Apple began rolling out iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, visionOS 27 and tvOS 27 on September 14, 2026. The updates introduce new Siri and Apple Intelligence capabilities, interface refinements and additional parental controls.
Available features depend on the device, language and region. That is particularly important for Siri AI, which has its own eligibility requirements and is rolling out gradually.
What’s new in iOS 27
Apple has refined the Liquid Glass interface. A new slider in Settings lets users adjust its appearance from more transparent to more heavily tinted. The company has also improved contrast and made app icons more detailed.
Performance is another focus. According to Apple’s figures, apps can launch up to 30% faster, newly taken photos can load in the photo library up to 70% faster, and AirDrop transfers can be up to 80% faster. These are the manufacturer’s claimed results; they do not guarantee the same improvement on every iPhone.
Apple also says switching between Wi-Fi and cellular networks is smoother, while Mail does a better job of ranking search results.
Siri AI: finding personal information and taking action in apps
Siri AI supports conversations that retain context between requests. As Apple explains, the assistant can find information in messages, emails, notes and photos, answer questions about what is on the screen, and look up information online.
Examples include finding a particular email, creating an event, sending a message or drafting text with Write with Siri. A dedicated Siri app lets users continue conversations across devices.
On compatible iPhones, Siri mode in Camera lets users ask questions about an object in front of the lens. Access to these capabilities depends on Siri AI eligibility and availability.
New tools for Photos and Safari
Photos gains Spatial Reframing to change a shot’s viewpoint and composition after it has been taken, and Extend to expand the image beyond its original edges. An upgraded Clean Up tool can remove larger unwanted objects.
Safari can automatically group tabs by topic. Its Notify Me feature tracks changes to web pages, such as a price drop or an item coming back in stock, and alerts the user.
These tools are part of Apple Intelligence, so they require a compatible device and supported language and regional settings.
Which iPhones support iOS 27?
According to Apple’s official compatibility list, iOS 27 supports iPhone 11 and newer eligible models, as well as the second- and third-generation iPhone SE. However, Apple Intelligence has higher hardware requirements:
All models in the iPhone 11, 12, 13 and 14 ranges
iOS 27 support: Yes.
Apple Intelligence: No.
iPhone SE, second and third generation
iOS 27 support: Yes.
Apple Intelligence: No.
iPhone 15 and 15 Plus
iOS 27 support: Yes.
Apple Intelligence: No.
iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max
iOS 27 support: Yes.
Apple Intelligence: Yes.
All models in the iPhone 16 and 17 ranges, including 16e and 17e
iOS 27 support: Yes.
Apple Intelligence: Yes.
iPhone Air
iOS 27 support: Yes.
Apple Intelligence: Yes.
iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max
iOS 27 support: Yes.
Apple Intelligence: Yes.
Apple also lists iPhone Duo as compatible on its iOS 27 page.
An iPhone 12 Pro, for example, supports the system update but does not get Siri AI. Even on an Apple Intelligence-compatible phone, users still need to check language and regional availability.
Siri AI availability: languages and EU restrictions
Apple’s feature availability list shows that Siri AI is launching in beta in English. Ukrainian is not currently listed as a supported language for the new assistant, so installing iOS 27 does not add Ukrainian-language Siri AI.
For users in the European Union, Apple sets separate availability conditions:
iPhone and iPad
Siri AI is unavailable in the EU at launch.
Apple Watch
Siri AI is unavailable in the EU at launch.
Compatible Macs and Apple Vision Pro
Siri AI is available subject to Apple’s requirements, including English device and Siri language settings.
These restrictions apply to the new assistant and should not automatically be treated as restrictions on every Apple Intelligence feature.
Apple plans to add French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish to Siri AI in October. Its launch announcement does not give a date for Ukrainian support.
Daily limits and future paid access
Apple applies daily usage limits to some features that rely on server-based models. These can include Siri AI, intelligent photo editing, Image Playground and other tools.
Limits depend on the feature, the complexity of a request and system demand. In its launch announcement, Apple also said it would offer expanded access for a fee in the future. Pricing and a launch date have not been announced. This does not establish that every use of Siri AI will require payment.
What’s new for parents?
Updated parental controls let parents choose which apps a child can use, set schedules and apply a shared daily time allowance to categories such as games, entertainment and social media.
Ask to Browse lets parents require approval before a child opens a new website in Safari. Requests can be reviewed and approved in Messages.
Communication Safety also expands its checks of images and videos to respond to detected gore and violence. Access controls are tied to the child’s account settings.
How to install iOS 27
To install the update, Apple recommends the following steps:
Back up your iPhone to iCloud or a computer.
Connect it to power and Wi-Fi.
Open Settings → General → Software Update.
Select the upgrade to iOS 27 and follow the onscreen instructions.
If an iOS 26 update appears first, check the bottom of the page: the option to upgrade to iOS 27 may be listed separately. These instructions also apply to installing iPadOS on a compatible iPad.
On an eligible device, Siri AI is enabled separately through Settings → Siri → Try Siri AI (Beta). After the initial setup, users join a waitlist, and waiting times can vary. Having iOS 27 installed does not necessarily mean Siri AI is already active.