Apple has released iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, the latest operating system updates for iPhone and iPad. The updates are free and can be downloaded over the air by going to Settings > General > Software Update; propagation to all users may take several minutes on launch day.
iOS 27 can be installed on all iPhones that run iOS 26, including the iPhone SE 2 and the iPhone 11 series and later. iPadOS 27 is available on 2nd-generation and later iPad Pro models, 4th-generation and later iPad Air models, 6th-generation and later iPad mini models, and the A16 iPad.
The update introduces Siri AI, a more capable and conversational version of Siri, alongside a dedicated Siri app, refinements to the Liquid Glass design, and a broad set of Apple Intelligence features. After updating, users may need to sign up to use Siri AI via the Siri section in Settings. There are currently no fees for Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features, but Apple may begin charging for higher usage in the future.
iOS 27 features and requirements
Siri AI and Apple Intelligence: Siri AI draws on personal context understanding, app actions, onscreen awareness, and broad world knowledge to help find information and complete tasks. New voice options aim to be more expressive and natural, with customization for expressivity and pace; powerful on-device models are available on iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models and later. A dedicated Siri app lets users revisit or start conversations and privately syncs conversations across devices via iCloud. Siri mode in Camera integrates Visual Intelligence so users can ask questions and act on what’s in front of the camera, and Write with Siri can generate, edit, or give feedback on drafts virtually anywhere you type, personalizing style in Messages and Mail based on your relationships.
Hardware support for Apple Intelligence features is limited to certain devices: for iPhone, Apple Intelligence is supported on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, all iPhone 16 models, all iPhone 17 models, and all iPhone 18 models. For iPad, Apple Intelligence is available on M-series devices and the A17 Pro iPad mini.
Photos and image tools: Spatial Reframing lets users adjust a photo’s composition by virtually changing camera position. The Extend tool expands images beyond their edges with realistic infill. Clean Up supports removing larger objects with options for Fast mode or High Quality edits. An all-new Image Playground uses a generative model to create high-quality images in many styles, supports touch and natural-language modifications, and can generate Lock Screen wallpapers and Contact Posters with personalized suggestions.
Safari and automation: Safari gains Organize by Topic to sort and group tabs, Notify Me to periodically check webpages for updates, and Describe an Extension to create custom view or formatting extensions using natural language. Describe a Shortcut lets users create or refine shortcuts with natural language.
Home, Calendar, Mail and Phone: Home updates include summarized activity notifications combining related accessory alerts, video descriptions for HomeKit Secure Video clips for eligible iCloud+ subscribers, and Camera clip search to find moments from HomeKit Secure Video cameras when on an eligible iCloud+ plan. Describe an Event in Calendar uses natural language to create events with details filled in by Apple Intelligence. Mail offers suggestions to take actions from email context, and the Phone app’s Call Context can surface relevant information from across apps when speaking to certain businesses.
Accessibility: VoiceOver adds more detailed contextual image understanding for photos, charts, and screenshots and supports a conversational experience to ask about the screen or surroundings, including an Action button integration for faster answers. Magnifier gains conversational visual assistance for users with low vision and a high-contrast interface. Accessibility Reader provides improved text cleanup, on-demand summaries, and translation. Voice Control supports flexible inputs by letting users describe on-screen elements in their own words.
Child safety and parental controls: Setup for new child accounts has been improved so parents can choose exact apps a child can access. Ask to Browse lets parents approve each new website before a child can view it. Communication Safety protections are expanded to intervene before children see gore or violent content in shared images and videos. Time Allowances, Schedules and redesigned Screen Time settings give parents finer control and guidance over app access and usage.
System and other improvements: Liquid Glass refinements aim to improve readability and a new slider in Settings lets users personalize appearance from ultra-clear to fully tinted. Apple says system-wide performance is faster in experiences such as app launches, new photos loading in Photos, and AirDrop transfers. Search is improved across Spotlight, Photos, and Mail. Connectivity Assist helps transitions between Wi-Fi and cellular. Other updates include enhancements to iCloud Shared Albums in Photos, Custom EQ for AirPods, support for perimenopause and menopause in Cycle Tracking in Health, and independent volume settings for Alarms and Timers.
For more on the new features, see our iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 roundups.
