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September 14, 2026 — Apple officially released iOS 27 today, available now via Settings → General → Software Update. The update is compatible with iPhone 11 and newer — but Apple Intelligence features including the new Siri AI are limited to iPhone 15 Pro and newer .

For Chinese users, there's a critical caveat: the biggest feature of this update is not available in China. Siri AI, along with other Apple Intelligence features, is not available in mainland China or the EU at launch .

Quick Answer: iOS 27 is now available for iPhone 11 and newer. The headline feature is Siri AI, a ChatGPT-like overhaul of Apple's assistant, but it requires iPhone 15 Pro or newer and is limited to English-speaking regions outside the EU and China. Other features like Liquid Glass refinements, performance improvements, Find My upgrades, and CarPlay video support work on all compatible iPhones. Chinese users get the performance and design updates, but not the AI.
Available Now: September 14 iPhone 11 and Newer Compatible Siri AI: iPhone 15 Pro+ Only 30% Faster App Launch Not Available in China

Siri AI: The Headline Feature

The most significant change in iOS 27 is Siri AI — a ground-up reimagining of Apple's voice assistant powered by Apple Intelligence .

The classic Siri was useful for setting timers and checking the weather, but struggled with complex or conversational requests. Siri AI changes that with a ChatGPT-like interface that can answer nearly anything .

Key capabilities include:

  • Dedicated Siri app: A standalone app for managing conversations, with chat history and the ability to continue discussions across devices
  • On-screen awareness: Siri can see and understand what's displayed on your iPhone
  • Personal context: Draws on your emails, photos, notes, and calendar to answer personalized queries
  • Cross-app actions: Can perform tasks in more apps that support it
Important Limitations: Siri AI is limited to English at launch, subject to daily usage limits, and not available in the EU or mainland China . Apple says expanded access will be available for a fee in the future .

8 New Features at a Glance

The table below summarizes all eight major features, with hardware requirements and regional availability at a glance.

# Feature What It Does Requirement
1 Siri AI ChatGPT-like assistant with dedicated app, on-screen awareness, and personal context. The biggest change to Siri in its history. iPhone 15 Pro+ / English only / Not in China or EU
2 Apple Intelligence Expansion Photos gains Extend and Reframe; Image Playground generates photorealistic images; Shortcuts can be created by describing them. iPhone 15 Pro+ / Not in China
3 Liquid Glass Refinements More uniform refraction, improved contrast, sharper icons, and a new transparency slider. All compatible iPhones
4 Performance Improvements App launches up to 30% faster, Photos library loads 70% faster, AirDrop transfers 80% faster. All compatible iPhones
5 iPhone Handoff Use the same phone number on two iPhones and switch between them automatically. Carrier support required. T-Mobile: $5 / RMB35 per month
6 Apple Cash Bill Splitting Point your camera at a receipt, select items, and split the bill automatically via Apple Cash. US only
7 Find My Custom Duration Share location for a custom duration (15 min to 30 days) and pause sharing silently. All compatible iPhones
8 CarPlay Video Apps Browse and watch video from CarPlay — only when the vehicle is parked. Compatible vehicles only

Which iPhones Are Compatible with iOS 27?

iOS 27 supports iPhone 11 and newer. The table below groups compatible models by series for easier reference .

Series Compatible Models
iPhone 18 seriesiPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone Duo
iPhone 17 seriesiPhone 17e, iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air
iPhone 16 seriesiPhone 16e, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 15 seriesiPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14 seriesiPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13 seriesiPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12 seriesiPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11 seriesiPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone SEiPhone SE (2nd generation and later)
Key Distinction: Being able to install iOS 27 is different from being able to use Apple Intelligence features. Siri AI and other AI features require iPhone 15 Pro or newer .

The Reality for Chinese Users

For Chinese iPhone users, iOS 27's headline feature is not available.

According to multiple reports, Siri AI is not available in mainland China at launch . This is due to regulatory constraints, similar to the situation in the EU where Siri AI is also absent .

Beyond Siri AI, other Apple Intelligence features — such as the Photos app's AI editing tools and Image Playground's generative capabilities — are also not available on Chinese iPhone models .

What This Means: If you're in China and hoping to upgrade for the AI features, upgrading won't give you access to them. Even the new iPhone 18 Pro, running iOS 27, will not have Siri AI or Apple Intelligence features in China .

What Still Works in China

Chinese users do get several meaningful improvements that don't depend on Apple Intelligence:

Feature What It Does
Performance improvementsApp launches up to 30% faster, Photos loads 70% faster, AirDrop 80% faster — on all compatible iPhones
Liquid Glass refinementsUpdated visual design with transparency slider
Find My upgradesCustom location sharing durations and silent pause
CarPlay videoAvailable in compatible vehicles regardless of region
Workday alarmChina-specific feature that accounts for holiday adjustment schedules (调休) — the alarm still rings when a weekend is designated as a workday

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Key Takeaways

# What You Need to Know About iOS 27
1Available now: iOS 27 is rolling out today, September 14, for iPhone 11 and newer
2Siri AI is the headline feature — but requires iPhone 15 Pro or newer, and is limited to English
3Not available in China or the EU — Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features are absent in both regions at launch
4Performance gains apply to all compatible iPhones — 30% faster app launches, 70% faster Photos loading, 80% faster AirDrop
5Chinese users still get meaningful updates — Liquid Glass refinements, Find My upgrades, CarPlay video, and a workday alarm for holiday adjustments
6Older iPhones should wait — if you're on iPhone 11-13, consider waiting a week or two for battery life reports before upgrading
The Bottom Line: iOS 27 is a significant update for iPhone users in supported regions — Siri AI finally makes Apple's assistant competitive with ChatGPT. But for Chinese users, the most important feature is unavailable, making this update primarily about performance improvements, design refinements, and quality-of-life features. If you're in China and your iPhone is already on iOS 26, upgrading is still worthwhile for the speed gains. If you're on an older model, wait for battery life reports before taking the plunge.
Sources and Methodology (as of September 14, 2026):
  • MacRumors — iOS 27 Available Today With These 8 New Features
  • MacRumors — Which iPhones Support Every iOS 27 Feature?
  • 热点科技 — iOS 27正式版即将推送，没有AI有调休闹钟
  • News18 — iOS 27 Feature To Use One Phone Number on Two iPhones Will Not Come To India Tonight
  • Engadget — How to share your iPhone's location for just as long as you need
  • PCMag — iPhone Handoff Arrives Next Week in iOS 27
  • MacRumors — iOS 27: 8+ New CarPlay Features
  • Apple Newsroom — Next generation of Apple Intelligence, Siri AI
  • MacRumors — iOS 27 Adds These New Features to Find My
  • PCMag UK — With iOS 27, Apple CarPlay Will Support Video Apps Natively
Published: September 14, 2026. iOS 27 is available now for iPhone 11 and newer. Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features require iPhone 15 Pro or newer and are not available in mainland China or the EU at launch.