Apple has transitioned from developer-only betas to releasing the first public beta of iOS 27. Alongside this, public betas for iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, macOS 27, and tvOS 27 have also been made available. A stable release is expected this fall.
For those eager to try out the new features early, you can join the Apple Beta Software Program to install version 27 on your device today. Importantly, Apple has not removed compatibility with older devices; if your iPhone currently runs version 26, it will be able to run version 27 as well. This includes the iPhone 11 and newer models, such as the iPhone SE (2020) or later.
iOS 27
iOS 27 enhances the Liquid Glass design language while addressing key user concerns. It also boasts significant performance improvements, with app startup times reduced by 30%, Photos loading libraries 70% faster, and AirDrop transfers occurring 80% faster. Additionally, Apple has improved the smoothness of network transitions, whether switching between Wi-Fi networks or moving from Wi-Fi to 5G. Below is a more detailed overview of what's new in iOS 27.
Siri AI
The standout feature of this release is the enhanced Siri AI, which allows users to engage in natural language interactions to ask questions, perform tasks, and search their phones. A dedicated Siri app has also been introduced for easier access to these new features. However, it's worth noting that due to ongoing disputes with the EU, some AI functionalities may be restricted within the bloc.
While Apple has resolved numerous issues during the developer beta testing phase, this public beta might still contain bugs that could be inconvenient for daily use. Users should proceed with caution or consider waiting for the final stable release in a few months.
Lastly, while iPhones remain supported, this is not the case for Macs; the last Intel-powered Macs that supported macOS 26 cannot be updated to version 27—only Apple Silicon models are compatible. For iPads, certain older models were dropped from compatibility. The following devices are eligible to run iPadOS 27: iPad mini (2021) or newer, iPad (2021) or newer, iPad Air (2020) or newer, and iPad Pro (2020) or newer. More details can be found here.
Source | Via (in German)
