While the news coming out of WWDC 2026 is not as dramatic as last year’s iOS 26 update, when the Liquid Glass redesign caused a huge stir, Apple’s presentation made waves.
During the WWDC keynote, Apple went through the new changes coming to the next version of its mobile operating systems, iOS 27 and iPadOS 27. These updates will be distributed to iPhones and iPads later this year, around September.
iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 focus on stability improvements that enrich the everyday usability of apps. There are some minor quality-of-life improvements, but the most notable is the improvement of Siri AI. Here’s everything you need to know.
Is your iPhone or iPad compatible?
Apple sometimes cuts a few older devices from the support list with every new version of iOS or iPadOS, supposedly due to the age of the hardware. (Apple typically supports iPhones and iPads for six to seven years.) But there is good news this year. iPhones from 2019 and later—iPhone 11 and up, including iPhone SE (2nd Gen)—will support iOS 27.
That means any iPhone that got iOS 26 is still compatible with iOS 27. If you’re not sure about your iPhone model, go to Settings > General > About and look for the model name.
iPads are not so straightforward, as they have a unique design structure. Apple has dropped the “generations” moniker and now uses the chipset to identify the model. You can find out which iPad model you have by understanding here. There are a few iPads that are now slated for the iPadOS 27 update, including the 8th-gen iPad from 2020 and the 5th-gen iPad Mini.
- The iPad: 9th generation and later, including A16
- The iPad Mini: 6th generation and later, including the A17 Pro
- iPad Air 11-inch: 4th generation and later, including M2, M3, and M4
- iPad Air 13-inch: M2 and later
- iPad Pro 11-inch: 2nd generation and later
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch: 4th gen and later
- iPad Pro: M4 and later
Should I install the Developer Beta?
Anyone can install the developer beta of iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 right now. But it might not be a good idea, especially for a phone you use and rely on every day. Developer betas are notorious and sometimes have crippling issues that can render your phone unusable. If you really want to try it, maybe use the old iPhone you have lying around.
If you want to try it regardless, make sure you back up your iPhone before installing the update. Then, head to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and select iOS 27 Developer Beta or iPadOS 27 Developer Beta. You should see an option to install it immediately. (Installation will take a few minutes.)
Public beta is usually stable and can be a better time to try the software. It is usually available in July, and the final version is usually released in mid-September.
Apple Intelligence Only works on select iPhones
Remember—even though older iPhones and iPads may receive the iOS 27 or iPadOS 27 update, that doesn’t mean all new features will be available. Apple Intelligence still only works on the iPhone 15 Pro and new and select iPads, which means many of the new artificial intelligence features aren’t available on older devices.
Top New Features of iOS 27 and iPadOS 27
Here’s a high-level look at some of the biggest changes coming to iOS and iPadOS 27. The updates are pretty much the same for both apps.
Siri AI and the new Siri app
Courtesy of Apple
Siri is finally becoming a “more capable assistant,” or so the claim goes. Apple says this is mainly due to its third-generation base models, which were developed from scratch with the help of Google’s Gemini models. However, Apple says it does not use Google’s infrastructure, and no user data from Siri actions is shared with Google.
Siri AI has a new look when you activate the assistant. It now resembles a glass orb. You can type or speak naturally with Siri, and there is even a dedicated app where you can revisit previous conversations, or continue where you left off on a different device. Siri is also now in the camera app, giving you a direct way to start visual searches, like Google Lens. You can even point the camera at a restaurant bill and Siri can split the tab.
The assistant understands your personal context, so they can combine your emails, messages, photos to find the right information based on your question. It can then take action for you, whether that’s writing an email in a certain tone, or getting wine recommendations for a certain meal. Siri’s voice is loud, but you can also customize the assistant’s voice and adjust its loudness and speed.
Platform Stability Improvements
Courtesy of Apple
One of the most interesting features will be Apple’s improvement in making iOS faster. The company says app launches are up to 30 percent faster, photos recently taken from your Photo Library load up to 70 percent faster, and AirDrop transfers are up to 80 percent faster. The iPhone will do a better job of switching between Wi-Fi and cellular, so hopefully you won’t have that awkward moment without service as you wait for your device to switch networks while you’re out of the house. Most of these improvements will affect older iPhone models, such as the iPhone 11, due to the improved CPU processor.
Liquid Glass Refinements
Courtesy of Apple
Hate Liquid Glass? Love Liquid Glass? However, you have options to customize it to your liking in iOS 27. Apple says it has generally updated the design language to improve readability and comparability. The app icons are sharp, for example. But now you finally have a slider in the Settings menu that lets you adjust the intensity of the Liquid Glass look, from very clear to very opaque. You can do this as you wish Settings > Appearance > Liquid glass.
Child Safety Features
Courtesy of Apple
Apple spent a lot of time at the WWDC keynote talking about child safety features in iOS 27 and iPadOS 27. There’s a new Setup Assistant that parents can use when first setting up a child’s Apple device, including choosing which system apps are available to the child and other important apps. The “Request to Browse” feature ensures that any new websites kids encounter in Safari are sent to a parent for approval, and a feature called Communication Safety prevents kids from seeing nudity or violence in Messages or FaceTime apps; those are automatically dimmed.
