iOS 27: Release date expectations, new features, and compatible iPhones
Siri AI is here with iOS 27. | Image by Apple
iOS 27: now officially announced during WWDC 2026
What's changing vs iOS 26:
- Siri AI: more personalized, context-aware version of Siri with a standalone app
- A system-wide Liquid Glass slider from ultra-clear to all the way into fully tinted
- Liquid Glass elements within the app icon itself for a sharper look
- Improvements in performance and bug fixes
- Apple Intelligence gets integrated with apps
- Big iPhone Camera app update with a new Siri mode
- Upgraded Image Playground
- Improvements in the Safari, Messages, Phone, Shortcuts and Home app
- New Child Safety features with more parental control options
Expected release timeline:
- iOS 27 was officially announced during WWDC 2026 on June 8.
- The new OS will be launched to the public with the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Pro in the fall of 2026 and then to all supported iPhones.
- Siri AI will not be available on iOS initially in the EU.
iOS 27 release date
Apple just announced iOS 27 during WWDC 2026's keynote on June 8, 2026. Apple’s WWDC 2026 spans between June 8 and June 22, 2026. The public will be getting iOS 27 with the iPhone 18 Pro models in the fall.
| iOS version | Announcement | Market release |
|---|---|---|
| iOS 27 | June 8, 2026 | September 2026* |
| iOS 26 | June 9, 2025 | September 2025 |
| iOS 18 | June 10, 2024 | September 2024 |
* - probable dates
Public beta is coming in July.
iOS 27 supported iPhones
iOS 27 will be available from the iPhone 11 and later, so all the iPhones that supported iOS 26 will support iOS 27.
| iPhone generation | Market release date | iOS 27 support |
|---|---|---|
| First foldable iPhone | September 2026, expected | Yes |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 18 Pro | September 2026, expected | Yes |
| iPhone 18, iPhone Air 2, iPhone 18e | Spring 2027, expected | Yes |
| iPhone 17e | March 2026 | Yes |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 | September 2025 | Yes |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 | September 2024 | Yes |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 | September 22, 2023 | Yes |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 | September 16, 2022 | Yes |
| iPhone SE 3rd Gen | March 18, 2022 | Yes |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini | September 24, 2021 | Yes |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini | October 23, 2020 | Yes |
| iPhone SE 2nd Gen | April 24, 2020 | Yes |
| iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 | September 20, 2019 | Yes |
| iPhone XS Max, XS, iPhone XR | September 21, 2018 | No |
| iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone X | September 22-November 3, 2017 | No |
iOS 27 will come pre-installed with the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Pro, Apple's first foldable iPhone, and the iPhone 18.
Keep in mind that initially, Siri AI won't be available in the EU on iPhones or iPad devices, because of regulations.
Apple Intelligence features will be available to all iPhone models that support Apple Intelligence. There's a stronger AI model that can run only on iPhone 17 Pro and newer.
iOS 27 design
iOS 27 is not redesigning things like iOS 26 did. Rather, we're looking at small refinements and improvements to the Liquid Glass experience.
For one, we're getting a system-wide slider to customize the Liquid Glass effect. The iOS 26 Liquid Glass look is not going anywhere, but Apple is now giving you more options to control how it appears on your iPhone.
For one, we're getting a system-wide slider to customize the Liquid Glass effect. The iOS 26 Liquid Glass look is not going anywhere, but Apple is now giving you more options to control how it appears on your iPhone.
A new slider would let you pick between ultra-clear and fully tinted looks for Liquid Glass elements.
Liquid Glass was introduced with iOS 26. | Image by Apple
Meanwhile, app icons are getting a touch of the Liquid Glass look for a sharper and more cohesive look.
iOS 27 top features
iOS 27's hottest feature is the new, context-aware, upgraded Siri.
The new Siri
Apple Intelligence features at a glance. | Image by Apple
Siri is finally getting the long-awaited AI revamp. The new Siri is now called Siri AI and is built in a collaboration from Apple and Google, based on the next generation of Apple Foundation Models and Gemini.
The assistant is now becoming on par with other generative AI chatbots. You can reach it by saying "Hey Siri" or by swiping down from the center of the top part of your screen. It resides in the Dynamic Island. When you trigger it, the pill-shaped cutout will expand with a "Search or Ask" message and a glowing cursor.
Siri in the Dynamic Island. | Image by Apple
The Dynamic Island gains a thin glow with Siri's signature colors around its edges to indicate Siri is active.
If you want a more in-depth answer, Siri can also be accessed via the side button.
The new Siri leverages personal context understanding, natural language processing capabilities, on-screen awareness and access to the internet to provide you with answers to your queries and take action on your behalf.
Personal context understanding. | Image by Apple
On top of it all, Siri is getting a new standalone app, where you can enter past conversations with the chatbot. Just like with the Messages app, all your old conversations would be there for you to jump back in.
