What Apple Announced at WWDC 2026
iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, watchOS 27 and visionOS 27 are Apple’s latest software generations, bringing updated features, security improvements and platform-wide refinements to eligible iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Vision Pro devices across multiple product generations. At WWDC 2026, Apple unveiled all five operating systems and released the first developer betas, with public, stable versions planned for later this year. According to GSMArena, “any iPhone that supports iOS 26 will also be eligible for iOS 27,” making this cycle one of the more generous in terms of ongoing support. Apple is also tying some Apple Intelligence and new Siri AI capabilities to newer hardware, so compatibility with iOS 27 does not always guarantee access to every headline AI feature. Still, the overall iOS 27 compatible devices list remains broad, especially for older iPhones.
iOS 27 Compatible Devices: iPhone SE 2, iPhone 11 and Newer
For iPhone owners, the highlight is that iOS 27 covers the iPhone SE (2nd generation) and the entire iPhone 11 family, extending through every flagship line up to the current iPhone 17 range. The full iOS 27 compatible devices lineup includes iPhone SE (2nd generation and later), iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12 and 12 Mini through 12 Pro Max, the iPhone 13 series including 13 Mini, the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus through 14 Pro Max, all iPhone 15 models, the iPhone 16 and 16e family, as well as iPhone 17, 17e, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. Apple’s new iPhone Air is also on the list. While every phone that ran iOS 26 can move to iOS 27, some Apple Intelligence and new Siri enhancements will remain limited to select newer devices.
iPadOS 27 Support List: iPad, iPad Air, iPad mini and iPad Pro
The iPadOS 27 support list spans compact tablets to high-end Pro models. On the small side, iPadOS 27 runs on iPad mini (6th generation and later) as well as the iPad mini powered by the A17 Pro chip. Standard iPad models supported include iPad (9th generation and later) and the A16-based iPad. For iPad Air, compatibility starts with iPad Air (4th generation and later), plus the newer M2 and later Air models, including the 13‑inch iPad Air and 11‑inch M2, M3 and M4 variants. On the professional end, iPadOS 27 supports the 11‑inch iPad Pro (2nd generation and later), the 12.9‑inch iPad Pro (4th generation and later), and the latest iPad Pro models built on the M4 chip and newer. Together, this iPadOS 27 support list keeps several past generations eligible for the update.
macOS 27 Golden Gate Compatibility: Apple Silicon Only
macOS 27 Golden Gate marks a clean break from Intel Macs, focusing entirely on Apple silicon hardware. Supported desktops include Mac Studio (2022 and later), Mac mini with Apple silicon (2020 and later), iMac with Apple silicon (2021 and later) and the Apple silicon Mac Pro (2023). On the mobile side, macOS 27 Golden Gate compatibility covers MacBook Air with Apple silicon from 2020 onward and MacBook Pro with Apple silicon from 2020 and later. Apple’s new MacBook Neo, introduced as part of its latest notebook lineup, is also eligible. This means every Mac with an M‑series chip can upgrade, while older Intel-based machines are no longer included. For users who recently switched to Apple silicon, macOS 27 Golden Gate offers a clear path forward with ongoing updates and optimization for those processors.
watchOS 27 Eligible Devices and iPhone Requirements
watchOS 27 focuses on newer Apple Watch models and tighter integration with modern iPhones. The watchOS 27 eligible devices list includes Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, and the rugged Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Ultra 3. There is also a phone requirement: watchOS 27 needs an iPhone 11 or later, or an iPhone SE (2nd generation or later) running iOS 27. This means that even if your Apple Watch is on the support list, you will not receive the update without a compatible iPhone. With watchOS 27 arriving alongside iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate and visionOS 27, owners of recent Apple hardware can plan a coordinated upgrade across their devices when the stable releases roll out later in the year.
