New operating systems as public beta: Supported hardware plus downgrade tips
iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 and co. are available for download, albeit only as public betas. An overview of usable devices – and important tips.
iOS 27: Many small useful new features.
(Image: Apple)
The public betas of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, visionOS 27, and the new HomePod Software 27 (plus beta firmware for AirPods), available since this week, tempt numerous interested parties to install Apple's pre-release versions. Read our hands-on report here. But before you start, you should think carefully about your approach. Does the beta even run on my device? Do I have test hardware I can use? What data should I test with? And how do I get rid of the beta later, if necessary? An overview of the most important questions.
Which devices support the new systems?
For iPhones, it starts with generation 11 or SE third generation. For iPad Pro, it's all 11-inch models from the 2nd generation, all 12.9-inch models from the 4th generation, all iPad Air devices from generation 4, the standard iPad from generation 9, and the iPad mini from generation 6. For Macs, it must be a machine with Apple Silicon; Intel Macs are out. The Apple Watch requires at least Series 9, SE 3, or Ultra 2. For Apple TV, it starts with the second version of the 4K model (from 2021). visionOS devices are fully supported (M2 and M5).
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On what hardware should I install the beta?
As a general rule, you should absolutely not use production devices, however tempting it may seem. Betas can cause data loss and other problems that you don't want to encounter on the hardware you use daily. Therefore, the safest approach is to set up your beta device, such as an older iPhone or an older Mac. If you want to be completely on the safe side, use a separate Apple account for the beta to avoid iCloud issues. A disadvantage of all this is that you cannot test Siri AI with real data. However, it is easy to copy information from your production device to the test hardware.
What do I do with my data?
Before installing any new operating system, you should always create a current backup. On the iPhone, preferably encrypted via the Mac; on the Mac, for example, via Time Machine or tools like Carbon Copy Cloner. If you set up a test device anew for the public beta, which you should do as mentioned, it's not absolutely necessary, but it can still be useful.
How do I get rid of the beta?
If you are working with a test device as recommended above, you don't need to delete the beta. You can simply go through the entire beta cycle until the respective final version is released (probably in September), which can also be installed on production hardware. As soon as the final version is announced, simply disable beta version updates in System Settings. If you really want to perform a downgrade, the recovery mode on iPhone and iPad can be used via a Mac or PC with subsequent backup restoration. It works similarly on the Mac; here there is a dedicated recovery mode on the device itself. An Apple Watch is restored via the Apple Watch app on the iPhone. Apple lists instructions for restoring Apple TV devices here. The process is always lengthy – not just the restoration but also the backup restoration. This brings us back to the recommendation to use a separate test device for Public Betas.
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