How to join the iOS 27 public beta
The Apple Beta Software Program is free and open to anyone with a compatible iPhone. Before proceeding, back up your device to iCloud or a computer, as beta software may contain bugs, affect battery life, or cause compatibility issues with third-party apps. To enroll, visit the Apple Beta Software Program website and sign in with your Apple Account. Accept the terms, then on your iPhone go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and select iOS 27 Public Beta. Tap Update Now to begin the installation.
Siri AI is the biggest iOS 27 feature
Apple has rebuilt Siri around its next-generation Apple Intelligence system. The virtual assistant now supports ongoing conversations, can search personal information across apps, understand onscreen content, and perform actions within apps. Siri responses appear from the Dynamic Island, and a dedicated Siri app organizes conversation history synced privately via iCloud. After installing the beta, test Siri by asking it to locate details from Messages, Mail, Notes, or Calendar, then ask follow-up questions without repeating context. The Camera app also gains a Visual Intelligence mode, enabling tasks like photographing a barcode to create a Wallet pass. Siri’s voice can be customized in Settings under Siri > Voice, affecting spoken output in Maps and Safari. Note that Siri AI initially supports select English variants and requires an iPhone compatible with Apple Intelligence; some advanced on-device features require iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, or iPhone Air.
Apple Intelligence upgrades more iPhone apps
Beyond Siri, iOS 27 spreads AI enhancements across several apps. Safari automatically organizes tabs by topic, groups bookmarks and Reading List items, and introduces Notify Me to watch for page changes. Users can also create custom Safari extensions from natural-language descriptions. Photos gains three editing tools: Clean Up for removing distractions, Extend for generating content beyond the frame, and Spatial Reframing to adjust apparent camera position after capture. The Passwords app can automatically replace weak passwords and displays progress via Live Activities. Shortcuts now supports building automations from plain-language requests. Other improvements include Call Context in Phone (showing relevant details when calling a business), photorealistic generation in Image Playground, and natural-language event creation in Calendar.
iOS 27 makes Liquid Glass more customizable
The Liquid Glass design introduced in iOS 26 remains but gains enhanced clarity and flexibility. Controls better diffuse complex backgrounds, with darker edges and brighter highlights improving contrast for buttons and text. App icons have more layers and definition. The key addition is a Liquid Glass customization slider under Settings > Appearance, ranging from ultra-clear to fully tinted, applying across iOS and third-party apps.
iOS 27 should feel faster, even on older iPhones
Apple promises significant performance gains: apps can launch up to 30% faster, AirDrop transfers finish up to 80% faster, and new Photos captures appear up to 70% faster. The CPU scheduler has been optimized back to iPhone 11, improving unlock times, Home Screen navigation, Control Center scrolling, and Lock Screen switching. Camera launches faster in Low Power Mode, and intelligent switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data reduces clinging to weak networks. Search across Spotlight, Photos, and Mail is rebuilt, with Mail showing up to five ranked Top Results.
Screen Time and child safety get a major overhaul
A redesigned Screen Time dashboard gives parents a clearer view of child activity with one-tap access changes. Time Allowances set limits for categories like Games, Entertainment, and Social Media. Schedules control app availability by time of day, with separate routines for school, evenings, and weekends. Ask to Browse extends the Ask to Buy flow to websites, and children can request permission before contacting someone new. Communication Safety now detects and intervenes with gore or violent content in addition to nudity. These features require participating Family Sharing devices to run iOS 27.
More iOS 27 public beta features to try
Messages continues sending large media in the background without blocking newer texts and consolidates Tapback notifications. Photos adds full-resolution Shared Albums, support for Windows and Android contributions, keywords, star ratings, and customizable slideshows. Users can save any video frame as a photo. Alarm volume is now independent of system volume. Extra-large widgets can fill an entire Home Screen page. AirPods gain a custom equalizer for lows, mids, and highs. iPhone can connect directly to GymKit equipment. FaceTime supports simultaneous front- and rear-camera video on iPhone Air and iPhone 17 models. Home gains more reliable HomeKit Secure Video recording and native 4K camera support with eligible hardware and iCloud+ service. The iOS 27 public beta will evolve throughout the summer, with the final release expected in the fall. Users encountering issues can report them via the built-in Feedback Assistant app.
Source: 9to5Mac News