After months of leaks and rumors, Apple has officially unveiled iOS 27, the latest version of its operating system for iPhone. The company announced it during this year's WWDC, where artificial intelligence was the main focus. The update comes packed with new features, including a revamped Siri, improvements to the Liquid Glass design, and new accessibility tools. There's also good news for users: the list of compatible iPhones is exactly the same as for iOS 26, so no one is left behind.
iOS 27 is presented as a version that aims to polish the weaknesses of its predecessor, which already introduced a significant visual change with Liquid Glass. Now, Apple wants to go further with deeper artificial intelligence features, a much more capable assistant, and small adjustments that improve the daily experience. However, not all features will be available on all devices, and in Spain, some will have to wait to enjoy them.
Liquid Glass is maintained and improved with new adjustments.
The Liquid Glass design, which was one of the key features of iOS 26, remains a cornerstone of iOS 27. Apple has decided not only to maintain this aesthetic of glass elements and transparent buttons, but also to enhance it with new customization options. The most notable is a slider that allows you to adjust the transparency level of the entire interface, from completely opaque to a much more crystalline effect.
This new control is located in the system settings, within a new Appearance section. By default, transparency is set to a medium level, but each user can adjust it to their liking. Furthermore, Apple has enhanced the translucent effect on icons, Control Center buttons, and widgets, making the overall look more visually appealing and cohesive.
Siri AI: the assistant that understands everything
One of the biggest new features in iOS 27 is the new Siri AI, now powered by Gemini, Google's artificial intelligence. This allows the assistant to offer much more accurate and natural responses, and to perform complex tasks such as finding a recipe your mother sent you in a message or creating a calendar event and inviting a contact. Integration with personal context is seamless, as Siri can review the content of Messages, Mail, Notes, Photos, and Calendar to answer queries.
In addition, Siri AI comes with a standalone app, similar to ChatGPT, where you can converse with the assistant like any chatbot, access your conversation history, and attach files. There's also a more advanced version, exclusive to newer iPhones, that allows you to adjust parameters such as expressiveness and voice rhythm. And although Apple hasn't officially confirmed it, rumors suggest that Siri will be integrated into the camera to recognize its surroundings and provide information about landmarks, restaurant menus, or food.
Apple Intelligence: More AI for the iPhone
Apple Intelligence, the company's suite of artificial intelligence tools, also receives significant improvements in iOS 27. Image editing is one of the areas where this is most noticeable, with a much faster and more precise removal mode. An image extension feature has also been added that can detect the background and generate more content within the photo, as well as a reframe tool that changes the image angle in seconds.
Image Playground, the image creation app, also gets a makeover with new styles and the ability to generate more photorealistic images from a text description. In addition, iOS 27 lets you create custom wallpapers with AI from the lock screen or wallpaper picker, using natural language. There's also a feature called Extend that adjusts photos that don't fit the screen aspect ratio, adding content to the edges or straightening the horizon.
Accessibility: greater inclusion for all
Apple has placed special emphasis on accessibility with iOS 27. One of its standout features is VoiceOver Image Explorer, which detects the environment and provides much more natural and accurate descriptions. For example, if a visually impaired person asks, “Where are my keys?”, the iPhone will search for the item and give a detailed description of its location.
Automatic subtitles are now available for videos, regardless of the app being used, and there's a new, simpler setup mode. Additionally, there's a name recognition feature that notifies deaf or hard-of-hearing users if someone calls their name aloud. These improvements demonstrate Apple's commitment to inclusion and accessibility.
Compatibility: All iPhones running iOS 26 are making the jump
The list of iPhones compatible with iOS 27 is one of the most extensive in recent years. Apple has decided not to discontinue any models, so all iPhones running iOS 26 can update to iOS 27. This includes everything from the iPhone 11 to the latest models, including the second and third generation iPhone SE. In total, 31 models will receive the update.
However, not all devices will have access to all the features. Apple has divided the new features into three tiers: the first includes all models compatible with the new design and performance improvements; the second tier is Apple Intelligence, which requires at least an iPhone 15 Pro or any iPhone 16 model or later; and the third tier, the most exclusive, is only available for the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air, which support the most powerful version of Siri.
Beta and launch: what to expect
iOS 27 is now available in beta for developers, and the public beta will arrive during July. The final version is expected this fall, likely in September, coinciding with the launch of the new iPhones. Apple has confirmed that the update focuses on improving performance, with apps opening up to 30% faster and AirDrop transfers up to 80% faster.
Regarding the betas, beta 5 has taken longer than usual, breaking the two-week release schedule of previous betas. However, this isn't unusual for Apple, which has already waited three weeks for previous versions. The important thing is that no delays are expected for September, and once beta 5 is released, the final rollout will begin with weekly releases.
Other improvements that make a difference
Beyond the major new features, iOS 27 includes small changes that improve everyday use. For example, the Photos app introduces a new filter called "From My Camera" that displays only photos taken with the iPhone's camera, ignoring downloaded images or those received via messaging. It's a simple way to keep your camera roll organized.
In Messages, Apple has fixed an annoying issue: the dictation icon that would accidentally activate when sending a message. Now, users can choose whether to display the voice recording button, the dictation button, or neither, in the app's settings. The transition between Wi-Fi and cellular data has also been improved, preventing those few seconds of disconnection when leaving home.
On the lock screen, iOS 27 lets you hide the music player with a swipe gesture, and the clock can be shrunk and moved to the top row of widgets to free up more space for the wallpaper. These are small details that, together, make the experience much smoother and more customizable.
In short, iOS 27 presents itself as a solid update that improves upon what already worked well and adds some very interesting AI features. Compatibility with all iPhones running iOS 26 is great news, although users in Spain will have to wait to enjoy all the new features, as some Siri AI functions will not be initially available in the European Union due to restrictions under the Digital Markets Act. With the release scheduled for September, users have reason to be eager.