Apple Releases iOS 27 Public Beta with AI-Powered Siri
Apple launched the first public beta of iOS 27 on July 13, bringing a major redesigned Siri AI assistant that can search the web, access personal information, and take actions across apps. The update includes Liquid Glass refinements, faster performance, and enhanced child safety features.
What Happened
Apple released the first public betas of iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 on Monday July 13, 2026, allowing anyone with a compatible device to download and test the new software. The release, identical to Developer Beta 3 (build 24A5380h), became available immediately, marking the availability of Apple's next-generation iPhone software ahead of its September release.
Key Features
iOS 27 introduces Siri AI, a more capable version of Siri that can search the web, access your personal information, see what's on your screen, and take actions in and across apps. Siri in iOS 27 is more similar to Claude or ChatGPT than the prior version of Siri, with a dedicated Siri app for back-and-forth conversations.
The release also includes a redesigned Screen Time experience, Liquid Glass refinements, performance upgrades, and dozens of quality-of-life changes. Apple made dozens of improvements to device performance, with everything feeling faster, even on older iPhones—apps launch quicker, AirDrop transfers are faster, and the keyboard loads quicker.
Compatibility and Access
iOS 27 is compatible with every iPhone all the way back to iPhone 11, with the compatible product list identical to iOS 26. However, Apple Intelligence requires iPhone 15 Pro or newer, and Siri AI features are only available on iPhone 15 Pro and newer. Users can join the free Apple Beta Software Program and enable it via Settings > Software Update.
What to Expect
The software has been praised for its stability by experts like Mark Gurman, who noted its "Snow Leopard-like" focus on reliability over extensive new features beyond AI. A general release is anticipated around September 14, following a final release candidate near the September 9 Apple keynote. Users are advised against installing it on primary devices due to potential bugs.