Apple’s iOS 27 will be available for iPhone 11 and newer—including the second-generation iPhone SE—but only a few devices will deliver the full suite of features. That’s because many of the headline additions—including Siri AI and enhanced Apple Intelligence—rely on hardware that not all eligible phones have.
Devices That Get Everything
At the top of the list are three models: iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. These are the only phones that support all of iOS 27’s new Siri AI features. To qualify, they each boast 12GB of RAM, which enables the advanced version of Apple Intelligence that drives more accurate speech-to-text, voice tunability (for pace and expressiveness), and on-device model performance.
What About the Rest?
Just below that elite tier lies a larger group of devices capable of standard Apple Intelligence features but not the full perks of the top ones. This includes the entire iPhone 16 lineup (including the “e” version), plus iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. These models support the redesigned Siri interface, a new dedicated Siri app, smarter in-app actions, enhanced on-screen awareness, web-based knowledge integration, and new photo editing tools like Extend and Spatial Reframing.
For all other compatible devices—from the iPhone 15/15 Plus down to iPhone 11—iOS 27 brings useful system updates like an improved CPU scheduler for more efficient task handling, a rebuilt system search function, and aesthetic refinements like Liquid Glass, but these phones won’t see the Apple Intelligence features or the upgraded Siri AI.
Other Conditions & International Limits
One important caveat: in the European Union, none of the Siri AI features will work at launch on iPhones or iPads, due to restrictions stemming from the Digital Markets Act. Apple is working with regulators, but initial availability on EU devices will be limited. macOS Golden Gate will include Siri AI in the EU when it launches.
Another factor: upcoming iPhone 18 and 18e models are expected to have around 9GB of RAM—enough for standard Apple Intelligence features, but short of the 12GB needed for the top-tier Siri AI tools. The Pro, Pro Max, and foldable “iPhone Duo” models rumored this fall should meet that 12GB threshold, keeping them in the highest performance bracket.
iOS 27’s public beta is already in the hands of testers, with a full roll-out expected in September alongside the next generation of iPhones.
What this means: Apple has drawn a firm line around which devices get the full experience. If you want the most advanced on-device Siri and Apple Intelligence features, only the top RAM-configured models make the cut. Aging models may still get iOS 27 overall, but they’ll miss the AI punch. What to keep an eye on: where your model stands in the RAM hierarchy, what Apple announces about international availability, and whether future updates ever unlock more for the lower tiers.
