Image Credentials: Image Title: iOS 27 Rumored to Drop Support for Four Older iPhone Models. Source: (chatgpt.com) Date: May 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (chatgpt.com) by Open Chronicle and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle with agencies
Apple’s upcoming iOS 27 update could mark the end of software support for several older iPhone models, according to a new leak circulating ahead of the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).
The rumored compatibility list suggests that iOS 27 may no longer support the iPhone 11 lineup or the second-generation iPhone SE, potentially requiring users to upgrade to newer devices to access Apple’s next major mobile operating system.
According to information shared by Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital, iOS 27 is expected to support only iPhone 12 models and newer devices.
The following models, which currently support iOS 26, were reportedly excluded from the leaked compatibility list:
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11
- iPhone SE (2nd generation)
If accurate, the move would represent the second consecutive year in which Apple has dropped support for multiple older iPhone generations from a major iOS release. Last year, Apple ended support for the iPhone XS lineup with the release of iOS 26.
Although devices excluded from iOS 27 would no longer receive major feature updates, Apple is still expected to continue providing security patches and bug-fix updates for iOS 26 for some time after the new system launches.
Apple has not officially confirmed which devices will support iOS 27. The company is expected to unveil the operating system during WWDC, where several major changes are rumored to be announced.
Among the expected upgrades are a redesigned “Liquid Glass” interface, a significant overhaul of Siri, and broader integration of Apple Intelligence, Apple’s growing artificial intelligence platform.
However, many of those advanced AI-powered features are expected to require newer hardware, particularly the iPhone 15 Pro lineup or later models equipped with Apple’s latest processing capabilities.
That means some users whose devices technically support iOS 27 may still be unable to access many of the operating system’s headline features.
The rumored removal of the iPhone 11 series from Apple’s support list would affect devices first released in 2019. The iPhone 11 lineup remains popular among users due to its performance, camera system, and comparatively long software lifespan.
Apple traditionally provides iPhones with several years of software support, often longer than many competing smartphone manufacturers. Even so, each new generation of iOS tends to require increasingly advanced hardware capabilities, especially as artificial intelligence and machine learning become more central to mobile operating systems.
The leak has already sparked discussion among Apple users online, with many questioning whether the iPhone 11 series is truly approaching the end of its major software lifecycle.
Apple is expected to officially reveal iOS 27 and its full compatibility details during its upcoming WWDC keynote event.