iOS 27 is coming Monday: New options, compatibility, extra

We’re just two days away from iOS 27 being announced WWDC, and rumors are waiting a clear picture of what to expect.

The update will reportedly bring a focus on stability improvements and bug fixes, with some big new Apple Intelligence features sprinkled in. Here’s everything we know so far about new iOS 27 features, the update’s release date, and more.

When will Apple announce and release iOS 27?

Apple will announce iOS 27 at WWDC 2026 on June 8. The update will be announced during the opening keynote at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET, and subsequently released in beta testing for developers.

An iOS 27 public beta will then be released in July, allowing iPhone users to try new features and give feedback to Apple.

If all goes according to plan, iOS 27 will then be released to the general public in September. Here are the release dates for major iOS updates over the last five years:

iOS 26: Monday, September 15, 2025

iOS 18: Monday, September 16, 2024

iOS 17: Monday, September 18, 2023

iOS 16: Monday, September 12, 2022

iOS 27 compatibility

iOS 27 will reportedly drop support for these iPhone models:

iPhone 11 Pro Max

iPhone 11 Pro

iPhone 11

iPhone SE (2nd generation)

New features in iOS 27

A focus on stability and bug fixes

Bloomberg reports that Apple’s primary focus with iOS 27 will be on “quality and underlying performance.” This comes after several years of massive iOS updates, including the launch of Apple Intelligence with iOS 18 and the dramatic Liquid Glass redesign with iOS 26.

Mark Gurman says that Apple engineers are “combing through Apple’s operating systems” looking for bloat to cut and bugs to fix, along with “any opportunity to meaningfully boost performance and overall quality.”

The idea is to take a step back after the last several significant iOS updates and lay the groundwork for a new wave of major updates going forward. Think of it as a sort of reset. Apple hopes the update will improve iPhone battery life for users.

New foldable features

One aspect of iOS 27 will be optimizing the software platform for Apple’s first foldable iPhone, which is set to launch in September 2026. The foldable iPhone is set to have an approximately 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch outer display. Apple will need to make changes to iOS 27 to accommodate that new form factor, as well as add new features to take advantage of the larger screen.

Bloomberg says Apple will “prioritize software features tailored specifically to this new form factor.”

In particular, the most recent Bloomberg report suggests Apple is planning to add new windowing features to iOS 27 for the iPhone Fold. The device will allegedly allow you to run two apps side-by-side, something not currently possible on an iPhone.

Apple is also reportedly developing new iOS app layouts for its own apps to accommodate the larger size of the inner iPhone Fold display. Third-party developers will also be able to adopt these layouts in their apps.

Apple Intelligence

AI web search platform

Apple is continuing its work on an AI-powered web search platform that could ship as part of iOS 27. This will be a new platform designed to rival AI search features from companies like Perplexity.

More Gemini-powered features

Apple also recently finalized its deal with Google to use Gemini models to power new Siri and Apple Intelligence features. According to a report from The Information, Apple is set to use Gemini models to power several iOS 27 features.

Siri’s ability to remember past conversations

Proactive features “that could suggest they leave home to avoid traﬃc ahead of an airport pickup that’s listed on their Apple calendar.”

Standalone Siri app

According to Bloomberg, iOS 27 will include a standalone Siri chatbot app that will look similar to apps like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. The app will let you communicate with Apple’s chatbot (powered by a Gemini model from Google) with a grid of conversations, the ability to upload files and photos, auto-deleting chats, and more.

New Siri interface

Apple has reportedly completely redesigned Siri as part of iOS 27. It will now live inside the Dynamic Island with a design similar to the WWDC invite artwork, seen above. Bloomberg reports:

Apple has redesigned Siri for modern iPhone hardware, making it live inside the Dynamic Island, an on-screen element that the company first introduced in 2022. When a user says “Siri” or holds down on the power button, the assistant opens in the Dynamic Island with a new animation that replaces the glowing interface that currently sits around the edges of an iPhone’s screen. This mode, which will have a dark-toned interface, is best suited for voice-based queries and search.

Additionally, you will be able to swipe down from the top center of their iPhone’s screen to launch a “Search or Ask” interface. This is where iOS 27 will surface Siri Suggestions for frequently used apps, recent searches, notes, and more.

