iOS 27 Release Date: Compatible iPhones and All the Biggest New Features

Apple has officially revealed when iOS 27 will arrive on iPhone. First unveiled at WWDC 2026 and available as a beta for several months, Apple’s next major iPhone software update will be released to the public on September 14, 2026.

The update brings a mix of interface improvements, performance optimizations, new Apple Intelligence features, better parental controls, Safari upgrades, and several changes to apps such as Photos, Mail, Health, and Passwords.

But which iPhones can install iOS 27, and which features will actually be available on your device?

Here’s everything you need to know before upgrading to iOS 27.

iOS 27 Release Date: September 14, 2026

You won’t have to wait much longer to install iOS 27. Apple has confirmed that the update will begin rolling out on Monday, September 14, 2026.

As usual, iOS 27 will be delivered as a free over-the-air update. Once Apple starts the rollout, you can check for it by opening:

Settings > General > Software Update

The update may not appear for everyone at exactly the same time, as Apple’s rollout can take some time to reach all compatible devices.

Before installing, however, it’s worth checking whether your iPhone is supported.

Which iPhones Are Compatible With iOS 27?

Apple isn’t dropping any additional iPhone models this year. In other words, if your iPhone supports iOS 26, it will also support iOS 27.

The full list of compatible models includes:

• iPhone Duo
• iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max
• iPhone 17, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max
• iPhone Air
• iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max
• iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later

However, iOS 27 compatibility doesn’t mean every feature will be available on every iPhone.

Apple Intelligence requires at least an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max, or an iPhone 16 or newer.

The situation is also different for the new AI-powered Siri. Apple’s more advanced Siri experience won’t be available at launch and is expected later in the year. On iPhone, it will also initially be unavailable in the European Union.

Liquid Glass Becomes Customizable

One of the most noticeable changes in iOS 27 is an evolution of the Liquid Glass design introduced with iOS 26.

Apple has refined the interface to address some of the criticism surrounding readability and excessive transparency. Contrast has been improved, while app icons have also been redesigned to make them easier to see.

More importantly, iOS 27 gives users much more control over Liquid Glass.

A new setting lets you adjust the transparency of the interface, ranging from a highly transparent appearance to a more heavily tinted look.

That should be particularly useful if you found some elements of iOS 26 difficult to read because of the amount of transparency. Instead of having to accept Apple’s default appearance, you can now adjust the effect to better suit your preferences.

iOS 27 Promises Major Performance Improvements

Apple is also putting a significant focus on performance with iOS 27.

According to Apple, some apps can launch up to 30% faster, while newly captured photos can appear in your Photos library up to 70% faster after taking them.

AirDrop users could see an even bigger improvement, with file transfers claimed to be up to 80% faster.

iOS 27 should also make switching between Wi-Fi and cellular networks smoother. For example, when you leave home and your Wi-Fi connection becomes weaker, your iPhone should transition more naturally to a 4G or 5G connection without interrupting what you’re doing.

As always, these are Apple’s “up to” figures, so real-world performance will depend on your iPhone model, network conditions, and the tasks you’re performing.

Safari Can Monitor Websites for You

Safari gets several useful improvements in iOS 27, particularly for people who regularly end up with dozens of open tabs.

The browser can now automatically organize tabs into groups based on their subject or theme, making large collections of open pages easier to manage.

There’s also a new feature called Notify Me. It lets you ask Safari to monitor a webpage and alert you when something changes.

For example, you could have Safari watch a product page and notify you when the price drops or when an out-of-stock product becomes available again.

It’s a potentially useful feature if you’re waiting for a deal or a product restock and don’t want to repeatedly check the website yourself.

These features rely on Apple Intelligence, so you’ll need a compatible iPhone to use them.

Photos Gets New AI-Powered Editing Tools

Apple is also expanding the editing capabilities of the Photos app with three new Apple Intelligence-powered tools.

Spatial Crop

Spatial Crop lets you adjust the framing of an image after taking it. You can change the viewpoint or slightly alter the perspective, creating the impression that the photo was originally captured from a different position.

Extend

The Extend tool can expand an image beyond its original borders.

This could be useful when straightening a horizon, for example. Instead of simply cropping away parts of the image to correct the composition, iOS can generate additional content around the edges.

Improved Clean Up

Apple’s Clean Up tool also gets an upgrade. It can remove larger unwanted objects from photos while doing a better job of reconstructing the background behind them.

All three features use Apple Intelligence, meaning you’ll need an iPhone that supports Apple’s AI features.

Mail Gets Smarter Search

Finding an old email can be frustrating when your inbox contains years of messages.

iOS 27 improves search in Apple’s Mail app by putting the most relevant results at the top.

