Apple's iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 updates bring a breath of fresh air to older iPhone and iPad users, but it's not a universal upgrade. While the operating systems don't drop support for any iPhones, they do have their limitations. The good news is that all iPhones from the iPhone 11 and second-generation iPhone SE onwards will be able to run iOS 27. However, the iPadOS 27 update is slightly more restrictive, leaving behind the 3rd-generation iPad Air, 8th-generation iPad, and 5th-generation iPad mini, all of which used the older A12 Bionic chip. These older devices will have to make do with the previous version of the operating system.
Apple promises performance improvements for older devices with an updated CPU scheduler, a feature that was already present on newer iPhones but has now been ported back to support these older models. This is a welcome addition, as it ensures that users of older hardware can still benefit from the latest software improvements.
However, not all features are available to everyone. The new Apple Intelligence, a feature that enhances the operating system's capabilities, is limited to newer devices with at least 8GB of RAM. This means that only the iPhone 15 Pro or newer, the iPhone 16 or newer, or the iPhone Air will be able to take full advantage of this technology. On the iPad side, the M1 or newer is required for the iPad Air or iPad Pro.
The more advanced local models, which Apple also announced, have even more stringent requirements. These models need a newer Apple Silicon chip and a minimum of 12GB of RAM, limiting their compatibility to the iPhone 17 Pro, the iPhone Air, the M4 iPad Air, or the M4 or M5 iPad Pro. This exclusivity to the most recent hardware means that older users will have to wait for the next generation of devices to fully enjoy these new features.
The developer betas of iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 are already available, with a public beta version set to follow in July. The final releases will be available in the fall, as is customary for Apple. This gives users ample time to test the new features and prepare for the upgrade. While the updates may not be as extensive as previous releases, they still offer a range of improvements and new functionalities that are sure to delight Apple fans.
