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Siri Gets a Brain Upgrade: Apple Drops iOS 27 Public Beta

Apple has just dropped the first public beta of iOS 27, and it's a big one. The headline act? Siri has undergone a full AI makeover, thanks to the new Apple Intelligence system. But that's not all—the update also brings a slew of performance boosts, visual tweaks, and smarter native apps.

Siri Gets Smarter (Finally)

Siri can now hold continuous conversations, understand what's on your screen, perform actions inside apps, and even dig into your personal data to help out. Responses pop up in the Dynamic Island, and there's a dedicated app to keep track of your chat history. The camera app also gets a new Siri Vision Intelligence mode—think turning barcodes into wallet passes on the fly. And yes, you can finally customize Siri's speaking speed and tone.

But before you get too excited, note that Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro or later. For the really advanced stuff, you'll need an iPhone 17 Pro/Max or iPhone Air. Also, it's only available in English for now, and not in the EU.

Performance and Visuals Get a Boost

iOS 27 supports all devices that ran iOS 26—that's iPhone 11 and newer, plus iPhone SE second gen and up. Thanks to CPU scheduler tweaks starting with the iPhone 11, the system feels snappier:

  • Speed boost: Apps launch up to 30% faster, AirDrop transfers are up to 80% quicker, and new photos display up to 70% faster.
  • Smoothness: Unlocking, navigating the desktop, scrolling in Control Center, and even launching the camera in low power mode are all smoother.
  • Smart network: Switching between Wi-Fi and cellular is more intelligent, and search in Spotlight, Photos, and Mail has been redesigned.
  • Liquid Glass: The interface looks clearer and more three-dimensional. A new slider lets you adjust system and app transparency from "Ultra Clear" to "Fully Colored."

Apps Get Smarter Too

Safari now automatically organizes tabs by theme and adds a "Notify Me" feature to track changes on websites. You can even create custom extensions just by describing what you want in natural language.

Photos gets three powerful AI tools: "Clean" for removing complex distractions, "Extend" for generating content beyond the frame, and "Space Reconfiguration" for adjusting visual positioning after you've taken a shot.

Privacy gets a boost with the Passwords app automatically replacing weak or leaked passwords. Shortcuts now supports creating automations with plain text requests. And Screen Time gets a major overhaul—parents can set app time limits and schedules for weekdays and weekends with one click (though all family devices need to be on OS27). The Communication Safety feature now also detects violent and bloody content, not just explicit stuff.

The Little Things That Matter

iOS 27 is packed with smaller improvements that add up: Messages can send large files in the background; Photos supports full-resolution shared albums and cross-platform uploads, plus you can save video frames as photos with one tap. Alarm volume is now independent of system volume. The home screen supports extremely large widgets. AirPods get a three-band equalizer. FaceTime can record with both front and rear cameras simultaneously. And the Home app brings more reliable HomeKit 4K security video recording.

When Can You Get It?

The official release is expected this fall. For now, you can grab the public beta by registering on the Apple Beta Software Program website, then heading to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates on your iPhone. Apple recommends trying it on a backup device and making an iCloud or computer backup first. If you run into issues, use the built-in Feedback Assistant app to report them.

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Key Points

  • iOS 27 public beta is out now, with a fully revamped Siri powered by Apple Intelligence.
  • Performance improvements include up to 30% faster app launches and 80% faster AirDrop.
  • New Liquid Glass interface with adjustable transparency.
  • Advanced AI features require iPhone 15 Pro or later, and are English-only for now.
  • Official release expected this fall.