Apple has released the first public beta of iOS 27, giving users an early look at the year's biggest iPhone software update. The headline feature is Siri AI, a completely rebuilt assistant powered by Apple Intelligence. The update also introduces a new slider for customizing the Liquid Glass design, performance improvements, and dozens of quality-of-life changes.
Siri AI redefines the voice assistant with contextual conversations
Siri AI can now hold ongoing conversations and search personal information across apps like Mail, Messages, Notes, and Calendar. It understands on-screen content, performs actions within apps, and answers broader questions. Responses emerge from the Dynamic Island; a pull-down gesture opens the full conversation. A standalone Siri app keeps history synced privately via iCloud. In the beta, you can ask Siri to find a detail buried in a message and then ask a follow-up without repeating context. Some third-party apps are already supported.
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Liquid Glass slider for unprecedented customization
iOS 27 doesn't replace the Liquid Glass design introduced last year but refines it. A new slider in Settings > Appearance lets you adjust transparency from ultra-clear to fully opaque. This setting applies across iOS and third-party apps. Controls now better diffuse complex backgrounds, with darker edges and brighter highlights for improved readability. App icons have more layers and definition.
Performance and speed improvements across supported iPhones
Apple promises apps launch up to 30% faster. Nearby AirDrop transfers can complete up to 80% faster. New photos appear in the Photos app up to 70% faster. The CPU scheduler has been optimized all the way back to iPhone 11. Unlocking, Home Screen navigation, Control Center scrolling, and Lock Screen switching are smoother. The camera launches faster in Low Power Mode. iOS 27 also switches between Wi-Fi and cellular data more intelligently, avoiding weak networks.
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Redesigned Screen Time and parental controls
The new dashboard provides a clearer view of a child's activity. Time Allowances set limits for categories like Games, Entertainment, and Social Media. Schedules control which apps are available at different times, with separate routines for school days, evenings, and weekends. Ask to Browse extends the purchase request flow to websites. Children can request permission before contacting new people. Communication Safety now also intervenes when detecting gore or violent content.
Other new features and how to install the beta
Safari automatically organizes tabs by topic, groups bookmarks and Reading List items, and surfaces recently closed topics on the Start Page. Notify Me monitors web pages for changes. Photos adds Clean Up, Extend, and Spatial Reframing tools. The Passwords app automatically replaces weak passwords. Shortcuts can create automations from natural-language requests. To install the beta, join the free Apple Beta Software Program, back up your device, and download the beta profile. iOS 27 supports iPhone 11 and newer, but Apple Intelligence requires iPhone 15 Pro or later. The beta will continue evolving until the final release in the fall. For deeper insights into AI capabilities, check out NotebookLM for Document Analysis with AI. For more on iOS history, visit Wikipedia.
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