Apple has unexpectedly expanded the list of devices that will receive iOS 27. At WWDC 2026, the company confirmed support for the iPhone 11 lineup, despite earlier rumors suggesting those models might miss out on the major system update.
This means the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max—released back in 2019—will get the stable version of iOS 27 this fall. Moreover, these phones should be able to install the first developer beta right after the presentation. The second-generation iPhone SE has also retained support, though it was considered a candidate for removal from the list.
The rule turned out to be simple: if an iPhone received iOS 26, it will also get iOS 27. The list includes the iPhone SE 2, the entire iPhone 11 lineup, the iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 models, as well as the iPhone 16e, iPhone 17e, and iPhone Air. A year earlier, Apple dropped support for the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR based on the A12 Bionic chip, but this time the company decided not to abandon devices with the A13.
For owners of older models, this is important news not just because of the update itself. Apple claims that iOS 27 features an improved CPU scheduler, which should make older iPhones feel more responsive. It also promises faster app launches—up to 30 percent—and accelerated file transfers via AirDrop, which the company says will be up to 80 percent quicker.
However, support for iOS 27 does not mean every device will get all features. Apple Intelligence capabilities still require at least 8 GB of RAM, so the new Siri will only appear on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 lineups, as well as the iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, and iPhone 17e.
In the end, iOS 27 looks like a rare case where Apple is not shrinking but preserving compatibility boundaries. For iPhone 11 owners, this effectively extends the device's life by at least another year, even if the most advanced AI features remain exclusive to newer models.