Apple’s iOS 27.3 beta is bringing a substantial new wave of iPhone features, including expanded Siri AI controls, a redesigned Health app, new Safari browsing options, and improvements for iPhone Duo owners.
Apple released the first developer beta on November 3, with build 24C5037i, according to Apple’s official release listing. The update follows iOS 27.2’s release in October and is expected to reach the public in December.
Apple has confirmed the biggest additions to Siri AI and Health, while early beta testing has revealed changes to Safari, StandBy, Apple Music, Fitness+, Freeform, Control Center, and the iPhone Duo. Here’s what iPhone users can expect.
Apple says Siri AI can now carry out more detailed actions across its own apps, including Mail, Safari, Files, Calendar, Messages, Photos, Notes, and Reminders. Examples include finding a place you visited recently and archiving files you haven’t opened in more than a year. The expanded actions build on Siri AI’s ability to use personal context and understand what’s on the screen.
The company is also opening a developer preview of Siri AI integration to third-party apps through App Intents. Developers can test custom requests and multi-step actions now, although Apple says App Store submissions using the new capabilities will open in spring.
Siri AI already supports English, French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish, with Traditional Chinese, Norwegian, Turkish, and Vietnamese planned next. Availability remains restricted on iPhone in the European Union, as The Apple Post previously reported.
The new Health experience is back for testing after being removed from the iOS 27.2 beta.
Its Insights tab brings together recent health information and personalized recommendations, while a Longevity section looks at longer-term trends. Health Age uses Apple Watch information, including resting heart rate, sleep, heart rate variability, and VO2 max, to compare selected health metrics with a user’s chronological age.
In a November 3 announcement, Apple also confirmed broader language support for the redesigned Health app, including global English, French, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese, and Chinese.
The experience is available in the developer beta before its public rollout, with some features limited by device, language, or region. Our complete guide to the new Health app covers its Health Age, movement assessment, and lab-testing features in more detail.
Safari gets vertical tabs and smarter dark mode
Early beta testing shows a vertical-tabs option in Safari settings and Adaptive Dark Mode for websites that do not provide their own dark appearance.
Safari’s advanced settings also add a Global Privacy Control option. These changes build on the intelligent browsing tools Apple introduced with iOS 27.
iPhone Duo gains Reachability and a revised keyboard
iPhone Duo owners get a new way to use the device’s outer display one-handed.
Reachability can be activated with a swipe from either side to bring content closer to the thumb, and is controlled through Settings, Accessibility, and Touch.
Apple has also adjusted the outer-screen keyboard, including the placement of emoji, number, microphone, and return keys, along with key proportions.
StandBy also becomes more flexible across compatible iPhones running iOS 27. The beta adds refreshed clock faces, Calendar and Weather layouts, more customization, and the ability to create multiple versions of a face and swipe between them.
That extends some options that were previously associated with iPhone Duo to the wider iPhone lineup.
iOS 27.3 also begins bringing Apple Intelligence to supported iPhones in mainland China, including Writing Tools, Genmoji, Visual Intelligence, Clean Up, and summarization features.
The rollout uses Alibaba’s Qwen for selected experiences, but does not initially include the newer Siri AI system.
Apple says the public release will follow in December. Our report on Apple Intelligence in China explains what’s included and which iPhones are supported.
More changes in Apple Music, Fitness+, and Control Center
Smaller additions include Apple Music’s Selfie Sing karaoke-video feature, a Gym Strength workout experience in Apple Fitness+ that builds a four-week training plan, and expanded Freeform drawing and board customization tools.
AI-generated editable shapes in Freeform require an Apple Creator Studio subscription.
Control Center’s VPN button can now switch between VPN configurations rather than only toggling the last-used connection.
The beta also brings minor changes to Weather and App Library, while Telstra customers in Australia gain RCS support.
Features such as Live Rewind and Siri Recap require both iOS 27.3 and watchOS 27.3, and Apple has been testing earthquake-alert support for users in China.
As with any early beta, individual features may change or be removed before the public release.
Developers can access iOS 27.3 now by choosing the developer beta under Settings, General, Software Update, and Beta Updates on an eligible iPhone.
Apple has pointed to a December public release for the China Apple Intelligence rollout, but has not announced an exact day for iOS 27.3’s general release.
Users who rely on their iPhone daily may prefer to wait for the stable version rather than install unfinished software.
For more iOS 27 coverage and the latest Apple software news, download The Apple Post app for iPhone and iPad.