I thought the same thing at the 2024 WWDC

"coming later this year" – still behind the schedule

I have an iPhone 16 that was promised to have it. Now they are saying some features are available only on 17+ models

I believe the only features I saw, and I could be wrong, that require the 17 or air were the new dictation and Siri voices. Those weren't in the original promises for the iPhone 16. That said, I don't know how much actually changed in the hardware where that actually has to be gated.

From Apple's website:

> iOS 27 coming this fall.

> Siri Al coming in English later this year.

So they're already admitting it won't be here in time for iOS 27.