Apple has officially unveiled iOS 27 at WWDC 2026, introducing one of the company's biggest software updates in recent years. Unlike iOS 26, which focused heavily on design changes with the Liquid Glass aesthetic, iOS 27 is all about AI. The latest iOS update brings a significantly revamped Siri, deeper Apple Intelligence integration, new AI-powered tools and a range of quality-of-life improvements.
Everything New in the Apple iOS 27 Update
First and foremost, iOS 27 is finally getting a new slider to customise how the Liquid Glass UI looks across the system. Users can choose to go from an opaque tinted aesthetic to a clearer appearance. Additionally, app icons are now sharper and more detailed with more distinct visual layers.
Apple is also making iOS 27 faster, with app launches now up to 30% faster. The Cupertino giant also claims that new photos load in the Photos library by up to 70%. Meanwhile, AirDrop transfers are now 80% faster.
The highlight feature in iOS 27 is undoubtedly the new Siri app. The Cupertino giant has introduced a completely redesigned Siri experience that feels far more like a modern AI assistant than the voice assistant iPhone users have known for years.
Siri now features a dedicated app with a chat-style interface that allows users to have more natural conversations, view previous interactions and seamlessly continue discussions across devices.
The new Siri can also understand context better, handle more complex requests and perform actions across multiple apps with fewer prompts. Apple says the assistant now understands user intent more effectively, making interactions feel significantly more natural.
Apple is also introducing a new AI-powered search experience in iOS 27. Rather than forcing users to jump between apps and web browsers, the new feature allows them to "Ask Siri" questions directly from a system-level search interface. Apple says the feature can provide conversational answers, summarise information and help users find what they need faster.
Apple has also tweaked the gesture used to access this new experience. Swiping down from the middle of the display now opens the new Search or Ask interface powered by Siri. To make the change feel more intuitive, Apple has introduced a new animation that visually guides users into the AI search experience. Meanwhile, swiping down from the top-left corner brings down the Notification Centre. Swiping down from the top-right corner, on the other hand, will continue to open the Control Centre as before.
This marks Apple's entry into the AI search space, which has recently become increasingly competitive with ChatGPT Search, Perplexity and Google's AI Mode in Search.
Apple has also expanded Apple Intelligence features and it's now more deeply injected into the software than ever before. With iOS 27, users can now access more advanced writing assistance tools, smarter suggestions, contextual recommendations and enhanced productivity features throughout the OS.
The Cupertino brand has also introduced an "Extensions" framework that allows compatible third-party AI models to integrate with Siri. This means users can choose different AI services for specific tasks, giving them greater flexibility than ever before.
The Photos app in iOS 27 has also introduced some new AI-powered editing tools this year. They can intelligently enhance photos, extend image boundaries, reframe compositions and make sophisticated adjustments with minimal user input. The Camera app is also becoming more customisable, allowing users to rearrange controls and prioritise the settings they use most frequently.
Another interesting addition in iOS 27 is an upgrade to Shortcuts. Apple is now allowing users to create shortcuts using natural language instead of manually assembling actions one by one. Users now simply need to describe what they want to achieve and let Apple Intelligence build the shortcut automatically.
Apple states, "Just describe what you need and Shortcuts connects actions across multiple apps to get it done. You can say something like “When I’m leaving work, message Pedro I’m on my way with my ETA."
With iOS 27, Image Playground now lets users create unique, high-quality images in different styles, including photorealism. Further, users can modify and transform these images with "just a description for endless possibilities."
Messages and Mail now offer Suggestions to help users execute quick actions based on context in a conversation. Users can also add calendar events or search for a photo with just a tap now. Meanwhile, Safari is now smarter with automatic tab grouping based on topics.
Then there's Call Context to " proactively surface relevant information from across your apps when calling a business — like a confirmation code from Mail when you call an airline."
Apple is also bringing an enhanced focus on child safety with iOS 27. Right in the Setup Assistant now, parents can choose what system apps they would want their kids to us in the first place. Parents can also set Time Allowances and Schedules across apps. Then there's Communication Safety to protect children from viewing or sharing nudity in Messages, FaceTime and more. In addition, with a new Ask to Browse feature, kids will require requesting permission to access new websites.
The update will first be available as a developer beta starting today, with a public beta scheduled for next month. The stable iOS 27 update will be released in Fall 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 series and iPhone Ultra foldable later this year. As for iOS 27 eligible devices, all users who own the iPhone 11 and above should get the new update.