Siri AI in-depth conversation. | Image by Apple
What's even cooler is that Siri can perform things on your behalf from the standalone app as well. It can search across your phone and pull data right into the conversation.
Siri's dedicated app's home screen. | Image by Apple
The assistant can also be aware of what you're looking at from your screen. For example, you can ask it where the place a photo was taken from is and then follow up with a conversation and have Siri take actions based on it, such as finding a message someone sent to you with a given address and then creating a route using Apple Maps, all in the same conversation.
Siri AI is also getting new voice experiences, where you can customize Siri's voice pace and expressivity using a slider.
Siri voice customizations. | Image by Apple
System-wide dictation is now getting boosted with improved accuracy and punctuation.
Siri AI and the dedicated Siri app would be available across Apple's ecosystem, so you can start a conversation on your iPhone and finish it up on your MacBook or iPad, for example.
The Camera app is getting a new Siri mode. When you tap the shutter button, Siri may be able to see what you see, and when you pull down, you get details and a follow-up conversation. Those are saved within the Siri app. Meanwhile, Siri can suggest relevant actions to what you're seeing.
Write with Siri will be available system-wide, as well as automatic proofreading.
Apple Intelligence in apps
Apple Intelligence in iOS 27. | Image by Apple
Safari
Apple Intelligence can now help you organize your Safari tabs into topics. New related tabs would be added to a topic, and you can also save topics as tab groups.
Safari is also getting a new Notify Me feature, which allows you to mark a tab with it. Apple Intelligence would then monitor it for updates and alert you with a notification on them, so you don't have to keep the tab open.
You can also make your own extensions with Apple Intelligence for any webpage, just by describing them using natural language.
Passwords
Passwords is gaining the ability to automatically update all eligible accounts to strong passwords using Apple Intelligence and Safari (which would act on your behalf, logging into websites and changing your password).
Messages, Mail, Calendar, Phone app
Messages can now use Apple Intelligence to get context on conversations. You'll also get suggestions for relevant actions, as well as search for photos (like if someone requests a photo for you to send).
Mail is now going to offer suggestions and take actions with third-party apps. Calendar is also getting the ability to create and edit an event using natural language or create events from a screenshot of a schedule.
When you call a business, the Phone app will show you relative info from your apps.
Home and Shortcuts
Accessory notifications in Home can be analyzed by Apple Intelligence now and understood as one activity, so you get one notification that updates in real time. The Home app can also analyze recorded clips from compatible cameras and generate descriptions of what's happening for you.
You can also search in those videos.
The Shortcuts app is now getting the ability for you to describe what you want done using natural language. Also, you can edit the shortcut by describing what changes you want made.
New version of Image Playground
Image Playground photo modification. | Image by Apple
Image Playground is getting the ability for high-quality images in any style, including photorealism. It can also transform your existing photos in different styles based on a description you make in natural language.
You can easily edit parts of an image by circling over an object to modify. You can also choose the dimensions you want your image to be in.
Image Playground can now also make images for backgrounds for Messages, contact posters and even lock screen wallpapers. Keep in mind that image generation will have daily limits for usage.
Photos
New Apple Intelligence features in Photos. | Image by Apple
With iOS 27, Apple is adding new tools to Photos, accessible from a button dubbed "Tools" at the bottom right.
- Clean Up is getting upgraded with the ability to remove distractions with a more realistic fill-in, even in complex scenes
- Extend: helps you expand images with generative AI
- Spatial Reframing: you can fix the composition of an older photo by shifting the perspective. The feature uses on-device spatial models and works on older photos, including photos taken with other cameras.
Privacy and Child Safety
Apple Intelligence runs on-device and on Apple Private Cloud Compute, so all your data will not be shared with Apple or third parties. Apple claims the data will be used only to execute your requests.
iOS 27 also builds on the existing Child Safety features with new controls for parents on what kids can see, who they can talk to, and when they have access to apps.
Parents would be getting recommendations based on the American Academy of Pediatrics and its Family Media Plan. Children would be able to ask for permission to download apps, visit websites, and communicate with new people.
Screen Time is also now giving parents recommendations on how long their kids should be on their phones. Of course, parents would be able to customize those limits.
iOS 27 general platform improvements
iOS 27 is also bringing an upgraded CPU scheduler which would help older iPhones manage CPU tasks more efficiently. Network transitions between Wi-Fi and Cellular are getting more seamless with iOS 27, and a new send indicator will show you when an image is taking longer to send using an unstable connection.
Meanwhile, search is also getting re-architectured, and it now indexes new content almost immediately.
In Mail, a new ranking system shows you more relevant results in search.
Shared Albums in Photos now support Android and Windows users contributing. Meanwhile, the Health app is getting cycle tracking support for perimenopause and menopause.
AirPods are getting a new custom EQ, while Fly Over in Apple Maps is getting a boost with intelligence models for a more realistic look.
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