Apple’s newest iPhone and iPad software program—iOS 27 and iPadOS 27—is right here. Whereas this launch received’t make as huge of a splash as Apple’s huge Liquid Glass redesign within the prior model, there’s nonetheless lots right here that might change how you employ your gadget.
iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 focus largely on stability enhancements that you simply’ll discover in your on a regular basis use. There are a number of quality-of-life enhancements, like how Shortcuts are considerably simpler to arrange, however the huge spotlight is the Siri AI improve. This is every part you might want to know.
Up to date September 14, 2026: We have refreshed this story to mirror the most recent updates, and that iOS and iPadOS 27 are rolling out in the present day.
Is Your iPhone or iPad Appropriate?
Apple generally drops a couple of older gadgets from the help checklist with new variations of its working programs, supposedly as a result of the ageing {hardware} can’t run the most recent display behaviors with out feeling sluggish. (Apple usually helps iPhones and iPads for six to seven years.) However there’s excellent news this yr. iPhones from 2019 and newer—the iPhone 11 and up, together with the iPhone SE (2nd Gen)—will help iOS 27.
Which means any iPhone that obtained iOS 26 continues to be appropriate with iOS 27. In the event you’re not sure of your iPhone mannequin, go to Settings > Common > About and have a look at the mannequin identify.
iPads aren’t as easy, as they’ve a singular naming construction. Apple retired the “generations” moniker and is now utilizing the chipset to indicate the iPad mannequin. You possibly can verify your iPad mannequin utilizing Apple’s help documentation. A couple of iPads are lower off from the iPadOS 27 replace, together with the Eighth-gen iPad from 2020 and the Fifth-gen iPad Mini.
- iPad: ninth gen and later, together with A16
- iPad Mini: sixth gen and later, together with A17 Professional
- iPad Air 11-inch: 4th gen and later, together with M2, M3, and M4
- iPad Air 13-inch: M2 and later
- iPad Professional 11-inch: 2nd gen and later
- iPad Professional 12.9-inch: 4th gen and later
- iPad Professional: M4 and later
Tips on how to Set up iOS 27 or iPadOS 27
The ultimate variations of iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 are right here. Earlier than putting in, it’s crucial that you simply again up your gadgets. Head to Settings, faucet your identify on the prime, and choose iCloud. Then faucet iCloud Backup, and faucet Again Up Now. Learn our Tips on how to Again Up Your iPhone or iPad information for different strategies and extra particulars.
Then, head to Settings > Common > Software program Replace and select iOS 27 or iPadOS 27 if you see the choice. Set up will take a number of minutes, and your iPhone or iPad will restart, so put aside a number of minutes for the entire course of.
Siri AI, the brand new assistant, will ask to index your cellphone or iPad to study extra about you, your apps, and your information so it may be extra useful. This indexing takes some time—wherever from a couple of hours to a few days—so be ready to attend a bit.
Apple Intelligence Solely Works on Choose iPhones
Bear in mind—even when older iPhones and iPads obtain the iOS 27 or iPadOS 27 replace, that does not imply the entire new options might be out there. Apple Intelligence continues to be solely appropriate with the iPhone 15 Professional and newer and choose iPads, that means that a number of synthetic intelligence options are unavailable on older gadgets.
Prime New iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 Options
This is a top-line view of among the greatest modifications coming to iOS and iPadOS 27. The updates are largely the identical throughout each working programs.
Siri AI and a New Siri App
Courtesy of Apple
Siri is lastly turning into “a extra succesful assistant,” or so Apple claims. The corporate says that is largely due to its third-generation basis fashions, developed from the bottom up with Google’s Gemini fashions. Nonetheless, Apple says it is not utilizing Google’s infrastructure to energy Siri interactions, and that no person information from Siri actions will get shared with Google.
Siri AI has an all-new look if you activate the assistant. It now resembles a glass orb. You possibly can sort or speak naturally to Siri, and there is even a devoted Siri app the place you’ll be able to revisit earlier conversations or decide up the place you left off on a unique gadget. Siri can also be now within the digital camera app, supplying you with a extra direct method to begin a visible search, very like Google Lens. You possibly can even level the digital camera at a restaurant invoice, and Siri can cut up the tab between you and your pals.
The assistant understands your private context, so it may well comb by way of your emails, messages, and photographs to search out related data primarily based in your question. It will possibly then take motion in your behalf, whether or not that is drafting an e-mail in a particular tone or getting wine suggestions for a specific dish. Siri’s voice is extra expressive, however you can too customise the assistant’s voice, its expressiveness, and tempo.
We have collated all the brand new issues you are able to do with Siri AI if you wish to attempt the revamped assistant.
Platform Stability Enhancements
Courtesy of Apple
Apple has centered on making iOS run sooner on this replace. The corporate says app launches are as much as 30 p.c sooner, newly captured photographs in your Photograph Library load as much as 70 p.c sooner, and AirDrop transfers are as much as 80 p.c sooner. The iPhone will do a greater job switching between Wi-Fi and mobile, so that you hopefully will not have that awkward minute with no service when you wait to your gadget to change networks as you allow the home. Many of those upgrades will have an effect on older iPhone fashions, just like the iPhone 11, due to a better-optimized CPU Scheduler.
Liquid Glass Refinements
Courtesy of Apple
Hate Liquid Glass? Love Liquid Glass? You may have some choices to make it work to your tastes in iOS 27. Apple says it has typically up to date the design language to enhance readability and distinction. App icons are sharper, for instance. However you now lastly have a slider within the Settings menu that permits you to modify the depth of the Liquid Glass look, from tremendous clear to extra opaque. You possibly can customise this in Settings > Look > Liquid Glass.
Baby Security Options
Courtesy of Apple
Apple spent loads of time within the WWDC keynote speaking up little one security options in iOS 27 and iPadOS 27. A brand new Setup Assistant lets mother and father select system apps and different important apps for the kid when first establishing an Apple gadget. An “Ask to Browse” characteristic means any new web sites the children encounter in Safari get despatched to a dad or mum for approval, and a characteristic referred to as Communication Security prevents youngsters from seeing nudity or violence within the Messages or FaceTime apps; these are blurred by default.
