Apple released the iOS 27 public beta today, offering an early look at the next major operating system update for iPhones. The beta introduces a range of new features centered around artificial intelligence, with Siri receiving a complete overhaul and Apple Intelligence expanding into new areas. While the final version is expected in September, the public beta allows users to test the software now.

According to Apple, iOS 27 is one of the most stable betas compared to prior years. However, it is still recommended to install it on a secondary device rather than a primary one, especially if you rely on health-related apps. The software is compatible with iPhone 15 Pro and later models for most new AI features, but performance improvements are available on all iPhones.

Performance Improvements

One of the first things users notice after updating to iOS 27 is the increased speed across the system. Animations are smoother, apps launch faster, and AirDrop transfers complete in less time. The keyboard appears more quickly, the App Library responds faster, and switching between Home Screen pages feels instant. Synchronization between iDevices has also improved: iMessages sync more accurately, failed message sending attempts are automatically retried, and transitions between Wi-Fi and cellular networks are seamless.

These under-the-hood optimizations mean that even older iPhones, such as the iPhone 13 or iPhone 14, will feel more responsive after the update. While many new features depend on Apple Intelligence and the Neural Engine of the iPhone 15 Pro series, the core speed enhancements benefit everyone.

Siri AI

Siri has been completely redesigned in iOS 27 and is now referred to as "Siri AI." It functions similarly to other AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Claude, supporting back-and-forth conversations and natural language understanding. What sets Siri AI apart is its deep integration with personal data on the device. It can access your messages, emails, photos, apps, and other information to complete a wide range of tasks, while also being able to search the web for general knowledge queries.

Activation methods remain familiar: you can use a wake word ("Hey Siri" or just "Siri"), swipe down from the middle of the screen to type a question, chat with Siri in the dedicated Siri app, or press the side button. The new capabilities include creating home automations with a single command (e.g., "lock all the doors at midnight"), finding specific emails, messages, photos, or files based on person, time, or location, deleting files or messages, adding recipe ingredients to a shopping list, recommending activities and restaurants based on your preferences, analyzing content on the screen (like a website), and even adding information to Contacts.

For users who want to explore all possible commands, Apple has published a dedicated Siri AI guide. The assistant also learns from your usage patterns to provide more relevant suggestions over time.

Visual Intelligence

Visual Intelligence is a feature that has been available in earlier versions but is now easier to access in iOS 27. Through the Camera app, users can select a new "Siri" mode (in addition to photo and video modes) that activates Visual Intelligence. This allows Siri to analyze what the camera is seeing and provide information. For example, you can point the camera at a food item to get nutritional information, or at a receipt to calculate how much each person owes. The system can also identify landmarks, plants, animals, and more. These capabilities are being expanded with each beta iteration, and more examples are available in the dedicated iOS 27 Visual Intelligence guide.

Write with Siri

Another significant addition is the "Write with Siri" feature, which enables Siri to generate text from scratch across the system. Accessible from the keyboard, this tool can help with writing tasks, provide feedback on written content, change the tone or wording, and even adapt to your personal writing style by analyzing your past emails and messages. The iPhone also automatically suggests grammar fixes in addition to spelling corrections, making the writing experience more seamless.

This feature integrates with various apps, including Mail, Messages, Notes, and third-party apps that adopt the standard keyboard. Users can prompt Siri to rewrite paragraphs, generate short stories, or compose professional emails, all while maintaining their preferred style.

Photos Clean Up

The Clean Up tool in the Photos app has been significantly improved in iOS 27. Previously capable of removing unwanted objects from images, the new version does a much better job at cleanly removing distractions and filling in the background more convincingly. Additionally, new image tools allow users to extend the borders of a photo using AI, change perspective or composition, and even adjust lighting and colors more naturally.

These enhancements make it easier to edit photos without leaving the Photos app. The AI-based features require an iPhone 15 Pro or later for full effect, but basic cleanup works on older models too. A full guide on new Photos features is available in the iOS 27 Photos guide.

Passwords

The Passwords app, introduced in iOS 26, gets a new feature that uses Safari to automatically change weak or compromised passwords. This feature requires Apple Intelligence and is only available on devices that support it (iPhone 15 Pro and later). When you receive a security recommendation about a password that is weak or reused, the system can initiate a secure password change directly in Safari, streamlining the process of maintaining account security.

Safari

Safari in iOS 27 introduces the ability to create custom extensions using natural language commands. This is particularly useful when you need a specific functionality that isn't available through existing extensions. Examples include creating a citation for the current webpage, setting a focus timer, adjusting the minimum font size, turning the page into pirate speak, styling websites like 90s designs, or even entering a design mode to edit webpage contents. The system uses AI to interpret your request and generate a working extension.

Additionally, Safari can now automatically organize open tabs into categories based on content (e.g., news, shopping, reference). It can also monitor a webpage for changes and notify you when updates occur, which is useful for tracking product availability, news articles, or any other dynamic content.

Home App

For users with HomeKit Secure Video cameras, iOS 27 brings support for 2K and 4K recording, enabling higher-quality video streams. A new AI feature provides text descriptions of what is happening in your home (e.g., "Person identified at front door"), and users can search through recorded video using natural language queries to find specific events. The AI-powered search and descriptions will require a 2TB iCloud+ plan at launch, but the 4K streaming capability is available without additional cost.

AirPods EQ

AirPods users have long requested custom equalizer settings, and iOS 27 delivers with new AirPods customization options. Users can manually adjust mids, highs, and lows to suit their audio preferences. Custom EQ is available for AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods Max 2. The feature can be accessed through the Settings app under the connected AirPods settings, allowing for fine-tuning of the listening experience.

Shortcuts

The Shortcuts app has been made more user-friendly in iOS 27. Instead of manually building complex automations, users can now describe what they want the shortcut to accomplish using natural language, and the app will automatically create a working shortcut. From there, users can refine it with further requests or edit it manually. This lowers the barrier for newcomers who may have found the app intimidating in previous versions.

How to Install the Beta

To install the iOS 27 public beta, first sign up on Apple's public beta website using your Apple ID. Once registered, go to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone, and you should see the iOS 27 Public Beta option. Tap the update button and follow the on-screen instructions. It is strongly recommended to create a full backup before installing the beta, as you may wish to revert to iOS 26 later if you encounter critical bugs. Instructions for downgrading are available on the same beta website.

Beta Reminders

Keep in mind that iOS 27 is still in beta, and the software you test now is not the final version that will ship in September. Apple is actively refining Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features, fixing bugs, and adjusting features based on feedback. The beta may contain performance issues or app incompatibilities, so proceed with caution.

iOS 27 Discussion and App Info

Community forums are a good place to discuss iOS 27 features and share experiences about stability. There are also lists of working and non-working apps that can help you decide if the beta is right for you. Many users have been sharing their experiences with Siri AI, providing tips and tricks for getting the most out of the new capabilities. For a more comprehensive overview, the full iOS 27 roundup contains additional details about all features and changes.

Source: MacRumors News