Notebookcheck Logo

These iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple Watches will receive Apple's next OS update

Some Apple watches and Macs will no longer receive feature updates starting this fall.
ⓘ Apple
Some Apple watches and Macs will no longer receive feature updates starting this fall.
Apple has unveiled the biggest operating system updates of the year for the iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch at WWDC. From better performance and an improved "Liquid Glass" design to Siri AI, there are numerous new features on board, but some devices will no longer receive feature updates.
Apple iOS macOS

Apple today announced multiple major operating system updates at WWDC, which are expected to be released in the fall. However, who can install iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate and watchOS 27 as soon as the updates are available depends heavily on how old the devices used are. There is only really good news for iPhone users.
 

iOS 27 runs on 7-year-old iPhones

iOS 27, the next major operating system update for the iPhone, is the only update that runs on all models on which iOS 26 could be installed last year. Specifically, this means that iOS 27 can be installed on the following iPhones:

  • iPhone 11 | iPhone 11 Pro | iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • iPhone 12 | iPhone 12 mini | iPhone 12 Pro | iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • iPhone 13 | iPhone 13 mini | iPhone 13 Pro | iPhone 13 Pro Max
  • iPhone 14 | iPhone 14 Plus | iPhone 14 Pro | iPhone 14 Pro Max
  • iPhone 15 | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro Max
  • iPhone 16 | iPhone 16e | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro Max
  • iPhone 17 | iPhone 17e | iPhone 17 Pro | iPhone 17 Pro Max
  • iPhone Air
  • iPhone SE (2nd generation and newer)
     

iPadOS 27 leaves iPad Pro from 2018 behind

Software support for the iPad doesn't look quite as rosy. The 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro from 2018 will be left behind, as will the eighth-generation iPad, the fifth-generation iPad mini and the third-generation iPad Air. This means that iPadOS 27 is compatible with the following iPad models:

  • iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation or newer)
  • iPad Pro 12.9 inch (4th generation or newer)
  • iPad Pro 13 inch
  • iPad Air (4th generation or newer)
  • iPad (9th generation and newer)
  • iPad mini (6th generation or newer)
     

No chance for Intel Macs in macOS 27

macOS 27 Golden Gate can be installed on all Macs with a Apple processor, but not on a single model with an Intel chip, so all devices sold before 2020 will no longer receive feature updates. The following Macs are compatible:

  • Mac Pro (2023)
  • Mac Studio (2022 and newer)
  • Mac mini (2020 and newer)
  • iMac (2021 and newer)
  • MacBook Pro (2020 and newer)
  • MacBook Air (2020 and newer)
  • MacBook Neo
     

Apple Watch receives very short software support

The compatibility cuts hit the Apple Watch particularly hard. While watchOS 26 could still be installed on the Apple Watch Series 6, 7, 8 and 9 as well as on the Apple Watch Ultra 1, Apple is removing support for all four generations, meaning that watchOS 27 will only run on very few smartwatches:

  • Apple Watch Series 9 | Series 10 | Series 11
  • Apple Watch Ultra 2 | Ultra 3
  • Apple Watch SE 3 ($219 on Amazon)
     
The Siri app is available on all platforms.
The Siri app is available on all platforms.

Source(s)

Apple

Google LogoAdd as a preferred source on Google
Mail Logo
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article

Related Articles

> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2026 06 > These iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple Watches will receive Apple's next OS update
Hannes Brecher, 2026-06- 8 (Update: 2026-06- 8)