Apple has set the official launch date for iPadOS 27: it will roll out on September 14, 2026, following its initial reveal during the Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this year. The update, revealed during the “Surprise and Shine” event, introduces several major upgrades — chief among them a substantially reimagined Siri and expanded compatibility.
What’s New in iPadOS 27
Siri receives its biggest overhaul yet. With the incorporation of the next generation of Apple Intelligence, Apple’s own foundation models, and a partnership with Google’s Gemini models, the assistant gains new capabilities. It will leverage personal context to deliver more relevant and nuanced assistance, and can now reach out to the web for fresh information to craft its responses. Meanwhile, the operating system refresh also includes updates to the Liquid Glass aesthetic, improvements to performance in key system apps, and other refinements.
Which iPads Are Supported
Not all iPads will make the upgrade. Here’s a breakdown of the supported models:
- iPad Pro (M4 and later)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation and later)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation and later)
- iPad Air 13-inch and 11-inch models (M2 and newer; 11-inch also 4th generation and later)
- Standard iPad models with A16 chip or newer; 9th generation and above
- iPad mini models with A17 Pro or the 6th generation
However, some of iPadOS 27’s most advanced Siri AI functions will only work on machines with an M4 chip or newer and at least 12 GB of memory.
On the compatibility front, users with older iPads that don’t meet these requirements may miss out on the elite-tier AI features, but will still receive smaller updates like visual tweaks, and general performance boosts where hardware allows.
Update timing drops just days after the event unveiling: Apple revealed this release window while introducing the new foldable iPhone (dubbed the “iPhone Duo”) alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The confirmation of iPadOS 27’s September arrival signals Apple’s commitment to aligning software major releases with its hardware wave.
What this means: the AI era is accelerating on iPads, but with tiered access depending on hardware. Users with top-end iPads will unlock more of the system’s ambition, while those with older models will still benefit, albeit more modestly. If you’re eyeing an upgrade, check for the M4 chip and 12 GB memory — they’re the ticket to getting the full new-Siri experience.
