Apple unveils iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 with major Siri AI upgrades and performance boosts
The latest operating systems bring third-generation foundation models to Siri, significant speed improvements, and enhanced parental controls, with a rollout expected in September.
Apple announced iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 at its WWDC 2026 conference, outlining a software update cycle that prioritises stability, performance, and artificial intelligence integration. The updates are scheduled for general availability in September 2026, following the release of developer and public betas in the intervening months. While the visual redesign introduced in the previous year remains, the focus this cycle is on refining usability and embedding more capable AI tools across the ecosystem.
A central component of the update is the overhaul of Siri, which now utilises third-generation foundation models developed in collaboration with Google’s Gemini technology. Apple emphasised that while the underlying models are co-developed, the infrastructure remains distinct, and no user data from Siri actions is shared with Google. The assistant features a new glass orb interface, visual search capabilities integrated into the camera app, and context-aware actions that can analyse emails, messages, and photos to perform tasks such as drafting responses or splitting bills.
Performance enhancements are a key selling point for the update, with Apple claiming app launches are up to 30 per cent faster and AirDrop transfers up to 80 per cent faster. These improvements are attributed to a better-optimised CPU scheduler, which also aids network switching between Wi-Fi and cellular. The company stated that these speed gains will benefit a broad range of devices, including older models that remain supported under the new operating system.
Device support for iOS 27 extends to iPhones released from 2019 onwards, including the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2nd Gen). However, a significant distinction exists regarding feature availability: advanced Apple Intelligence features are restricted to iPhone 15 Pro models and newer. On the iPad side, support is more fragmented, with older models such as the 8th-generation iPad and 5th-generation iPad Mini excluded from the update, reflecting Apple’s shift to denoting models by chipset rather than generation.
Beyond Siri, the update introduces substantial changes to photo editing, parental controls, and productivity tools. AI-driven tools in the Photos app, such as Clean Up, Extend, and Spatial Reframing, are available on Apple Intelligence-enabled devices. New parental controls include an Ask to Browse feature for Safari and time allowances for app categories. Additionally, improvements to Safari, Shortcuts, and the Messages app aim to streamline user interactions through one-tap actions and AI-generated extensions.
