iOS 27 Feels Like an Empty Update on Older iPhones

iOS 27 is going to bring more updates than you might think when it starts rolling out in a few months.

OS 27 introduces a new device recovery mode. This is a Mac-like recovery feature where the iPhone is able to boot into an alternative UI that doesn’t involve loading the entirety of the main operating system.

Apple Didn't Really Say What's Coming in iOS 27, So I Guess I Will

OS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27 support plenty of older devices, but many headline features require Apple’s newest hardware.

Apple's WWDC 2026 was full of updates for the daily iPhone user experience - here's how you can try iOS 27 early for free.

Update: Apple has officially announced iOS 27, with key new features including a Siri app, a slider to adjust the appearance of Liquid Glass, and more. Read the full list of announcements for iOS 27 and WWDC.

If you were never a fan of Liquid Glass, you can expect an update to that as well. A new slider will be available through iOS 27, allowing you to adjust the glassiness of elements to enhance readability. The new update will also make app launches and AirDrop transfers faster.

WhatsApp will require iOS 15.5 or later from November 30, 2026. Owners of older iPhones, including iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 models, must install available software updates.

Apple has announced iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, and as usual, they include new wallpapers to mark the transition to the next major software cycle.

Apple has confirmed iOS 27 is coming to the iPhone 11, indirectly exposing Android's software update weakness for older flagships. Read on!