iOS 27 will be rolled out as a free over-the-air (OTA) update later this year.
iOS 27 was first previewed at WWDC 2026 in May
Photo Credit: Apple
Apple is rolling out the iOS 27 Public Beta update for iPhone. First previewed at WWDC 2026 in May, the company introduced a developer beta of the latest iPhone operating system last month. However, it was only available to registered Apple developers and beta testers. It brings improvements to Liquid Glass, a smarter Siri, new features in Photos and Mail apps, and more. Alongside, Apple has also released similar public beta updates of iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, macOS Golden Gate, and more.
So, if you have not had a chance to try out Apple's latest update, you can do so following the rollout of the iOS 27 Public Beta. Here's what you need to know.
To have access to Apple's developer and public beta updates, you need to be enrolled in the Apple Beta Software Program. Once done, you can proceed to install the beta firmware on your iPhone. Here is how to get the new iOS 27 Public Beta update on your iPhone:
However, users should note that while they may get a chance to try all of the new features before iOS 27 is rolled out widely, the update is still in the beta stage. This means that it might contain bugs that could hamper the device's performance, battery life, or cause data loss.
Apple says the iOS 27 Public Beta is compatible with all the iPhone models eligible for the iOS 27 update: iPhone 11 and later, which have been enrolled in the Apple Beta Software Program. However, the Apple Intelligence features will be limited to the iPhone 17 series, iPhone Air, iPhone 16 series, and the iPhone 15 Pro models.
iOS 27 Public Beta is offered as a free over-the-air (OTA) update. Here is the list of iPhone models eligible to receive the update:
iOS 27 Public Beta carries all the changes that have been available with the Developer Beta updates post WWDC 2026. Among the headlining additions is the new Siri, which has received a major overhaul. It is now available as a dedicated app on iPhone and via Spotlight on Mac. The assistant has been integrated into the Dynamic Island and appears as an animated visual indicator when activated.
Apple claims it is a modern AI chatbot, offering broader world knowledge, improved conversational memory, and deeper integration with third-party and system apps on the phone. Siri can respond to follow-up questions naturally, without having the user repeat context, while also being capable of performing multistep tasks. There are also new Siri options, such as the Write with Siri shortcut in Notes, Mail, Messages, and other apps.
Apple's Liquid Glass design language, introduced with iOS 26, has also received refinements following user feedback. Among them is a new slider that allows users to fine-tune transparency levels.
In the Photos app, there are new photo editing tools. Users can clean up backgrounds, remove unwanted objects, reframe images, extend scenes beyond their original boundaries, and even generate new perspectives within photographs. iOS 27 Public Beta also brings new child safety tools, including the ability to limit access to specific apps during certain times of the day, restrict communications to approved contacts, and manage website permissions more effectively.
The quality of life improvements include up to 30 percent faster app launches and up to 80 percent quicker AirDrop transfers, while Apple also claims that newly captured photos can load up to 70 percent faster compared to the previous OS iteration.
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