Last June, Apple unveiled new operating systems for all of its devices, including iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27. These are currently in beta and are expected to be released in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and other new products. However, with new software, support for older hardware ends.
The good news is that all iPhones currently running iOS 26 will be able to upgrade. This includes models dating back to 2019’s iPhone 11, although older models won’t be able to access some iOS 27 features, particularly AI. The same can’t be said for other products, like iPads and Apple Watches. The following Apple devices will reach the end of software support with the release of iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, macOS 27, visionOS 27, and tvOS 27:
iPad
- iPad Air (3rd generation)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)
- iPad (8th generation)
- iPad mini (5th generation)
Apple Watch
- Apple Watch Series 6
- Apple Watch Series 7
- Apple Watch Series 8
- Apple Watch Ultra
- Apple Watch SE
Mac
- MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- iMac (2020)
- Mac Pro (2019)
Apple TV
- Apple TV HD
- Apple TV 4K
Can you still use Apple devices that are no longer supported?
Krystiannawrocki/Getty Images
If you own one of the devices listed above, please be aware that reaching the end of software support does not completely mean the end of support. Older operating systems still benefit from security updates for years, allowing phones and other technology left behind to be as safe to use as those with current software. Apple lists all of its security updates and affected hardware here, so take a look if you’re unsure about any of your devices.
Taking iPhones as an example, Apple has been releasing security updates for operating systems dating back to iOS 15, the one used by the iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 models. In January 2026, iOS 12 received its first update since 2023 to ensure that devices as old as the iPhone 5s (a phone almost 13 years old) will still be able to use iMessage, FaceTime and other features after January 2027. The only exception is when all phones on the current operating system are able to update to the new one, as was the case with iOS 26. This already happened with iOS 17, which received its latest update after only a year since all compatible phones were able to access iOS 18, so history will likely repeat itself when iOS 27 is released.
Once security updates are complete, unsupported devices will not stop working completely, but they will become less safe to use. At this point, it’s time to upgrade. If you want to keep a device like an iPad for longer, it’s best to keep it offline and not use it for anything involving personal or sensitive information.