Writing Tools

Bloomberg reports that iOS 27 will include a more powerful grammar checker similar to Grammarly:

The system appears in a translucent menu that slides up from the bottom of the screen and displays original text alongside suggested revisions.

Users can accept individual suggestions, approve all changes or ignore them altogether. There are also controls to pause grammar checking and navigate between flagged sections of text.

Apple is also adding a “Write With Siri” toggle that appears at the top of the keyboard, as well as a “Help Me Write” button that “appears when users activate Siri while working in a text field.”

Shortcuts

iOS 27 will let you use natural language to create shortcuts simply by describing what you want them to do. Currently, you have to manually add and remove actions to build your shortcut.

Custom wallpapers

iOS 27 will reportedly include a new feature that lets you generate custom wallpapers using AI. The feature will build on the existing Image Playground app and appear in the wallpaper picking interface.

Liquid Glass changes

Bloomberg reports that there is no evidence iOS 27 will include major changes to the Liquid Glass interface. Apple might, however, add a slider that gives you more control over the design.

Mark Gurman says that Apple started working on this Liquid Glass slider during the iOS 26 cycle, but ran into engineering challenges. The slider would reportedly let you “finely control the level of the glass effect.” Whether Apple successfully conquers those challenges in iOS 27 remains to be seen, but it’s something in the works.

While Apple isn’t planning major changes to Liquid Glass, it is working on some tweaks to “streamline” the interface.

One of the key aspects of iOS 26 was the new tab bar design, where the search button sits separately from the rest of the navigation bar. In iOS 27, Apple plans to combine the search tab with the other tabs in apps such as Podcasts, TV, Music, Health, and News.

Camera app revamp

iOS 26 completely redesigned the camera app. With iOS 27, Apple is planning to make the Camera app fully customizable. You’ll be able to choose which features appear in the Camera app interface, and where they are placed. Apple has developed a new “Add Widgets” system in the Camera app for these customization features.

Apple is also adding Visual Intelligence directly to the Camera app this year. The feature will also be able to recognize nutrition labels and contact information.

Photos features

Apple will reportedly add three new photo editing features to the Photos app in iOS 27:

“Extend” will allow users to generate additional image content beyond the original frame of the image.

“Enhance” will automatically improve an image’s quality, lighting, colors, and more.

“Reframe” option will let users “shift perspective” for spatial photos.

Additionally, the existing “Clean Up” feature in the Photos app is reportedly getting “significant improvements” as part of iOS 27.

Apple is also testing “natural language prompt-based editing of photos” in iOS 27, but it’s possible this feature won’t debut as part of the initial update.

New Apple Wallet features

Apple has two big new features planned for Apple Wallet in iOS 27.

A new “Create a Pass” feature will let you convert physical passes to digital passes. For example, you could create a digital version of your gym membership.

A new feature that helps you split the bill with others at dinner. You’ll reportedly be able to take a picture of the receipt, assign different items to different people, and generate Apple Cash payment requests.

Calendar revamp

While details are sparse, Bloomberg has reported that Apple is working on a big overhaul for the Calendar app:

Apple is working on a revamped Calendar app for release across its platforms. It originally planned to introduce the software (in 2026), but it’s been delayed and is now slated for the subsequent set of operating systems…iOS 27 and macOS 27

More iOS 27 features

Macworld found references to a few iOS 27 features based on a leaked build of Apple’s software last summer.

A new pairing system for AirPods

“Improved collections” inside the Photos

There aren’t any further details about these two features. It’s also possible they’ve been scrapped altogether.

Bloomberg has also shared a few additional tidbits on iOS 27 features:

Notifications will now slide in from the left of the screen rather than from the top of the screen.

The Weather app is adding a new “Conditions” panel on the main page for each city with things like rain and wind.

There’s a new animation when you activate the on-screen keyboard that “will show the keys sliding up from the bottom of the device’s interface.”

iOS 27 is adding “redo and undo controls” when customizing your home screen.

Safari will include a new start page with four tabs for switching between favorites, bookmarks, reading list, and browser history.

Apple is redesigning the AirPods user interface in the Settings app.

Bloomberg says iOS 27 might include support for third-party AirPlay alternatives, such as Google Cast. This feature, however, could be exclusive to the European Union.

The Find My app is getting “a subtle visual refresh, including new icons in the tab bar.”