I have been testing out iOS 27 ever since its first developer beta rolled out. And the experience has been nothing short of exciting, as Apple finally delivers on the Apple Intelligence features they promised years back. And now that the stable update is rolling out for everyone, here are the 12 best iOS 27 features that you should try out after installing the update.
Siri AI with Screen Context Awareness
The iOS 27 update puts Siri at the centre of the entire operating system. I recently gained access to the new Siri AI on my iPhone Air, and it works miles better than the old assistant.
It's more responsive and conversational in its answers, and those answers are also relevant to what I am looking for. It has also been integrated into the Spotlight search, now called "Siri Search or Ask".
The part I use constantly is the swipe down from the Dynamic Island, which brings up Siri inside any app. Summarising an article without leaving the page, pulling details out of an email thread, or asking who an actor is mid-film all happen without needing to pause what I was doing. That last part is what makes it stick.
Works on: iPhone 15 Pro and newer models.
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Change Siri's Tone and Pace
Getting Siri to think better was one thing. Getting it to stop sounding like a train announcement was another. iOS 27 adds Pace and Expressivity sliders to customise Siri's voice, controlling how fast it speaks and how much personality it adds to the delivery, across seven voice options in English (US).
Works on: iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and new iPhone 18 Pro models.
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Describe a Shortcut
'Describe a Shortcut' is one of my best iOS 27 features. I have been using it non-stop to make creative and complicated shortcuts with just a text prompt, and Apple Intelligence churns out a complete working automation for me.
I can just type out what I want the shortcut to do without having to learn about automations and actions. The complexity is what kept me from using the Shortcuts app on my iPhone, but since iOS 27, I have no excuse not to use Shortcuts anymore.
Works on: iPhone 15 Pro and newer models.
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Image Playground Wallpapers
Image Playground has been around since iOS 18, but it always felt limited with cartoonish output. Apple has fixed this too, as Image Playground can do a lot more on iOS 27. It can generate true-to-life photos, create images of people from your photo library and, finally, generate wallpapers with AI.
Yes, you can generate wallpapers in Image Playground similar to Samsung and Nothing phones. I can clearly tell that the image quality has also been improved, and I have been using it a lot to create aesthetic wallpapers on my iPhone, which is why it falls under my list of best iOS 27 features.
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System-Wide Dictation
Dictation is now built into the keyboard system-wide, and it punctuates automatically, strips filler words and formats output based on context instead of transcribing everything that comes out of your mouth.
If this sounds similar, it is pretty much what Google shipped with the Pixel 11 phones, and they call it the Rambler. I tried it briefly to correct grammatical errors, and its suggestions have proven accurate so far. I already rely on Grammarly to fix my mistakes, but this could be the replacement I have been looking for.
Works on: iPhone 15 Pro and newer models.
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Siri Mode in the Camera App
I never cared for visual intelligence. It always felt like a poor imitation of Google Lens with extra steps and low-quality results. Apple also adopted the same by adding Siri Mode in the Camera app. Having it visible every time I open the camera means I will actually reach for it rather than forgetting it exists.
It also brings a new Look Up Nutrition feature that has slowly changed my eating habits. It shows me a nutrient rating of every food item I scan, making it easier to keep tabs on what's healthy and what's not.
Works on: iPhone 15 Pro and newer models.
Custom EQ and Adaptive Audio for AirPods
Apple has finally shipped a proper custom equaliser for AirPods, the first time in a decade that tuning the sound is now possible without third-party workarounds.
There is also a new Adaptive slider that scrubs between more transparency and more noise cancellation modes, and you can reach it right from the Control Centre.
It lets me nudge between more transparency and more noise cancellation, which is another handy addition. In iOS 26 developer beta 4, the new sliders are also available right from the Control Centre on my iPhone.
Works on: AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4 and AirPods Max 2.
Clipboard Suggestions in Keyboard
This is minor but one of the best iOS 27 features that makes a noticeable difference in day-to-day usage. Now, items copied to my clipboard appear as suggestions in the iOS keyboard app.
The keyboard now shows the most recently copied item that I can add to my messages. This is one luxury I have enjoyed for years on Gboard, and I am glad it is finally here on iOS.
Performance Improvements
While Apple Intelligence features are the highlight of iOS 27, the bigger difference everyone will appreciate is the new performance improvements. This is not a single feature, but coming from iOS 26, which made all old iPhones a struggle to use, this feels like a necessary change.
I skipped the iOS 26 update on my iPhone 13 because of the sluggish performance, but that could change with iOS 27.
Liquid Glass Transparency Slider
On iOS 27, you can now slide to adjust the Liquid Glass transparency effects. So, you don't have to fully turn off Liquid Glass and go back to the frosted glass look. It should also improve performance on older devices that struggled with the new animations.
Liquid Glass never bothered me, but it visibly cost frame rate on older hardware. Being able to dial it back is the difference between an iPhone 12 feeling dated and feeling fine.
Works on: All iOS 27-eligible iPhones
Automated Passwords
The Passwords app now flags compromised passwords and fixes them for individual websites for you. I just had to approve the action, and iOS will take care of the rest, replacing old passwords and changing them to more secure ones.
I have been ignoring a long list of flagged passwords for months. This is the feature that might finally get me to deal with them.
Works on: All iOS 27-eligible iPhones
Automatic Tab Organisation in Safari
A big reason why I use Chrome over Safari is that it has had the ability to group tabs automatically for years now. That won't be the case anymore, as Safari can now organise tabs into topics with a single tap.
It also monitors pages and sends a notification when something changes, like a price drop or a restock. For anyone tracking a phone deal across Amazon and Flipkart, that alone is worth switching browsers for.
Works on: All iOS 27-eligible iPhones
Have You Tried iOS 27 Yet?
If you want to try out any of the above features, simply head over to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, tap on Download & Install and enter your passcode. Make sure you have an iOS 27-eligible device.
iOS 27 isn't a big revamp of the entire OS, like the iOS 26 update that introduced Liquid Glass. However, it fixes important issues that users have been asking Apple to rectify. And of course, Apple Intelligence is the highlight of the update. So if you don't have an Apple Intelligence-supported device, you will miss out on a lot of good stuff.
