UMVA has learned that Apple's upcoming operating systems, including iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and watchOS 27, will come with strict compatibility requirements, particularly for Apple Intelligence and Siri AI features.
For iPhone users, running everything – iOS 27, Apple Intelligence, and Apple Intelligence features that use on-device models – requires an iPhone 17 Pro or later, or an iPhone Air. However, those with an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, or an iPhone Air can still run iOS 27 and Apple Intelligence without the on-device model features.
Any iPhone as far back as the iPhone 11 will still run iOS 27, but without Apple Intelligence. The list of compatible iPhones for iOS 27 includes iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 11 and later, iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max and later, iPhone 12 mini and later, iPhone 14 Plus and later, iPhone 16e and later, and iPhone Air.
However, Apple Intelligence and Siri AI are not compatible with all iPhones on the list. For these features, users need an iPhone 16 and later, iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max and later, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16e and later, or an iPhone Air.
But that's not all – Apple Intelligence compatibility goes a step further. The most powerful on-device model and features like expressive voices and advanced dictation will only be available on the most capable iPhone, iPad, and Mac systems. Specifically, iPhone 17 Pro and later, and iPhone Air will support these on-device Apple Intelligence models.
For iPad users, iPadOS 27 without Apple Intelligence is compatible with several iPad models, including iPad Pro (M4 and later), iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (4th generation and later), iPad Pro 11‑inch (2nd generation and later), iPad Air 13- and 11-inch (M2 and later), iPad Air 11-inch (4th generation and later), iPad (A16), iPad (9th generation and later), iPad mini (A17 Pro), and iPad mini (6th generation and later).
However, iPadOS 27 with Apple Intelligence and Siri AI requires an iPad Air or Pro with an M1 chip or later, or the A17 Pro iPad mini. The list of compatible iPads for these features includes iPad Pro (M1 and later), iPad Air (M1 and later), and iPad mini (A17 Pro).
To use iPadOS 27 and on-device Apple Intelligence models, users need an M4 iPad or later with at least 128GB of RAM, which includes iPad Pro (M4 or later) and iPad Air (M4 or later).
Mac users will need a Mac with Apple silicon to run macOS 27, Apple Intelligence, and Siri AI. For on-device models, a Mac with an M3 chip or faster is required. This includes MacBook Neo (2026), MacBook Air with Apple silicon (2020 and later), MacBook Pro with Apple silicon (2020 and later), iMac with Apple silicon (2021 and later), Mac mini with Apple silicon (2020 and later), Mac Studio (2022 and later), and Mac Pro with Apple silicon (2023).
For on-device Apple Intelligence models on Macs, users need an M3 chip or faster and 128GB of RAM, which includes MacBook Air (2024 and later), MacBook Pro (November 2023 and later), iMac (2023 and later), Mac mini (2024 and later), and Mac Studio (2025 and later).
Lastly, watchOS 27 with Apple Intelligence and Siri AI requires an iPhone that is compatible with iOS 27 with Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, and one of the following Apple Watches: Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 9 or later, or Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later.
