Quick answer
Yes, every iPhone 13 runs iOS 27. The iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max can all install iOS 27.0.1 (build 24A446) today, and they can join the iOS 27.2 beta. What they cannot run is Apple Intelligence, which needs an A17 Pro chip or newer. Everything else in iOS 27 is available on the A15 Bionic.
Which iPhone 13 models get iOS 27?
All four do. Apple's iOS 27 list covers 33 iPhones, from the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2nd generation) up to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the whole iPhone 13 family sits comfortably in the middle of it. No iPhone that ran iOS 26 was dropped this year, so the iPhone 13 is nowhere near the cut-off.
| Model | Chip | RAM | iOS 27 | Apple Intelligence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 13 mini | A15 Bionic | 4GB | Yes | No |
| iPhone 13 | A15 Bionic | 4GB | Yes | No |
| iPhone 13 Pro | A15 Bionic | 6GB | Yes | No |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | A15 Bionic | 6GB | Yes | No |
If you are not sure which model you have, open Settings › General › About and read the Model Name line. Our guide on how to check if your iPhone supports iOS 27 covers the model-number method too.
What iOS 27 builds can an iPhone 13 run right now?
As of 19 October 2026, an iPhone 13 can run the public release or the current beta track:
- Public release: iOS 27.0.1 (24A446), released 28 September 2026. It followed iOS 27.0 (24A437) on 14 September.
- Beta: iOS 27.2 beta 4 (24B5110a), released 13 October 2026. Betas 1 to 3 arrived on 16 September, 21 September and 5 October.
Each model has its own firmware file. If you prefer to restore manually, the IPSW pages for the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro list every build with its current signing status, alongside the mini and Pro Max pages in the IPSW library.
What you get on iPhone 13 and what you miss
The split is simple: anything Apple sells under the Apple Intelligence name needs an A17 Pro or newer, and the A15 does not qualify. The rest of iOS 27 is there.
What runs on the A15
Your iPhone 13 gets the iOS 27 system itself: the updated design and system apps, the new settings, and every security fix Apple ships during the cycle. Additions announced at WWDC 2026 include a system-wide slider for Liquid Glass transparency, Shortcuts you can describe in plain English, new Cycle Tracking options in Health and expanded controls over who a child can contact. Apple's own feature pages mark which items need Apple Intelligence, so check there before counting on a specific feature. For the full picture of what shipped, see the iOS 27 features list.
What stays out of reach
| Apple Intelligence feature | What it does | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Writing Tools | Rewrite, proofread and summarize text system-wide | No |
| Image Playground | Generate images from a text description | No |
| Genmoji | Create custom emoji from a description | No |
| Clean Up in Photos | Remove unwanted objects from a photo | No |
| Notification summaries | Condense stacks of notifications | No |
The same restriction applies to the iPhone 14 series and to the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, which use the A16. If that last point surprises you, our page on iOS 27 on iPhone 15 explains the line in more detail.
Why the iPhone 13 can't run Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence runs a language model on the phone itself, and Apple set the hardware floor at the A17 Pro. The A15 Bionic is still quick for everyday work, but its Neural Engine is rated at 15.8 trillion operations per second, against 35 for the A17 Pro. Memory is the other limit: the iPhone 13 and 13 mini have 4GB and the Pro models 6GB, while every iPhone on the Apple Intelligence list has more.
There is no workaround. Changing region, language or settings will not enable it, and Apple has not offered it on any A15 iPhone. If Apple Intelligence matters to you, the only route is a newer iPhone.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro on iOS 27
The software is identical across the four models, so the differences come from the hardware you already have.
- RAM: 6GB on the Pro models against 4GB on the iPhone 13 and 13 mini. More apps stay open in the background before iOS has to reload them.
- Display: the Pro models have 120Hz ProMotion, so animations and scrolling look smoother than on the 60Hz screens of the 13 and 13 mini.
- GPU: five cores on the Pro models, four on the others. The gap is small in daily use.
Neither model has an advantage in features. The Pro does not get Apple Intelligence either.
How to update an iPhone 13 to iOS 27
The public release installs over the air, with no computer needed.
- Back up the iPhone to iCloud or to a computer.
- Plug the phone into power and join Wi-Fi.
- Open
Settings › General › Software Update. - Tap Update Now for iOS 27.0.1 and enter your passcode.
- Leave the phone on the charger until it restarts on the new version.
If the update does not offer enough space, Settings › General › iPhone Storage shows which apps and media to clear first. Our page on how much storage iOS 27 needs goes through it.
