iOS 27 features: Everything new in Apple’s biggest iPhone update

iOS 27 is now available, bringing Siri AI, expanded Apple Intelligence features, new customization options, Liquid Glass refinements and dozens of changes across Apple’s built-in iPhone apps.

The free software update supports iPhone 11 and newer, although some of its biggest additions require more recent hardware. Apple has spent the summer testing iOS 27 with developers and public beta users following its unveiling at WWDC26 in June.

Apple confirmed the September 14 release date earlier this month, with iOS 27 arriving alongside iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27 and visionOS 27.

Siri AI

The centerpiece of iOS 27 is Siri AI, Apple’s rebuilt version of Siri powered by the latest generation of Apple Intelligence. The assistant can understand personal context across messages, emails, photos and other information, answer questions about what is currently displayed on screen and use broader web knowledge to provide current answers.

Siri can also perform more actions across apps, while a new dedicated Siri app gives users a place to start conversations and revisit previous interactions. Conversation history can synchronize privately between supported Apple devices through iCloud.

Siri AI requires newer hardware than iOS 27 itself. Apple says the new Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features support iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 models and later devices. Availability also varies by language and region.

Apple Intelligence expands across iPhone

Apple Intelligence reaches deeper into built-in apps with iOS 27. Photos gains Spatial Reframing for adjusting the composition of images after they have been captured, while Image Playground adds more capable image generation including a photorealistic style.

Safari introduces Notify Me, which can monitor a webpage and alert users when something changes, such as a product returning to stock or a price dropping. Messages can identify useful information in conversations and suggest actions including creating a reminder or note.

Apple Intelligence also powers improvements across Mail, Shortcuts, Passwords and other areas of the system.

Liquid Glass gets more customizable

Rather than replacing the Liquid Glass design introduced with iOS 26, Apple has refined it. iOS 27 includes changes intended to improve readability and contrast and adds a control for adjusting how transparent or tinted the interface appears.

The change gives users more control over the appearance of Liquid Glass while retaining the broader design language Apple now uses across its software platforms.

Photos, Camera and FaceTime

Beyond its Apple Intelligence additions, Photos gains keywords and star ratings alongside customizable slideshows and other improvements. Camera receives performance refinements designed to make it feel smoother and more responsive.

FaceTime adds Dual Capture, expanding what users can do with the front and rear cameras during calls and recordings.

Messages, Passwords and everyday improvements

Messages includes improvements to sending alongside its new contextual suggestions. Passwords gains more advanced security capabilities, including support for automatically replacing weak or compromised passwords on supported websites.

Other additions include easier Apple Pay card switching, improved recovery tools, AI-generated wallpapers and custom AirPods EQ controls for adjusting sound.

The Apple Post followed many of iOS 27’s smaller additions as they appeared during beta testing, with Apple using the final weeks before release to concentrate on stability, performance and battery optimization.

Not everything is available on day one

Some announced iOS 27 capabilities have been pushed beyond the initial release. Apple confirmed ahead of launch that two planned features would not be ready for iOS 27.0.

Regional restrictions also apply. Siri AI is unavailable on iPhone and iPad in the European Union at launch because of Apple’s dispute with EU regulators over the Digital Markets Act, while Apple Intelligence and Siri AI remain unavailable in China as the company works through regulatory requirements.

For compatible devices, iOS 27 can be downloaded through Settings > General > Software Update.