iOS 27 is coming, but it won't be available on every iPhone — here's the devices we think will (and won't) make the cut

(Image credit: Future)

WWDC 2026 is fast approaching, and with it will come our first glimpse at iOS 27. The updated operating system will officially arrive around the same time as the iPhone 18 Pro, and will power all the best iPhones money can buy. But there will still be some iPhones that are left behind, stuck running iOS 26 forevermore.Apple offers some of the longest software support of any smartphone, but it doesn't offer indefinite support. There comes a point where older models get left behind and miss out on all the new features and upgrades Apple has developed. This typically happens after six or seven years, though Apple has never imposed any hard-and-fast timelines on when support will officially end.We can, however, make a pretty reasonable guess about which phones will be losing support this year. Here's which iPhones should get the upgrade to iOS 27 and, perhaps more importantly, which ones may not.Which phones already run iOS 26?

(Image credit: Future)Last year, it was confirmed that every iPhone up to (and including) the iPhone 11 series would be able to run iOS 26. This means that the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR, which were released back in 2018, were losing support, and would be left running on iOS 18. A full list of compatible devices includes:iPhone 17 series, including iPhone 17e, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro MaxiPhone 16 series, including iPhone 16e, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro MaxiPhone 15 series, including iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro MaxiPhone 14 series, including iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro MaxiPhone 13 series, including iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro MaxiPhone 12 series, including iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro MaxiPhone 11 series, including iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro MaxiPhone SE 2020 and iPhone SE 2022However, the full suite of iOS 26 features was only available on iPhones that had at least 8GB of RAM and could run Apple Intelligence. This was everything from the iPhone 15 Pro onwards, including the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus didn't have the right hardware and were left out, along with all older iPhones.Which phones are likely to be left behind this year?