Every year, a handful of iPhones get left behind when Apple ships its next software update. This year, the models facing that cut are the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and the 2nd generation iPhone SE.
The claim comes from Instant Digital, a leaker on the Chinese social media platform Weibo who has a reasonable track record on Apple compatibility lists, including correct calls on the yellow iPhone 14 color and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Titanium Milanese Loop.
Apple will not confirm the official iOS 27 supported devices list until WWDC on June 8, 2026, so treat this as credible but unconfirmed. For a full look at what else is coming with the update, the iOS 27 features and release date breakdown covers everything leaked so far.
TL;DR: A credible Weibo leaker claims iOS 27 will drop the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and iPhone SE 2nd generation. These devices would stay on iOS 26 and continue to receive security updates for at least a year or two. iPhone 12 would become the minimum supported model. Apple confirms the official list at WWDC on June 8, 2026.
Which models are reportedly being dropped
According to the leaked compatibility list, iOS 27 will require at minimum an iPhone 12 or the 3rd generation iPhone SE. The four models cut off are:
| Model | Released | Chip |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 11 | 2019 | A13 Bionic |
| iPhone 11 Pro | 2019 | A13 Bionic |
| iPhone 11 Pro Max | 2019 | A13 Bionic |
| iPhone SE (2nd gen) | 2020 | A13 Bionic |
All four share the A13 Bionic chip and between 3GB and 4GB of RAM. The iPhone 12 series, which would become the oldest supported model, uses the A14 Bionic. That chip difference is the likely hardware reason for the cutoff, though Apple has not stated this publicly.
Apple dropped the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR from iOS 26 last year. Those were 2018 models. Cutting 2019 and 2020 models from iOS 27 follows the same rough seven-year support window Apple has maintained for several cycles.
What actually happens to your phone
Your iPhone 11 does not stop working in September. It does not lose access to apps you already have installed. It does not get bricked or forced into some degraded state.
What happens is simpler and less dramatic. Your phone stays on iOS 26 as its final major version. Apple will continue issuing iOS 26 security updates for at least a year or two after iOS 27 ships, which means critical vulnerabilities get patched and your phone stays reasonably safe to use.
The App Store continues to work. Your photos, messages, and files are all fine.
What you miss is the iOS 27 feature set itself. The redesigned Siri app. The Visual Intelligence upgrades. The Liquid Glass transparency controls. The home screen undo button. Any new features Apple introduces with iOS 27 or in subsequent 27.x updates will not reach your device.
For most people, that tradeoff is manageable for a year or two after the cutoff. The phone keeps doing what it does. It just stops getting new things.
The AI angle makes this cut feel larger than usual
iOS 27 is positioned heavily around Siri’s biggest upgrade in years, including a new standalone chatbot app powered by Gemini models under the hood. That feature requires Apple Intelligence, which means iPhone 15 Pro or newer regardless of which model you are on.
So even iPhone 12, 13, and 14 owners who do get iOS 27 will miss the AI features. But owners of the dropped models miss everything, including smaller UI improvements and non-AI updates that do not require newer chips to run.
That gap feels wider than a typical annual cutoff because iOS 27 is not just adding a few new buttons. The full list of devices that support Apple Intelligence makes clear how tiered the experience has become, even among supported iPhones.
If your iPhone 11 has been your daily driver and it still feels fast enough, the honest answer is that the phone itself has not changed. But the gap between it and a current iPhone grows with each update cycle, and iOS 27 is a bigger step than most.
Whether to upgrade now or wait
There is no urgency here triggered by the iOS 27 drop alone. Your phone will still work fine through 2026 and likely through 2027 on iOS 26 security updates.
The upgrade question is really about two other things. First, whether you are already noticing performance slowdowns or battery degradation on your current device. Seven-year-old hardware that is showing wear is a reasonable prompt to move on.
Second, whether the new Siri features in iOS 27 are something you actually want. If you are not particularly interested in AI assistants or the specific iOS 27 additions, waiting a cycle is perfectly reasonable.
If you do decide to upgrade, the iPhone 16e is worth a look as the most affordable current iPhone with Apple Intelligence support, starting at $599. The standard iPhone 16 is also fully supported.
If AI features are not the priority and you just want a faster phone on a current iOS version, iPhone 13 and 14 models can be found refurbished at significantly lower prices and will receive iOS 27 even if they miss the AI-specific features.
One thing that is still worth waiting on
The compatibility list is not official yet. Apple announces the confirmed iOS 27 supported devices at WWDC on June 8, 2026. There is a small but real chance the final list differs from what Instant Digital posted, either by supporting one of these models after all or by cutting more models than expected.
Waiting until June 8 before making any upgrade decision costs nothing. If the official list confirms the iPhone 11 is out, you will know for certain rather than acting on a leak. Either way, nothing changes about your current phone between now and then.
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