Apple confirmed Monday that iOS 27 will arrive September 14, finally bringing the long-delayed Siri AI upgrade to iPhone users. But getting iOS 27 doesn’t necessarily mean getting the new Siri.
The rebuilt assistant, powered in part by technology developed with Google’s Gemini models, requires an iPhone 15 Pro or newer. That leaves owners of older iPhones with the rest of iOS 27, but without its biggest AI upgrade.
iPadOS 27 and watchOS 27 also arrive September 14, alongside macOS 27 Golden Gate.
Siri AI finally arrives
Apple has spent years rebuilding Siri after the assistant fell behind newer AI products. Multiple release windows came and went before Apple settled on iOS 27 for the new version.
The company partnered with Google to use Gemini models in training the algorithms behind Siri AI. In early testing, the new assistant proved much better at handling complex, multi-step requests that regularly tripped up the old Siri.
September 14 will be the first time that experience reaches regular users outside Apple’s beta program.
The iPhone cutoff is unusually tight
Apple is supporting iOS 27 on more devices than can actually run Siri AI. The cutoff is the iPhone 15 Pro from 2023, meaning only about three and a half generations of iPhones qualify, including Apple’s newly announced models.
Anyone with an older supported iPhone can install iOS 27 but will continue using the older Siri experience.
Supported devices also differ. Last year’s iPhone 17 lineup and iPhone Air run a more capable on-device model that improves speech recognition and dictation accuracy.
The restrictions carry over to iPadOS 27. Siri AI requires the latest iPad mini, iPad Air, or iPad Pro with an M1 chip or newer.
iOS 27 isn’t only about Siri
Apple is also refining the Liquid Glass design introduced across its platforms and adding new child safety tools, including automatic image filtering through parental controls. Performance improvements are coming across supported devices as well.
Mac users get macOS 27 Golden Gate on September 14, where Siri AI is integrated directly into Spotlight. Apple has also updated the Mac interface with more consistent toolbars, edge-to-edge sidebars, redesigned windows, and new menu bar icons.
Apple first previewed its new operating systems at WWDC in June. The updates, and Apple’s years-delayed attempt to make Siri competitive again, finally reach everyone with compatible hardware on September 14.
