While the news coming out of WWDC 2026 is not as dramatic as last year’s iOS 26 update, where the new Liquid Glass redesign caused a big stir, Apple’s presentation still made waves.
During the WWDC keynote, Apple walked through the changes coming to the next version of its mobile operating systems, iOS 27 and iPadOS 27. These updates will roll out to iPhones and iPads later this year, likely in September.
iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 focus largely on stability improvements that enrich the everyday usability of the operating systems. There are several smaller quality-of-life improvements, but the big highlight is the Siri AI upgrade. 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 new versions of its operating systems, supposedly due to hardware age. (Apple typically supports iPhones and iPads for six to seven years.) But there’s good news this year. iPhones from 2019 and newer—the iPhone 11 and up, including the iPhone SE (2nd Gen)—will support iOS 27.
That means any iPhone that received iOS 26 is still compatible with iOS 27. If you’re unsure about your iPhone model, head to Settings > General > About and look at the model name.
iPads aren’t as straightforward, as they have a unique naming structure. Apple retired the “generations” moniker and is now using the chipset to denote the model. You can figure out what model iPad you have by heading here. There are a few iPads that are now cut off from the iPadOS 27 update, including the 8th-gen iPad from 2020 and the 5th-gen iPad Mini.
- iPad: 9th gen and later, including A16
- iPad Mini: 6th gen and later, including A17 Pro
- iPad Air 11-inch: 4th gen and later, including M2, M3, and M4
- iPad Air 13-inch: M2 and later
- iPad Pro 11-inch: 2nd gen 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 on a phone you use and rely on every day. Developer betas are notoriously buggy and sometimes have crippling issues that could make your phone inoperable. If you really want to give it a try, maybe use an older iPhone you have lying around.
If you want to try it no matter what, make sure to back up your iPhone before installing the update. Then, head to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and choose iOS 27 Developer Beta or iPadOS 27 Developer Beta. You should see an option to install it right away. (Installation will take several minutes.)
The public beta is often more stable and might be a better time to try the software. It’s usually available in July, and the final version often rolls out 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 of the new features will be available. Apple Intelligence is still only compatible on the iPhone 15 Pro and newer and select iPads, meaning that several new artificial intelligence features are unavailable on older devices.
Top New iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 Features
Here’s a top-line view of some of the biggest changes coming to iOS and iPadOS 27. The updates are largely the same across both operating systems.
Siri AI and a New Siri App
Courtesy of Apple
Siri is finally becoming “a more capable assistant,” or so Apple claims. The company says this is largely thanks to its third-generation foundation models, which were developed from the ground-up with the help of Google’s Gemini models. However, Apple says it is not using Google’s infrastructure, and that no user data from Siri actions gets shared with Google.
Siri AI has an all-new look when you activate the assistant. It now resembles a glass orb. You can type or talk naturally to Siri, and there’s even a dedicated app where you can revisit previous conversations, or pick up where you left off on a different device. Siri is also now in the camera app, giving you a more direct way to start a visual search, much 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 it can comb through your emails, messages, and photos to find relevant information based on your query. It can then take action on your behalf, whether that’s to draft an email in a specific tone or get wine recommendations for a particular dish. Siri’s voice is more expressive, but you can also customize the assistant’s voice and adjust its expressiveness and pace.
Platform Stability Improvements
Courtesy of Apple
One of the most appreciated features will be Apple’s improvements in making iOS run faster. The company says app launches are up to 30 percent faster, newly captured photos in your Photo Library load up to 70 percent faster, and AirDrop transfers are up to 80 percent faster. The iPhone will even do a better job of switching between Wi-Fi and cellular, so you hopefully won’t have that awkward minute with no service as you wait for your device to switch networks while leaving the house. Many of these upgrades will affect older iPhone models, like the iPhone 11, thanks to a better-optimized CPU Scheduler.
Liquid Glass Refinements
Courtesy of Apple
Hate Liquid Glass? Love Liquid Glass? Well, you have some options to make it work for your tastes in iOS 27. Apple says it has generally updated the design language to improve readability and contrast. App icons are sharper, for example. But you now finally have a slider in the Settings menu that lets you adjust the intensity of the Liquid Glass look, from super clear to more opaque. You can customize this in Settings > Appearance > Liquid Glass.
Child Safety Features
Courtesy of Apple
Apple spent a lot of time in the WWDC keynote talking up child safety features in iOS 27 and iPadOS 27. There’s a new Setup Assistant parents can run through when first setting up an Apple device for a child, which includes choosing what system apps are available to the child and other essential apps. An “Ask to Browse” feature sees that any new websites the kids encounter in Safari get sent to a parent for approval, and a feature called Communication Safety prevents children from seeing nudity or violence in the Messages or FaceTime apps; those are blurred by default.
