Apple released iOS 27 this week as a free update for supported iPhone models, available via Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update. The update centers on Apple Intelligence and context-aware Siri retooled for the generative AI era, while adding dozens of refinements across Photos, Safari, Wallet, Messages, Maps, Health, and system performance.
Apple Intelligence and Siri in iOS 27
iOS 27 introduces a more context-aware Siri that uses Apple Intelligence to interpret text, images, and speech. A new Siri app defaults to Apple’s Siri AI but lets users switch to ChatGPT by long-pressing the text input and tapping “Ask…”; conversation context does not transfer between providers. On-device Apple Intelligence models running on iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air can understand and generate speech, enabling more natural responses and new voice customization options for expressiveness and pace.
Siri’s capabilities extend systemwide: “Writing Tools” can draft, shorten, change tone, proofread, and mimic your style across Mail and Messages; Siri can act on selected text or images (onscreen awareness) to summarize, translate, or explain content; long-pressing an email offers an “Ask Siri” option to summarize messages, extract details, or perform actions; and Siri interactions are logged in the Siri app for follow-ups.
Image, Photo and Wallpaper Enhancements
Photos and imaging receive major updates. A new Wallpaper “Extend” option uses Apple Intelligence to expand photos beyond their original edges so they fill the Lock Screen more naturally; the same option is available in Photos. Image Playground now runs a new generative model on Private Cloud Compute to produce high-quality images in many styles, including photo-realistic output, and all generated images include a hidden SynthID watermark. Playground also adds photo-based editing.
Photos can be reframed using spatial data to alter perspective and angle; Clean Up now reconstructs larger backgrounds with Fast, High Quality, and Auto modes; you can extract and save a still frame from a video; assign one- to five-star ratings and keywords to photos and videos (with a Show Rating Controls toggle in Settings); and two new Utilities folders appear: Captured by Me (photos taken by your iPhone) and Identity Documents (passports, licenses, etc.). Slideshows can be created from any album or selection and saved as video.
Productivity, Shortcuts and Natural Language
Natural language input is expanded: Reminders and Calendar now accept conversational text and extract dates, times, people, and locations automatically. The Shortcuts app adds a “Describe a Shortcut” interface so Apple Intelligence can build shortcuts from plain-language descriptions and assemble multi-step automations.
Safari gains AI features to automatically organize open tabs into topic-based groups and a Create an Extension option that generates a browser extension from a plain-language prompt. Spotlight has been replaced with Search or Ask (swipe down on the Home Screen), and the underlying index was rebuilt for fresher results; Mail search now ranks by relevance and intent. Passwords can be auto-updated on eligible sites via Safari using Apple Intelligence to navigate, sign in, and change weak or compromised passwords.
Messaging, Calls and Communication
Messages gets several updates: inline replies can be used on messages from Android users (green bubbles) by long-pressing a specific message; you can draw and send sketches using a Markup-style drawing tool; choose which audio button appears in the text field (Record Audio, Start Dictation, or None); and failed messages, photos, or videos now retry automatically with individual progress indicators. Tapback notifications are consolidated to reduce repeated alerts.
The Phone app adds “Call Context,” which displays relevant information (like reservation codes) found on-device when calling a business; Apple says Call Context only looks at who you are calling and runs entirely on the device.
Wallet, Passes, Payments and Location
Wallet expands the redesigned pass experience (Poster Generic layout) to membership, gift, loyalty, and rewards cards with background images, logos, header/footer fields and up to two quick actions. A Create a Pass option digitizes physical tickets, membership cards, and coupons by scanning barcodes or QR codes. Apple gift cards can be redeemed by holding the card against the back of an iPhone.
A new Wallet “Insights” feature lets you add Connected Accounts to monitor spending, with bank-dependent integration and broader support currently in the U.K. Location sharing in Find My adds custom durations (for example, four days and six hours) or exact expiration date and time; you can also pause sharing with specific people until the end of the day without notifying them.
Home, Camera, FaceTime and Audio
HomeKit Secure Video can generate written summaries for motion alerts, group footage across cameras, surface noteworthy recordings, and support natural language search—features limited to iCloud+ plans with at least 2TB of storage (noted as a $9.99/month subscription). The Camera app includes a new Siri mode using Visual Intelligence to identify objects and provide information (plants, animals, food calories, translate text, add event dates to Calendar, split a bill, etc.). FaceTime adds Dual Capture on iPhone 17 models and iPhone Air so callers can see front and back camera views simultaneously.
AirPods gain a Custom EQ slider for compatible models with Apple’s H2 chip (AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, AirPods Max 2) under Settings ➝ [Your AirPods] ➝ Audio & Routing ➝ Equalizer ➝ Custom. CarPlay apps can offer video browsing and playback while the car is parked, and iPhone apps that support AirPlay can stream to the car display if automakers enable it; no automaker has said they will yet.
Accessibility, Health and Safety
Accessibility adds Live Recognition, an on-device camera feature that identifies people, objects, and surroundings in real time and can answer questions about what it sees, with a default prompt option. Cycle Tracking is expanded to cover perimenopause and menopause, with Health sending a notification when logged cycle patterns suggest perimenopause and matching Fitness+ workouts. Parental Controls were substantially reworked: Ask to Browse requires parental approval for new websites in Safari; Ask to Buy remains for app downloads; new settings ask permission before a child contacts someone new; Time Allowances cap daily use of Entertainment, Games, and Social Media; Daily Schedules control app availability; Screen Time is redesigned; and Communication Safety now blurs gore and violence for users under 18.
Maps, Weather and Local Discovery
Maps’ Flyover imagery is improved with Apple Intelligence for better textures, geometry and lighting in select cities. A new Local Lists section surfaces trending places and local collections in the U.S. only. Weather opens with a Highlights section and a Conditions view that toggles temperature, precipitation, and wind; the 10-day forecast updates to match.
Convenience, Customization and Performance
Lock Screen options include a new compact clock layout and a Liquid Glass opacity slider under Settings ➝ Appearance ➝ Liquid Glass to adjust translucency. Widgets gain an extra-large size that fills an entire Home Screen page. Genmoji creation has been overhauled to allow incremental edits via a “Describe a Change” interface, and Shared Albums now accept full-resolution contributions from Android and Windows users via a web browser, with albums set to expire after 30 days if desired (note that Shared Album contents count against the album owner’s iCloud storage).
Other additions include GymKit support on iPhone for two-way syncing with compatible gym equipment, a Safari “Notify Me” webpage-change alert, a new Reframe photo tool, and the ability to use one phone number on two iPhones via iPhone Handoff (requires eSIM and carrier support; at launch supported by T-Mobile in the U.S. and Deutsche Telekom in Germany, and T-Mobile charges $5 per month).
Apple also reports system performance improvements across many devices back to iPhone 11: apps launch up to 30% faster, AirDrop transfers up to 80% faster, new captures appear in a 50,000-photo library up to 70% faster, the CPU scheduler was reworked, the emoji keyboard no longer pauses before appearing, and the Camera app opens faster in Low Power Mode. The update also improves judgment on switching between Wi‑Fi and cellular.
iOS 27 is available now for supported iPhone models as a free update via Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update.
