After several months of testing and preliminary versions, iOS 27 is shaping up to be one of Apple's most ambitious updates for the iPhone. The company has been refining the system with successive developer and public betas, while confirming that the final version will arrive in the fall, around September, coinciding with the next generation of phones.
The updates go far beyond a simple facelift: Apple is reinforcing the Liquid Glass design, revamping Siri with more artificial intelligence , and improving overall stability and performance. At the same time, the code in these betas is revealing the brand's hardware plans, with direct references to the upcoming iPhone 18 and a highly anticipated foldable model.
Liquid Glass and the visual changes in iOS 27
iOS 27 maintains the Liquid Glass aesthetic as the foundation of the system's design , featuring transparencies, glass effects, and more pronounced animations than in previous versions. Apple not only retains this graphical language introduced with iOS 26 but also refines it with new controls and minor tweaks throughout the interface.
One of the key adjustments is a new slider to modify the transparency level of Liquid Glass from the appearance settings. Users can choose a more opaque interface, prioritizing readability, or a more translucent and "crystalline" look, depending on their preferences.
The latest betas, including beta 5, also bring refreshed icons for system apps like Safari, Siri, Settings, Preview, and the App Store . The changes aren't radical, but they refine the style to better fit the new visual language.
The mobile signal bars in the status bar have been redesigned ; they are now taller and have rounded edges , and the battery indicator is slightly larger while charging. These are minor adjustments, but they are designed to make it easier to quickly read important information.
The home screen is still under review: the depth effect that was tested in a previous beta disappeared in the next one and has not returned in beta 5, which suggests that Apple is still deciding whether or not to include it in the final version.
Siri AI: Smarter, more customizable, and with a new app
The big leap forward in iOS 27 comes with Siri AI, the latest evolution of Apple's assistant . The company has been incorporating changes in several beta versions, both visual and functional, with a particular focus on integrating advanced artificial intelligence capabilities.
In the interface, Siri adopts a refreshed look: it's integrated into the Dynamic Island, features new colors, and incorporates glass elements to match Liquid Glass. The assistant's animation has also been tweaked, though the changes are subtle.
More important is the behavioral aspect. iOS 27 introduces new options for adjusting the pace and expressiveness of Siri's voice on compatible models, with particular attention to British English, which can now be adjusted more precisely. The classic "Spoken Responses" section has been reorganized under a new menu called "Preferred Response Type," which simplifies how to configure voice or text responses.
The beta versions also confirm the presence of a standalone Siri AI app, functioning similarly to a ChatGPT-type chatbot. From this app, users can have conversations with the assistant, view their history, and access additional features, including the ability to attach files for contextual help.
In addition, Apple is strengthening the integration of Siri AI into the search system . A new section called "Before You Search" has appeared in the settings, allowing users to decide how many suggested apps appear before they type, whether recommended shortcuts are shown, and how their recent search history is managed.
Apple Intelligence, image editing, and other AI features
Along with Siri AI, iOS 27 strengthens Apple Intelligence, the system's suite of AI tools . One of the areas where the improvements are most noticeable is photo editing, with faster and more precise erasing and reframing modes.
Among the announced features are an improved erase mode for removing elements from an image , an "extension" option that generates more content around the original scene, and a "Reframe" tool capable of changing the angle of the photo in a few seconds.
The creative side also gets attention with Image Playground, Apple's image generation tool , which in iOS 27 is capable of producing designs in various styles and more photorealistic images from text descriptions. All of this is integrated into a dedicated app within the system.
Apple has also announced new safety features for children and improvements to Siri-mode photography , allowing users to initiate a visual search directly from the camera's frame. The idea is that users can focus on an object or scene and obtain contextual information without leaving the camera app.
In Europe, however, some of this AI ecosystem will arrive later. Limitations stemming from the European Union's Digital Markets Act are delaying the rollout of some of the more advanced features, so European users will see a more gradual deployment compared to other markets like the United States or the United Kingdom.
Accessibility, performance, and improvements to system apps
Beyond artificial intelligence, iOS 27 incorporates improvements designed to make the iPhone more accessible and convenient for everyday use . Among the features previewed by Apple is VoiceOver Image Explorer, capable of analyzing the environment and offering more natural and detailed descriptions for people with visual impairments.
