Apple has released the iOS 27 public beta 2 update, bringing the latest batch of refinements and feature additions to general iPhone users. This arrives just days after the iOS 27 public beta 1 update was seeded and brings all the meaningful additions like Siri AI, enhanced Parental Controls, speed improvements and more.
iOS 27 Public Beta 2 Update: What's New?
The key highlight of iOS 27 remains, undoubtedly, the dedicated Siri app. With the iOS 27 public beta 2 release, Apple has extended personalisation to Siri's sound and responses. The Pace and Expressivity voice control settings will let users fine-tune how fast and emotive Siri's spoken responses are.
This also extends to spoken output in Maps and Safari. The Siri voice selection menu also has a new visual interface, allowing users to preview how the chosen voice looks. Users can also invoke Siri AI by swiping down from the Dynamic Island.
Lastly, a new "Always Show Request" toggle in the Siri section of the Accessibility menu now enables real-time transcription of voice inputs. This was first added with the iOS 27 developer beta 4 update.
Moving on, iOS 27 public beta 2 also delivers major Screen Time and Parental Control overhauls. Apple is doubling down on child safety and parents can now set which system apps kids have access to in the first place. This is accessible via Setup Assistant and also allows parents to set Time Allowances, App Schedules and more.
Aside from that, iOS 27 public beta 2 makes good on Apple's much-talked-about iPhone performance promises. The Cupertino brand says apps can now launch up to 30% faster, AirDrop transfers can complete up to 80% faster and new photo captures can show up in the Photos app up to 70% faster.
The brand has also optimised its CPU scheduler to deliver a smooth Home Screen, Control Centre and Lock Screen experience. This enhancement seeps all the way to the iPhone 11. iOS 27 public beta 2 update also ensures smarter Wi-Fi and cellular data switching.
Apart from this, the latest iOS update also retains the new Liquid Glass slider in iOS 27. The toggle allows switching between Liquid Glass looks, either for a full-blown transparent effect or a more translucent frosted look.
On the Apple Intelligence front, the Photos app gets a new "Zoom Photos to Fill" toggle in Settings, which slightly zooms into photos to match the iPhone screen's aspect ratio and is turned on by default. The app also expands access to Extend, Clean Up and Spatial Reframe editing tools to general users.
Beyond features, the iOS 27 public beta 2 update also brings several quality-of-life improvements to iPhones. Users can now save any video frame as a photo with a single tap, adjust alarm volume independently and extra-large widgets can now fill an entire Home Screen page.
Meanwhile, AirPods get a custom equaliser and iPhones can connect directly to compatible GymKit equipment at the gym. On the other hand, FaceTime now supports simultaneous front- and rear-camera video on iPhone Air and iPhone 17 models.
That said, the iOS 27 public beta 2 update can be downloaded by heading over to Settings -> General -> Software Update -> Beta Updates on eligible iPhones. Check out our detailed guide on how to install the iOS 27 public beta that walks you through installing the iOS 27 public beta 2 update.
For clarity, those with at least an iPhone 11 can get the update, although the more advanced AI features will be limited to Apple Intelligence-eligible devices only.
With the second public beta now out, Apple is expected to continue seeding further builds over the coming weeks before announcing the stable iOS 27 update in September 2026, alongside the iPhone 18 series and the foldable iPhone Ultra.
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