Apple officially rolled out iOS 27 on 15 September, a few days after unveiling the iPhone 18 Pro and the foldable iPhone Duo at its September 10 event. The update, which occupies roughly 13.65 GB on an iPhone 16 Pro Max, follows a three‑month beta programme that began with a developer preview at WWDC 2026 in June and a public beta in July. iOS 27 is compatible with every iPhone that could run iOS 26, extending support back to the iPhone 11 series.
Key highlights
A rebuilt Siri AI can analyse messages, email, notes and calendar entries, understand on‑screen context and answer queries without leaving the current app. A dedicated Siri app syncs conversation history via iCloud; the feature is still in beta, initially English‑only, with French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish slated for October.
Performance
Performance sees notable gains: app launch times improve up to 30 %, image loading up to 70 % and AirDrop transfers up to 80 % faster. The second‑generation Liquid Glass interface adds a transparency slider and fresh app icons, while Visual Intelligence, Writing Tools and Genmoji receive upgraded AI models.
New user‑focused tools
AirPods gain a Custom EQ for bass and mids, GymKit now syncs workout data directly to the iPhone and measures heart rate through AirPods Pro 3. A smart 5G‑Wi‑Fi switch keeps FaceTime calls smooth, and Dual Capture enables simultaneous photo and video shots. Parental‑control features are revamped, with clearer Screen Time data and granular app‑access settings for children. iCloud Shared Albums now share full‑resolution photos with Windows and Android users, broadening cross‑platform collaboration. While Siri AI remains in trial, iOS 27 marks a comprehensive upgrade in speed, intelligence and ecosystem integration for both new and legacy iPhone models.