How to try the iOS 27 beta on iPhone 13
The beta is free with any Apple Account, and no configuration profile or paid developer membership is needed.
- Archive a backup on a Mac or PC so it is kept separately from newer backups.
- For the public beta, enroll at beta.apple.com. For the developer beta, sign in once in the free Apple Developer app.
- Open
Settings › General › Software Update › Beta Updates. - Choose iOS 27 Public Beta or iOS 27 Developer Beta.
- Go back one screen and install iOS 27.2 beta 4 when it appears.
The full walkthrough, including what to do if the option does not show, is in our iOS 27 beta download guide.
Can you go back to iOS 26?
Yes, for now. Apple is signing iOS 26.6.1 RC (23G82) for iPhones, which includes the iPhone 13 family. A downgrade erases the phone: you restore iOS 26.6.1 RC with Finder on a Mac or the Apple Devices app on a PC, then restore a backup that was made on iOS 26. A backup made on iOS 27 will not go back onto the older version, which is why the archived backup step matters.
If you only want to stop receiving betas, you do not need to erase anything. Turn off Beta Updates and the phone stays on its current build until a public release with a higher version number arrives.
Should you upgrade from an iPhone 13?
It comes down to Apple Intelligence and the condition of your phone.
Keep the iPhone 13 if you do not use or want Writing Tools, Image Playground and the other AI features, and the phone still lasts the day. You get iOS 27 and its security updates for free, and the A15 handles everyday apps well.
Consider upgrading if you want Apple Intelligence. That means an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, not an iPhone 15 or 15 Plus. Battery wear is the other trigger: check Settings › Battery › Battery Health & Charging, and if capacity has dropped well down, compare a battery replacement with the cost of a newer phone.
What to do next
If you have decided to update, start with a backup and then follow the steps above. If you want to try features before they reach the public release, our iOS 27 beta installation guide takes you through enrollment and the first install on your iPhone 13.
Frequently asked questions
Does the iPhone 13 support iOS 27?
Yes. The iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max all run iOS 27. Apple released iOS 27.0 on 14 September 2026 and iOS 27.0.1 (build 24A446) on 28 September 2026, and both install on every iPhone 13 model. The update is free through Settings › General › Software Update. The one thing missing is Apple Intelligence, which needs a newer chip.
Does iPhone 13 get Apple Intelligence in iOS 27?
No. Apple Intelligence on iPhone needs an A17 Pro chip or newer, so the oldest models that qualify are the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Every iPhone 13 uses the A15 Bionic, which falls below that line. Writing Tools, Image Playground, Genmoji, Clean Up in Photos and notification summaries do not appear on any iPhone 13, and no setting or software update changes that.
Is there any difference between iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro on iOS 27?
The feature set is the same, because all four models use the A15 Bionic and none of them gets Apple Intelligence. The differences are hardware: the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have 6GB of RAM instead of 4GB, a five-core GPU instead of four, and a 120Hz ProMotion display. In daily use that means fewer apps reloading in the background and smoother scrolling on the Pro models.
Can I install the iOS 27 beta on iPhone 13?
Yes. The iPhone 13 can run the iOS 27.2 developer or public beta, which is free with any Apple Account. Go to Settings › General › Software Update › Beta Updates, pick iOS 27 Public Beta or iOS 27 Developer Beta, then go back and install. The latest build is iOS 27.2 beta 4 (24B5110a). Archive a computer backup first, because a backup made on the beta will not restore onto an older iOS version.
Can I go back to iOS 26 on iPhone 13?
Yes, while Apple keeps signing it. Apple is currently signing iOS 26.6.1 RC (23G82) for iPhones, including all iPhone 13 models. You restore it with Finder on a Mac or the Apple Devices app on Windows, which erases the phone, and then restore a backup made before you moved to iOS 27. A backup created on iOS 27 cannot be restored onto iOS 26.
How long will the iPhone 13 keep getting updates?
Apple does not publish end-of-support dates, so nobody can say for certain. What history shows is long support: the iPhone 6s ran up to iOS 15 and the iPhone 8 and iPhone X up to iOS 16, and in 2026 the iPhone 11 from 2019 still runs iOS 27. The iPhone 13 is two years newer than the iPhone 11, which is a good sign, but treat any specific year as a guess.
Which iPhone is the cheapest way to get Apple Intelligence?
Any iPhone with an A17 Pro chip or newer works. The full list is iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus look similar but use the A16 and do not qualify, so check the model before buying used.