Worst iPhones for iOS 27 — Which Models You Should Never Buy in 2026

iOS 27 is coming out this fall, and this time Apple didn’t cut anyone off: all iPhones starting from iPhone 11 will get the update. But “will get the update” and “will run it properly” are two different things. Recently we covered which iPhone to get so iOS 27 runs smoothly, and now let’s honestly look at the other side: here are six models that will formally handle the update, but you should not buy these iPhones for iOS 27.

We explain which iPhones you shouldn’t get for iOS 27

iPhone SE — An iPhone with a Small Screen and a Button

The smartphone will update to iOS 27, but it won’t be as comfortable to use

Let’s start with the most controversial option for iOS 27. The iPhone SE 2022 has the body of the iPhone 8 from 2017: wide bezels, a Home button with Touch ID, and a screen of just 4.7 inches.

iOS 27 will launch here, but there’s little joy: the tiny battery dies by noon, and the new larger interface elements look cramped on the small screen. The SE 2020 has only 3 GB of RAM, which causes apps to constantly unload from memory. Apple Intelligence and the new Siri are not available on either version, so this is an outdated iPhone with no future. And the very first background indexing in iOS 27 will hang such a weak iPhone for a long time. If you want something instead — get the iPhone 17e.

iPhone 11 — An Outdated iPhone with a Weak Processor

Any iPhone 11 is also not worth getting for iOS 27

The iPhone 11 was a real hit in its day, but the year 2019 is showing its age. It’s the oldest smartphone on the compatibility list, and its update runway is minimal. Buying it now for iOS 27 is a big mistake, and this applies to any iPhone 11 model, not just the base one.

For this phone, iOS 27 is most likely the second-to-last version: analysts expect that iOS 28 in 2027 will be the ceiling. Plus, the A13 chip doesn’t support Apple Intelligence, meaning you won’t see the new Siri or any AI features. The screen remains on old LCD with a 60 Hz refresh rate. Buying such an outdated iPhone in 2026 makes little sense. Instead of the iPhone 11, it’s better to get at least a base iPhone 15.

iPhone 12 mini and 13 mini — Compact iPhones with Small Batteries

We’re also swapping the iPhone 12 mini or 13 mini for something newer. And definitely not buying them

Many people remember compact iPhones fondly, but the mini format is what lets them down here. Both models have a tiny battery, and the 5.4-inch screen is a bit small for the heavy iOS 27.

The 12 mini has a battery of just 2227 mAh, and after five years it has degraded significantly for most users, while 4 GB of RAM forces apps to reload. The 13 mini is only slightly more enduring, yet on the used market the price is often inflated for this rare compact model. Neither supports Apple Intelligence, and the screens are stuck at 60 Hz. It ends up being a weak iPhone that you overpay for just because of its size.

iPhone 14 — Why You Shouldn’t Get It for iOS 27

The iPhone 14 came out a while ago, and its processor appeared a year before that

Here’s the main trap of this list. The iPhone 14 has a previous-generation processor, the same A15 as the iPhone 13. But pay attention: this is exactly the lineup where the chipset split began. So, from this lineup, only the iPhone 14 Pro still looks like a good purchase thanks to the A16 chip.

iOS 27 will run here, but the annoying part is something else: for a price close to the iPhone 15 with the newer A16, you get two-generation-old hardware and again no Apple Intelligence. The screen is stuck at 60 Hz, and the only advantage is the 14 Plus’s large battery. So it makes sense to look toward the iPhone 16.