Apple iOS 27 release date: Biggest new features and which iPhones get them

Apple unveiled the latest version of its iPhone operating system, iOS 27, at this week's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

While there's plenty to unpack, the update isn't as dramatic or divisive as iOS 26, which introduced Apple's then-new design concept, Liquid Glass.

When is the iOS 27 release date?

Apple hasn't confirmed an exact date yet.

However, if it sticks to its usual schedule, iOS 27 should roll out to everyone sometime in September, likely about a week before the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and the rumoured foldable iPhone.

In the meantime, a developer beta is already available, and a public beta will follow in July via the Apple Beta Software Program.

Which iPhones will get iOS 27?

There's good news if you're using an older iPhone.

Apple confirmed at its WWDC 2026 keynote that iOS 27 will support the same iPhone models as iOS 26, so no devices are being dropped this year.

If your iPhone runs iOS 26, it will also be compatible with iOS 27.

That covers every iPhone from the iPhone 11 series onwards, including the iPhone SE (2nd generation).

The catch is that next-generation features such as Apple's most advanced Siri AI capabilities (more on that shortly) rely on Apple Intelligence. That means you'll need an iPhone 15 Pro or later to get the full experience.

And the most powerful on-device capabilities - like expressive Siri voices - are reserved for the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

So, what are the best new features in iOS 27?

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1. Siri AI: Will this finally be a Siri worth talking to?

This is the headline feature of iOS 27 and what everyone's talking about right now.

Apple wants Siri to become much more useful using Apple Intelligence.

The upgraded Siri will work across your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro, and in many ways it sounds similar to how Google's Gemini works on Android devices.

Right now, you're probably using Siri for things like setting alarms, starting timers or checking the weather - at least if you're anything like me.

With iOS 27, Apple says Siri will be able to do a lot more by understanding your personal context.

It can search across your messages, emails, photos and apps to find information for you.

For example, you could ask Siri to remember the name of a restaurant a friend texted you about weeks ago, or pull up a flight itinerary buried in your inbox before a trip.

Other Siri upgrades include:

• A new conversational experience that lets you swipe down from the Dynamic Island and chat with Siri back and forth. An orb-like animation will appear to show when Siri is in thinking mode.
• A dedicated Siri app where you can revisit previous conversations or continue a current one, much like you would in ChatGPT.
• Private syncing of your Siri conversation history across Apple devices through iCloud.
• Siri can now use your iPhone's camera as an input, so you can point it at an object and ask questions about it on the spot. It's similar to Google Lens, but built into Apple's assistant.

The main catch is that the new Siri experience will launch in English first, with support for additional languages arriving over time.

2. Major Photos upgrade for better editing

Apple is continuing to overhaul the Photos app in iOS 27.

One of the highlight features is Spatial Reframing, which lets you change a photo's perspective after you've taken it.

When you drag and adjust the frame, it will end up generating new content as if the photo were taken from a different viewpoint.

There's also an improved Clean Up tool that will remove distracting objects or unwanted people more convincingly, including in complicated backgrounds.

And a new Extend tool will achieve the opposite of cropping an image. Instead, you'll be able to expand it to give the photo a bit more breathing room, fix a cropped horizon, or change the aspect ratio without losing any important details.

Apple says photos edited with Apple Intelligence features will include a hidden watermark in the metadata to indicate AI involvement.

3. Smarter Safari

Safari also gets some useful upgrades using Apple Intelligence.

Do you end up having 30+ tabs open? It can automatically organise your tabs in topic clusters. It'll keep doing that as you browse.

There's also a new Notify Me feature, where you can ask Safari to monitor a web page for changes such as a jacket coming back in stock or a price drop on your favourite beauty product.

It'll send you a notification when something updates.

4. New parental controls

iOS 27 will give parents a lot more control.

Apple has introduced several child safety features designed with feedback from online safety and health experts.

Child accounts are required for children under 13 and available for those up to 18.

Once set up, you'll be able to engage safeguards such as:

• Ask to Browse: Similar to Ask to Buy for apps, kids will need parental approval before accessing a new website.
• Time Allowances: Parents can set granular time limits on apps and device use. All of this can be managed via a redesigned Screen Time interface.
• Communication controls: You'll be able to manage who your kids message, call and FaceTime. Each new contact will require parental approval.
• Communication Safety: This feature already blocked nudity in Messages and FaceTime for kids under 18. It will now also block graphic or violent images and videos that are shared.

5. Other Apple Intelligence upgrades

A few other upgrades to keep an eye on include:

• Updates to Image Playground. Instead of only being able to create images from scratch, you can now edit existing ones using natural language prompts.
• Messages gets one-tap suggestions to create notes or reminders directly from conversations.
• Passwords gets upgraded security protection.