Apple releases iOS 27 with Siri AI overhaul

Apple started distributing its iOS 27 update today, with companion releases for watchOS 27, iPadOS 27 and visionOS 27. The most prominent addition across all four platforms is Siri AI, Apple’s delayed, AI-driven revision of the Siri assistant. Siri AI is being offered as a beta now for devices set to English, with Apple planning to add French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish support in October.

On iPhone, iOS 27 adds a new Liquid Glass opacity slider that lets users adjust the clarity of system interface elements. Apple also refreshed many built-in app icons, introduced extra large widgets, and provided separate volume controls for ringtones, alarms, timers, alerts and other system sounds.

watchOS 27 introduces features aimed at fitness and interaction, including new Workout Buddy functions, a tap gesture, Liquid Glass refinements, smarter Smart Stack suggestions and an improved Find My app. iPadOS 27 brings faster file transfers to external drives, quicker web browsing and smoother switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data connections.

visionOS 27 for Apple Vision Pro includes the Siri AI update and adds features such as eye-driven notification previews, changes to the Control Center UI, better Wi‑Fi connectivity and support for using photographed panoramas as immersive scenes. Apple timed the software rollout to coincide with the iPhone 18 Pro release.

Compatibility for the new releases varies by platform: iOS 27 supports iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later; watchOS 27 is available for Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 9 and newer, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 and newer; and iPadOS 27 supports iPad Pro (4th generation and later, M1 and later), iPad Air (4th generation and later, M2 and later), iPad mini (6th generation, A17 Pro) and the base iPad (9th generation and later, A16).