It’s happened. Today Apple kicked off WWDC 2026 and unveiled iOS 27 — and this fall your iPhone will change more dramatically than it has in several years. The star of the presentation was Siri, which the company promised two years ago but never delivered. Now the promise has finally been fulfilled. Alongside iOS 27, Apple also introduced other operating systems, such as macOS 27 for Mac computers.
iOS 27 officially unveiled
What’s New in iOS 27
The star of the presentation was a completely new Siri. This is no longer the clunky voice assistant of old, but a full-fledged AI helper in a dedicated app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It was presented by Mike Rockwell, Vice President of Siri Development. The assistant understands conversation context, sees what’s happening on your screen, has broad world knowledge, and performs actions in apps on its own. You can ask different questions in a single chat — Siri maintains the thread of conversation and responds with previous answers in mind.
Smart Siri now emerges from the Dynamic Island
Under the hood is an updated Apple Intelligence powered by a second-generation model that runs directly on-device. Apple also confirmed a partnership with Google: some capabilities are built on Gemini. The system understands personal context, uses Spotlight’s semantic index for search, and has become noticeably more accurate in dictation.
Some AI features run directly on-device offline, without sending data to the cloud. An important caveat: all the smart features are part of Apple Intelligence, which requires iPhone 15 Pro or newer. Older models will get iOS 27, but without the AI features.
Photos got attention too. The Photos app now has generative tools: you can remove unwanted objects, extend backgrounds beyond the frame, and change the shooting angle. You rotate the camera, and AI fills in the background and surroundings.
But the main theme of iOS 27 isn’t AI — it’s speed and stability. By Apple’s standards, this is a release in the spirit of the legendary macOS Snow Leopard: fewer effects, more substance. Apps launch 30% faster, AirDrop transfers are 80% quicker, and older iPhones feel more responsive thanks to a new CPU task scheduler. Search was also rewritten: Spotlight and system-wide search run on a new index, and Mail finds the right emails more accurately.
Glass can be customized to your taste
The signature design also got an update. Liquid Glass now has a transparency slider — the glass can be set from a dense tint to nearly transparent. Apple changed the default material rendering for better contrast and vibrancy, and icons became sharper: more refraction layers and crisp edges instead of the “blurriness” people complained about in iOS 26.
What else is new in the system:
- iCloud Shared Albums now work with Android and Windows
- FaceTime now supports simultaneous dual-camera recording
- A dedicated drawing app in Messages
- Live Activities in the Dynamic Island in landscape orientation
- Extra-large widgets on the home screen
- Separate alarm volume control
- Custom equalizer for AirPods
- Ability to switch between two iPhones with one phone number
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In total, Apple counted over two hundred small improvements — from saving a frame from video and auto-retrying unsent messages to updated Flyover in Maps and expanded cycle tracking in Health.
List of iPhones That Support iOS 27
Even iPhone 11 will get the update
This is where Apple surprised everyone. The list of supported iPhones for iOS 27 is identical to iOS 26. Yes, even the venerable iPhone 11 will run the new OS. The only question is: why? I don’t have an answer. But the new OS is here. Full list of supported models:
- iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16e, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 17, 17e, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max
- iPhone SE 2nd and 3rd generation
Plus the fall iPhone 18 lineup and the foldable iPhone, which will ship with iOS 27 out of the box.
Remember the important tier distinction. iOS 27 as a system installs on all models from iPhone 11 and newer. However, Apple Intelligence features — the new Siri, generative photo editing, smart tools — will only work on iPhone 15 Pro and newer. So owners of iPhone 11 through 15 without the Pro designation will get an updated but not “smart” system.
When Is iOS 27 Coming Out
The schedule is standard for Apple, and it’s already underway. The first developer beta comes out today, right after the keynote — you can install it via a developer profile. This is a raw build, and I wouldn’t recommend putting it on your main iPhone: bugs, a hot chassis, and battery life drops are guaranteed.
The first beta will be available within hours
The public beta is expected in July. It’s more stable than the developer version, but still a beta — best to keep it on a secondary device.
The final release for everyone is planned by Apple for September, approximately around the 14th, traditionally alongside the new iPhones. That’s when the update will arrive in Settings over the air for free.
My takeaway is simple. iOS 27 isn’t a year about flashy animations — it’s a year about making iPhone faster, longer-lasting on battery, and finally giving it a capable Siri. If you have an iPhone 15 Pro or newer — this fall has the most exciting stuff in store for you. If your model is older — sit tight until September and don’t touch the beta.
