iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 Are Here: Compatible iPhones, New Features, and How to Update
Apple’s latest iPhone and iPad software, iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, is now available. Although this release does not bring a redesign as dramatic as the earlier Liquid Glass update, it includes meaningful changes that could affect how you use your device.
iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 focus primarily on stability and performance improvements. The updates also make everyday tasks easier, including setting up shortcuts, while introducing a major Siri AI upgrade. Here is everything you need to know.
Updated September 14, 2026: This story has been updated to reflect the latest updates and the release of iOS 27 and iPadOS 27.
Is your iPhone or iPad compatible with iOS 27?
Apple sometimes removes older devices from its list of supported operating systems because aging hardware may struggle with newer features. Apple typically supports iPhones and iPads for six to seven years. This year, however, iPhones from 2019—including the iPhone 11 and later, as well as the second-generation iPhone SE—support iOS 27.
That means iPhones that received iOS 26 are still compatible with iOS 27. To check your model, go to Settings > General > About and look for the model name.
iPad compatibility is more complicated because Apple identifies some models by chipset rather than generation. You can check your iPad model using Apple’s support documentation.
Some iPads are excluded from the iPadOS 27 update, including the 2020 eighth-generation iPad and fifth-generation iPad mini.
- iPad: Ninth generation or later, including A16 models
- iPad mini: Sixth generation or later, including A17 Pro models
- 11-inch iPad Air: Fourth generation or later, including M2, M3, and M4 models
- 13-inch iPad Air: M2 or later
- 11-inch iPad Pro: Second generation or later
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro: Fourth generation or later
- iPad Pro: M4 or later
How to install iOS 27 or iPadOS 27
The final versions of iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 are now available. Back up your device before installing the update. To use iCloud Backup, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, select iCloud, tap iCloud Backup, and then choose Back Up Now.
After backing up your device, go to Settings > General > Software Update and select iOS 27 or iPadOS 27 when it appears. Installation takes a few minutes, and your iPhone or iPad will restart. Allow additional time for the complete process.
Siri AI will index your iPhone or iPad and learn more about your apps and data to provide more personalized assistance. This process can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
Apple Intelligence works only on some iPhones and iPads
Installing iOS 27 or iPadOS 27 does not guarantee access to every new feature. Apple Intelligence remains compatible only with the iPhone 15 Pro and later, along with some iPad models. As a result, some artificial intelligence features are unavailable on older devices.
The biggest new features in iOS 27 and iPadOS 27
The iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 updates are nearly identical. Here are the most important changes.
Siri AI gets a new look and more capabilities
Provided by Apple
Apple says Siri is becoming a “more capable assistant,” in part because it uses a third-generation base model developed using Google’s Gemini model. Apple says Siri does not use Google’s infrastructure and that Siri interaction data will not be shared with Google.
Siri AI has a new glass-sphere design and supports natural voice and text interactions. A dedicated Siri app lets you revisit previous conversations or continue them on another device. Siri is also integrated into the Camera app, making it easier to start visual searches, similar to Google Lens. You can even point the camera at a restaurant bill and ask Siri to split the cost between you and your friends.
The assistant can search your emails, messages, and photos for relevant personal context. It can also take actions for you, such as drafting an email in a specific tone or recommending wine to pair with a particular dish. Siri’s voice is more expressive, and you can customize its voice, expressiveness, and speaking pace.
If you want to explore the upgraded assistant, Apple’s new Siri AI features provide a detailed look at what it can do.
Improved performance and platform stability
Provided by Apple
Apple says iOS 27 is designed to run faster and respond more quickly. Apps can launch up to 30 percent faster, newly captured photos can load in the Photos library up to 70 percent faster, and AirDrop transfers can be up to 80 percent faster.
The iPhone should also switch more smoothly between Wi-Fi and cellular networks. Many of these improvements apply to older models, including the iPhone 11, through a more optimized CPU scheduler.
More control over the Liquid Glass design
Provided by Apple
Whether you love or dislike Liquid Glass, iOS 27 gives you more control over its appearance. Apple says it has refined the design across the system to improve readability and contrast, including sharper app icons.
A new slider lets you adjust the Liquid Glass effect from highly transparent to more opaque. You can find it under Settings > Appearance > Liquid Glass.
New child safety features
Provided by Apple
Apple highlighted several child safety features during its WWDC keynote. The new Setup Assistant lets parents choose system apps and other important apps for their children when setting up an Apple device for the first time.
A feature called “Ask to See” sends new websites that children discover in Safari to a parent for approval. Communication Safety helps prevent children from viewing nudity or violence in Messages and FaceTime by blurring that content by default.
Source: www.wired.com