Apple released iOS 27 to the public on Monday, Sept. 14, rolling out a broad set of new features alongside a long-awaited beta of Siri AI. The update reaches a wide range of devices while reserving its most powerful artificial-intelligence tools for newer hardware.
iOS 27 installs on the iPhone 11 family and later, as well as the second-generation iPhone SE and newer models. But Apple Intelligence and Siri AI require an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or an iPhone 16 or later. An iPhone 11 owner can update to iOS 27, but will not get Siri AI or the other Apple Intelligence features described below. Siri AI is rolling out in beta in English only, with additional languages and regional availability to follow.
Performance Claims
Apple says the update improves speed across the system. According to the company’s own testing, apps can launch up to 30% faster, new photos can load in the Photos app up to 70% faster, and AirDrop transfers can be up to 80% faster. Apple also says the update smooths transitions between Wi-Fi and cellular networks and improves Mail search relevance. These figures come from Apple, not independent testing, so actual results will vary by device and use.
New Tools for Photos and Browsing
Several updates target everyday tasks. Safari’s new Notify Me feature can monitor a webpage for changes, such as a product coming back in stock or a price drop, checking hourly, daily, weekly or monthly. It does not yet work on every site. Safari can also automatically sort open tabs by topic.
In Photos, a new Spatial Reframing tool lets users change a picture’s composition after the fact, with Apple Intelligence generating new image content to fill in areas outside the original frame. An Extend tool works similarly, expanding beyond a photo’s original edges. The Clean Up tool can now remove larger unwanted objects from images. Because these tools generate new visual content, users should inspect edited photos closely before sharing them. Apple says its AI photo tools may be subject to daily usage limits.
Image Playground now supports more generation styles, including photorealistic images, and can modify existing photos based on a written description.
Calls, Design, and Camera Controls
A new Call Context feature can surface relevant information from other apps, such as a confirmation code pulled from Mail, while a user is on a supported business call. Apple says the feature determines relevance based on who is being called, without analyzing call audio.
Apple has also added a slider letting users control how transparent the
