a working camera also greatly influence resale or trade-in values.You can check your iPhone's trade-in value at one of these retailers or at a telecommunications company's authorized dealer. Show more When will iOS 27 come out? Apple launches its new operating systems in three phases: developer beta, public beta, and official general release.Developer beta: This is the rawest software version released to a large developer audience. The first developer beta of iOS 27 was released on June 8 during WWDC 2026. Subsequent developer beta updates followed to correct bugs and improve the user experience.Public beta: The public beta was just released in July. This program lets anyone with a compatible iPhone, not just registered developers, test early software versions. It also helps Apple identify and fix bugs or performance issues before the final release.General release: Also called a stable or official release, the general release of an operating system is when the company behind it makes it available to all users. The general release of iOS 27 will likely be in September 2026. Show more iOS 27 beta vs general release: What's the difference? The iOS 27 beta version will differ slightly from the general release. The beta phase gathers feedback that Apple uses to fix bugs and address user interface issues before the software is widely distributed.Beta versions can also be incomplete and are not the final product. This means the iOS 27 developer and public betas will be more prone to bugs, glitches, and instability.The general release will have ironed out most of these bugs and problems, using user feedback gathered during the beta phase, delivering software that is less prone to issues. However, they can still happen.For example, in the 2023 iOS 17 beta, Apple moved the in-call "End" button from its familiar center position to the right. After beta testers expressed frustration, Apple moved the button back to the center before the public release. Show more What is a software beta? A software beta is an early preview of an application or operating system, released to a select group of developers or users to gather feedback and uncover bugs under real-world conditions. It follows an internal alpha phase and helps Apple address issues before an official general release. 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