This feature allows, for example, a user to ask where their keys or another specific object are , and the iPhone will locate them and describe their position. This is an example of how AI is being practically integrated into the everyday use of the device.
iOS 27 also adds automatic captions to videos in virtually any app , whether from Apple or third parties, making it easier for deaf or hard-of-hearing users to access content. It also includes a simpler initial setup process and a name recognition system that alerts users when someone speaks their name aloud.
Native apps are getting their own round of tweaks. Beta 5 introduces new welcome screens in apps like Photos, Wallet, Music, and Apple TV , which briefly explain the new features when you open them for the first time after the update. A compact floating menu for editing screenshots and a new icon for orders within Wallet are also being introduced.
In terms of performance, Apple claims that apps will open up to 30% faster and that photos will load in the Photos app significantly more quickly, with figures indicating improvements of up to 70% in some cases. The latest betas also focus on fixing bugs related to LTE and Wi-Fi network display, voice commands, Siri, and the Search app.
5G+, search and system settings: changes that are noticeable in Spain
Another new feature appearing in the iOS 27 betas is the 5G+ indicator in the status bar in certain countries. In Spain, this category is already displayed by carriers like Movistar and Orange, provided the device and network coverage support it.
This type of connection promises lower latency, better performance in crowded areas , and lower battery consumption compared to other 5G variants, something especially relevant for those who use their mobile phones intensively.
The system search section has also been enhanced. From the settings, you can now decide whether the search should include app results and how many suggestions to display (none, four, or eight), as well as enable recommended shortcuts. The search engine preview in these settings has been removed, simplifying the interface.
In "Software Update," users can see the exact time the last iOS update was installed , a useful detail for those who want to have better control over when changes were applied. Additionally, the battery system now indicates if high battery drain is due to coverage issues, making it easier for users to identify the source of the drain.
iOS 27 Release and Compatibility Schedule
Apple is maintaining its classic beta release schedule, although with a slight delay compared to previous years in the arrival of iOS 27 beta 5 , which took about three weeks since the previous build. Since June 8, several developer versions and two public betas have been released.
The company has officially confirmed that the final version of iOS 27 will arrive this fall , and all indications point to mid-September, coinciding with the unveiling of the new generation of iPhones. In the coming weeks, the release cycle is expected to accelerate with a sixth beta and, subsequently, the Release Candidate version before the public launch.
Regarding devices, Apple has opted to maintain the same list of compatible iPhones as with iOS 26. This means that models such as the iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, the various recent "e" and Air variants, and the third-generation iPhone SE will continue to receive the update.
However, not all models will have the same features. The most advanced Apple Intelligence features and the new Siri AI are reserved for recent models, starting with the iPhone 15 Pro lineup and up, while the more sophisticated Siri options will be limited to newer-generation iPhones when they are released.
What iOS 27 reveals about the upcoming iPhone 18
Beyond the visible new features, the internal code of iOS 27 beta 5 is proving to be a continuous source of clues about the next generation of hardware. Several independent analyses have found references to six unannounced iPhone models in battery management files and Battery Intelligence features.
These devices are identified by code names which, when cross-referenced with previous leaks, have been linked to an iPhone Air 2, the iPhone 18, the iPhone 18e, and the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max . The major new development is an additional model linked to a supposed iPhone Ultra, connected to Apple's first foldable phone.
This isn't the first time a beta version of the operating system has revealed hardware not yet listed in the official catalog . There have already been hints of a dual-battery system and references to parameters like `foldState` and `angleDegrees`, designed to manage the state and opening angle of a foldable device.
This time, the mentions focus on battery management and adaptive power consumption, the system that regulates energy based on how the phone is used. This suggests that Apple is adapting iOS 27 to new hardware configurations , including those needed for a device with a foldable screen and multiple batteries.
Although Apple hasn't confirmed any official details, the information circulating suggests the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, and foldable model will launch in the fall , coinciding with the release of iOS 27, while the standard iPhone 18, 18e, and Air 2 would arrive later, likely in the spring. This would be a significant change in the launch strategy, separating the flagship models from the more affordable ones for the first time.
Based on everything seen in the various betas, iOS 27 appears to be a version that is evolutionary in appearance but very profound in internal changes: it consolidates the Liquid Glass design, improves the daily experience with small adjustments, reinforces accessibility, and opens the door to a new stage of artificial intelligence on the iPhone, pending European regulation to set the pace in our region and the next generation of iPhone to fully reveal how far Apple wants to go with this update.
