iOS 27 is coming sooner than you think: Here’s what to expect
Are you keeping up with all the Apple news lately? The tech company has officially confirmed when users can finally upgrade to OS 27!
The latest software update—iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and watchOS 27—will be available as a free update starting Sept. 15, bringing a new generation of Apple Intelligence features, an upgraded Siri, improvements to apps, and more customization options.
If you're holding onto an older device, good news: iOS 27 will support models dating all the way back to the iPhone 11 series. However, some features, particularly those powered by Apple Intelligence, require newer iPhone models.
Apple first previewed iOS 27 during its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, where it showed off its next-generation Apple Intelligence features and the revamped Siri experience.
Here are some of the biggest changes coming to iPhones.
Siri is getting a major AI upgrade
One of the biggest additions to iOS 27 is Siri AI, which Apple describes as a more capable and personal version of its voice assistant.
With the update, users can have more natural conversations with Siri. Think Siri as your friend: you can ask open-ended questions and get help with tasks. It can also understand more of a user's personal context, such as finding an old photo, email, or note based on a simple request.
The assistant can also take actions across apps. For example, users can ask Siri to edit a message, create a reminder, or add a song to a playlist.
Apple is also introducing a dedicated Siri app, where users can keep their conversations in one place and continue them across Apple devices.
Siri AI will initially roll out in English, but will expand to more languages soon.
New AI tools are coming to everyday apps
Apple is also expanding Apple Intelligence across several iPhone features. In Photos, users can use tools such as Spatial Reframing to adjust the composition of a picture after taking it, while the upgraded Clean Up tool can remove larger unwanted objects. There's also an Extend tool for expanding images.
Want to hear something even cooler? Siri now has eyes.
With the new visual search feature, you can literally point your camera at whatever's in front of you—a plant you can't identify, a dog breed you want to know, or a sign in a foreign language—and ask Siri about what you're looking at in real time.
Apple is also adding more AI-powered tools to Safari, Passwords, and Shortcuts. Safari can automatically group tabs by topic and notify users when a webpage changes, such as when an item is restocked or its price drops. Meanwhile, Shortcuts can create automations based on a simple description of what you want to happen.
More tools for parents
With concerns about children using gadgets, iOS 27 is adding new features designed to give parents more control over how their children use their iPhones.
Parents and guardians can choose which apps children can access during setup, while a new "Ask to Browse" feature requires children to request permission before accessing new websites. They can also set time allowances for categories such as games, entertainment, and social media, as well as schedules for when certain apps can be used.
Apple is also expanding Communication Safety to help protect children from potentially harmful images and videos, including content involving gore or violence.
Other iOS 27 updates
iOS 27 is also refining the Liquid Glass design introduced with iOS 26. Not only does it improve readability and contrast, the app icons are now sharper and more detailed. Users will also get a new slider that lets them adjust the appearance of Liquid Glass, from a clearer look to a more tinted one.
Apple is also promising performance improvements. According to the company, app launches can be up to 30 percent faster, new photos can load in the Photos library up to 70 percent faster, and AirDrop transfers can be up to 80 percent faster.
Moreover, the new update will see an enhanced Flyover in Maps, which uses aerial imagery and visual intelligence to show more detailed views of places. iCloud Shared Albums are also getting improvements, including full-resolution sharing and easier participation for friends and family using Android or Windows.
For accessibility, iOS 27 introduces features such as automatically generated captions for videos, including the ability to translate existing captions into other languages.
There's also GymKit on iPhone, allowing users to connect their phones to compatible cardio equipment such as treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, and stair-steppers to see real-time workout metrics.
Updating is easy, but backup first so you don't lose anything if something goes sideways! To update, open the Settings app, tap General, and then select Software Update. When you see iOS 27 appear on screen, hit Download and Install.