A few weeks before WWDC 2026, a leak relaunches the question that angers users of old iPhone models. According to a reputable leaker, iOS 27expected for the fall, would no longer be offered on theiPhone 11 and several neighboring models that are still compatible with iOS 26.
The rumor comes fromInstant Digitalactive leaker on Weibowhich publishes a possible iOS 27 compatibility list focused on iPhone 12 and newer. If it is confirmed, millions of iPhone 11 owners would see their smartphone frozen on iOS 26. It remains to be seen who is really affected, what this implies on a daily basis and whether we should already consider changing their phone.
Which iPhones would be deprived of iOS 27 according to the leak?
According to information relayed in particular by iPhoneAddict, iOS 27 would no longer be offered on four models still supported by iOS 26:
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (2nd generation, 2020)
These devices would therefore remain stuck on iOS 26while continuing to receive security updates for several more years, as Apple has done in the past with much older models.
Common point of these four iPhones: they all rely on the chip A13 Bionic. The leak indicates that iOS 27 compatibility would begin with theiPhone 12equipped with the A14 Bionic, which would coincide with the arrival of new AI functions such as Siri AI and the treatments grouped under the Apple Intelligence label, which are more power-hungry.
What does it change if your iPhone 11 stays on iOS 26?
If your iPhone 11 or your iPhone SE 2020 gets stuck on iOS 26, it doesn’t immediately become obsolete. You will continue to receive security patches and the majority of apps in the App Store will remain compatible for several years. Apple has already patched models like the iPhone 5s more than ten years after their release, which illustrates the duration of security monitoring.
On the other hand, you would lose access to the new features of iOS 27. Among them, the leaks suggest the arrival of a Siri AI much more contextual, a slider to adjust the appearance and transparency of the interface Liquid Glass introduced with iOS 26, along with additional home screen customization options. The update would mainly focus on stability and bug fixes, in the spirit of Snow Leopard on the Mac side.
Technically, the cut at the level of the A13 Bionic stands: locally activating heavy AI functions on an older chip would risk causing marked slowdowns and falling battery life, which is precisely what Apple is seeking to avoid.
iOS 27: what timetable and should we already think about changing iPhones?
iOS 27 will be officially presented on June 8, 2026, during the opening keynote of the WWDC 2026. A beta for developers is expected immediately, a public beta in July, then the final version in September, alongside the new iPhone range.
For the moment, this supposed cut for theiPhone 11 remains a rumor, however credible it may be. If you have an iPhone 11 or iPhone SE (2nd generation) and the device still meets your needs, there is no reason to make a hasty purchase. On the other hand, if you plan to keep your next smartphone for a long time and benefit from Siri AI and iOS 27, aim for at least one iPhone 12 or a newer model already seems like the most reasonable choice before the June announcements.