Apple Releases iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and watchOS 27

Apple has just released the ’27 versions of all of its operating systems, which also mark the rollout of the new Siri AI on devices that support Apple Intelligence. Unfortunately, iOS and iPadOS users in the EU won’t have access to the new AI assistant, and Apple previously blamed the EU’s DMA for the delay.

The new Siri AI is probably the main new feature on iOS 27, which makes the AI assistant available as a dedicated app. Siri AI is also integrated into the Camera app as an upgrade to the existing Visual Intelligence feature, and the assistant also now understands users’ personal context and onscreen information.

Siri AI is launching as a beta feature in English, with support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish coming in October. The dedicated app will sync conversations across devices, but the assistant is also available anywhere through features like Write with Siri.

“Siri AI can understand personal context across messages, emails, photos, and more, to help users find what they need in the moment. It can also answer questions related to the content on a user’s screen or go out to the web to get up-to-date information to generate a helpful answer,” Apple explained today.

On iPhones, iPads, and Macs that support Apple Intelligence, iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 bring new intelligent features such as Spatial Reframing, Extend, and an upgraded Clean Up tool in Photos, as well as an improved Image Playground app that can create photorealistic pictures. In Safari, Apple Intelligence can now automatically organize tabs into topics and notify users about website updates. Mac users will also be able to create custom extensions by just describing what they want it to do in natural language.

On the performance front, Apple promises up to 30% faster app launches on iPhones and iPads, and up to 80% faster AirDrop transfers. iCloud Photos uploads will also begin faster, while Mac users will enjoy smoother performance when swiping between spaces and using the Mission Control feature. Apple also refined its Liquid Glass design language even further this year, and there’s a new slider in Settings allowing users to adjust the level of transparency.

On iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, Apple is also introducing new child safety features and a redesigned screen time experience. This will allow parents to set time allowances for specific app categories, and a new Ask to Browse feature will also allow them to require approval before their kids access a new website in Safari.

I already mentioned that iPhone and iPad users in the EU won’t get access to the new Siri AI, but that’s not everything they will be missing today: New Apple Intelligence features such as Spatial Reframing, Extend, and the improved Clean Up tool also won’t launch immediately in the EU, and neither will the new iPhone Handoff feature that will allow users to use the same phone number across two iPhones. iPhone Mirroring on macOS is also still nowhere to be seen in the EU.

For Apple Watch users, watchOS 27 adds a dedicated Siri app (except in the EU), a new single-handed tap gesture to open a widget, and Smart Stack widget suggestions. On the fitness front, Workout Buddy adds Spanish support and will now work even when users don’t have their iPhone nearby.

Let’s wrap up with tvOS 27, which introduces a redesigned Apple Podcasts app, new text-size accessibility options, and high-resolution lossless audio support in Apple Music. HomePod speakers also get a new AutoMix feature that provides smoother transitions between tracks in Apple Music. The update also improves the responsiveness of AirPlay connections.