iOS 27 and the New Siri AI: What It Does and Which iPhones Get It
Siri AI finally arrived in iOS 27, in beta. What the new Siri can do, which iPhones support which features, and the limits on languages and regions.
iOS 27 brings the biggest change to Siri since it launched: a completely new, AI-powered assistant Apple calls Siri AI. It's still labelled beta, it's English-only at first, and it's not available in the EU at launch.
Here's what it does and whether your iPhone gets it.
What Siri AI can do
The new Siri is rebuilt from the ground up. It combines three things:
- Personal context: it can draw on your messages, emails, calendar and notes to answer things like "when is Mum's flight landing?"
- Onscreen awareness: it understands what's on your screen, so "add this address to her contact" works.
- Web knowledge: it can answer general questions far more like an AI chatbot than the old Siri.
There's also a dedicated Siri app, so you can type and keep conversations, much like ChatGPT or Claude.
Apple Intelligence features also expand across Safari, Photos, Messages, Mail and Shortcuts: smarter suggestions, automation, image generation and context-aware help.
Other iOS 27 changes
- Speed: Apple says apps can open up to 30% faster.
- Photos: new editing tools.
- Parental controls: expanded options for families. See the best parental control apps.
Which iPhones get iOS 27?
iOS 27 runs on every iPhone that supported iOS 26, back to the iPhone 11. No models were dropped this year. But Siri AI depends on hardware:
| iPhone | iOS 27 | Siri AI and Apple Intelligence |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 11 to iPhone 15 / 15 Plus | Yes | No |
| iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 family | Yes | Yes, most features |
| iPhone 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Duo | Yes | Yes, every feature |
Some of the most demanding features need 12GB of RAM, which limits them to the newest Pro-level iPhones and recent iPads. Reports differ slightly on exact cutoffs, so check Apple's feature page for your model. More on memory in how much RAM do you need?
The limits
- Beta: expect rough edges, and possibly a waitlist for early access.
- English first: more languages are coming later.
- Not in the EU at launch: Apple cited the EU's Digital Markets Act rules.
Privacy
Apple says much of Apple Intelligence runs on your iPhone, and requests that need more power go to Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers, designed so your data isn't stored or accessible to Apple. As with any AI tool, be thoughtful about what you share. See how to protect your data in AI chatbots.
Should you upgrade your iPhone for Siri AI?
- iPhone 15 Pro or newer: you already get most features. Upgrade only if you want the full set.
- iPhone 15 or older non-Pro: you'll get iOS 27 but not Siri AI. If the new Siri matters to you, it's a real reason to upgrade. See which iPhone to buy in 2026.
