iOS 27 Available Tomorrow With These 8 New Features
Apple announced that iOS 27 will become publicly available on Monday, September 14 following the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event. The update begins downloading around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time via Settings → General → Software Update.
Siri AI and Expanded Apple Intelligence
The centerpiece of iOS 27 is Siri AI, a ChatGPT‑style assistant that can answer virtually any query. Siri AI lives in a dedicated Siri app and remains reachable by holding the side button, but it only runs on iPhone 15 Pro or newer devices. The assistant can pull from personal data, understand on‑screen context, and act across more third‑party apps that adopt the new API.
Apple limited the initial launch of Siri AI to English and imposed daily usage caps; future unlimited access will be offered for a fee. Regulatory constraints mean Siri AI will not appear in the EU, nor in iPadOS 27 or watchOS 27 at launch.
Beyond Siri AI, Apple Intelligence adds “Extend” and “Reframe” tools inside the Photos app, photorealistic image generation in Image Playground, natural‑language shortcut creation in Shortcuts, and automatic video descriptions for HomeKit Secure Video cameras.
Liquid Glass Design Refresh
Apple’s Liquid Glass visual language, introduced in iOS 26, receives a polish in iOS 27 with more uniform refraction and higher contrast. App icons appear sharper and more detailed, and a new slider lets users fine‑tune the amount of tint versus clarity they prefer.
Performance Improvements Across the Board
Apple claims iOS 27 makes core actions dramatically faster. App launches improve by up to 30 %, new photos load up to 70 % quicker, and AirDrop transfers speed up by as much as 80 %. A full list of over two hundred performance tweaks is available in Apple’s official guide.
iPhone Handoff for Dual‑Device Switching
A new iPhone Handoff feature lets users move ongoing activities between two iPhones that share the same phone number. Carrier support is required; T‑Mobile in the United States and Deutsche Telekom in Germany will be the first to enable it, charging $5 per month. Detailed documentation and a demo video are hosted on Apple’s support site and the MacRumors forums.
Apple Cash Bill Splitting
In the United States, iOS 27 introduces a bill‑splitting workflow powered by Apple Cash and Apple Intelligence. Users can point the camera at a receipt in Siri mode, have the app identify line items, calculate each person’s share of tax and tip, and send the exact amount via Apple Cash from Apple Wallet or Messages.
Hide Location in Find My
The Find My app now supports custom location‑sharing durations, such as four days and six hours, or a precise expiration timestamp. Users can also pause sharing with selected contacts until the end of the day without notifying them, a useful tool for surprise plans. Earlier iOS versions only offered three preset timeframes.
CarPlay Video Apps for Parked Vehicles
Apple expands CarPlay to allow video playback when the vehicle is stationary. Developers can now create CarPlay apps that browse video content, and users can stream from any iPhone app that supports AirPlay video to a compatible car display. The feature debuted at WWDC 2025 and was detailed for developers at WWDC 2026.
Compatible iPhone Models
The following devices can install iOS 27:
• iPhone 18 Pro
• iPhone 18 Pro Max
• iPhone Duo
• iPhone 17e
• iPhone 17
• iPhone 17 Pro
• iPhone 17 Pro Max
• iPhone Air
• iPhone 16e
• iPhone 16
• iPhone 16 Plus
• iPhone 16 Pro
• iPhone 16 Pro Max
• iPhone 15
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 14
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)
All models from iPhone 11 onward are supported, though Siri AI and other Apple Intelligence features require iPhone 15 Pro or newer.
Additional Context and Resources
In June, Apple released a list of more than 250 new features spanning iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27. The full rollout of every update occurs on Monday, September 14. Related roundups for iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 are available on MacRumors, and a dedicated forum thread hosts community discussion of the new operating system.