Rather than simply presenting a long list of matching emails, Mail attempts to prioritize the messages that are most likely to answer your search.

For users with large inboxes, this should make finding specific messages considerably faster.

Apple Intelligence Gets More Useful

Photos isn’t the only app benefiting from Apple’s expanding AI capabilities.

In iOS 27, Messages and Mail can better understand the context of conversations and suggest relevant actions.

For example, if someone asks you to send them some photos, Messages can help locate the relevant images in your photo library. It can also suggest creating a reminder or note based on information you’re currently reading.

There is one major limitation, however: some of these new Suggestions features will initially be available only in English.

That means availability can vary depending on your language and region, even if your iPhone technically supports Apple Intelligence.

Siri AI Won’t Be Available in the EU at Launch

The next-generation Siri is one of the biggest AI features associated with iOS 27, but don’t expect to use it on September 14.

Apple plans to introduce the new Siri experience later in the year, initially as a beta and in English.

For users in the European Union, the wait will be even longer.

Apple has delayed the new Siri experience on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch in the EU because of requirements associated with the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Apple says European regulators have not accepted the solutions it proposed for allowing the new Siri to operate while also providing access to other virtual assistants.

At this point, Apple has not announced a specific release date for the new Siri experience on iPhone in the EU.

Mac and Apple Vision Pro are treated differently. The new Siri experience can be used on those platforms in the EU when it becomes available, provided the device is configured in a supported language.

iOS 27 Adds More Parental Controls

Parents are getting more control over their children’s iPhones with iOS 27.

Apple’s Communication Safety feature, which already detects images containing nudity, is being expanded to intervene before children see violent or otherwise disturbing images or videos.

Parents can also get more precise control over which websites and apps their children can access.

If a child attempts to open a blocked website, they can request permission directly from their parents. The request can then be received through Messages.

Screen Time is also becoming more flexible. Parents can set limits for categories such as games, social media, and entertainment, while also deciding which apps remain available at particular times or on specific days of the week.

More iOS 27 Features You Should Know About

There are plenty of smaller changes throughout iOS 27 that are easy to overlook.

Higher-Resolution iCloud Shared Albums

iCloud Shared Albums will support higher-resolution photos, while friends and family using Android or Windows can more easily join shared albums through iCloud.com and contribute their own photos.

Accessibility Improvements

Apple is expanding accessibility features as well.

VoiceOver can provide more detailed descriptions of images, while a new feature can automatically generate synchronized captions for videos.

The captioning feature can also translate existing subtitles into another language, making video content more accessible to a wider audience.

Health Improvements

The Health app receives additional tracking capabilities, including features related to perimenopause and menopause.

Apple Maps

Apple is also adding more detailed Flyover experiences to Maps, providing additional visual detail in supported locations.

AirPods Controls

iOS 27 adds more audio controls for AirPods. Users can adjust bass, mids, and treble directly from the iPhone’s settings instead of relying entirely on the existing presets.

Passwords App

The Passwords app gets smarter about security.

It can warn you when a password is weak or compromised and, when supported by a website, can automatically change the password for you.

This could make it easier to deal with compromised credentials without having to manually navigate through an account’s security settings.

Should You Install iOS 27 Right Away?

For most compatible iPhone owners, iOS 27 looks like a worthwhile upgrade.

The biggest changes aren’t limited to the new Liquid Glass controls. Apple is also targeting performance, improving Photos and Safari, expanding parental controls, and adding more practical uses for Apple Intelligence.

That said, the iOS 27 experience will vary considerably depending on your iPhone model and region. Older iPhones can install the update but won’t have access to Apple’s most demanding AI features. Users in the European Union will also have to wait longer for some of the new Siri capabilities.

If you’re upgrading from iOS 26, the new Liquid Glass customization alone could make the update feel more comfortable, especially if you weren’t a fan of the original transparency-heavy design.

Final Thoughts

iOS 27 is more than a visual refresh. Apple is using the update to refine Liquid Glass, improve everyday performance, expand Apple Intelligence, and give users more control over features such as Safari, Photos, Screen Time, and Passwords.

The good news is that every iPhone compatible with iOS 26 can also upgrade to iOS 27, so Apple isn’t dropping another group of older devices this year.

The biggest caveat is feature availability. Apple Intelligence requires newer hardware, while the next-generation Siri remains delayed and faces additional restrictions in the European Union.

For everyone else, September 14, 2026 marks the start of the public rollout. Once the update appears under Settings > General > Software Update, you’ll be able to install iOS 27 and try the new features for yourself.