Apple released iOS 27 beta 3 today, giving developers the second follow-up update since iOS 27 debuted at WWDC. Developers can download the new beta now, ahead of this month’s expected public beta release.

iOS 27 is a major iPhone update centered around Siri AI, Apple Intelligence, Liquid Glass refinements, and a long list of quality-of-life changes. Here’s a detailed look at everything found in iOS 27 beta 3 so far.

iOS 27 beta 3 details

iOS 27 beta 3 is available now for developer beta testers. The build number is 24A5380h. This marks the third developer beta following the initial beta released right after WWDC 2026, and the first beta 2 update that arrived two weeks ago. The update continues Apple’s push to refine the core features of iOS 27, particularly around artificial intelligence and user interface polish.

You can install the update by opening the Settings app, choosing General, then Software Update. From there, select iOS 27 Developer Beta under Beta Updates. As with any early beta, we do not recommend installing iOS 27 beta 3 on a primary iPhone. You should expect bugs, battery life issues, app compatibility problems, and other rough edges until Apple gets closer to the fall release. Users are strongly advised to test on a secondary device or create a full backup before proceeding.

Apple typically releases public betas a few weeks after the developer betas, so a public version of iOS 27 should be available by late July. The final version is expected to ship in September alongside the new iPhone lineup, which traditionally includes hardware optimized for Apple Intelligence features.

iOS 27 beta 3: What’s new?

Here are the changes and additions discovered in iOS 27 beta 3 so far. Many of these refinements address feedback from earlier betas and further integrate Siri AI into the system.

• Reminders app icon update: The Reminders icon now features hollow, colored bullet points instead of the previous solid color bullet points. This visual change aligns with the Liquid Glass design language that has been rolling out across iOS 27, giving icons a more translucent and layered appearance.
• Apple Intelligence re-download: Some users report that Apple Intelligence assets are being re-downloaded between beta 2 and beta 3, temporarily resetting access to the new Siri while the process completes. This suggests Apple is updating the underlying models or improving the on-device machine learning architecture.
• Settings indexing text change: The indexing text in the Settings app has been updated to say “Optimizing Search and Siri” instead of the previous generic “Indexing”. This indicates a more targeted optimization that prepares the device for both search and Siri queries, likely tied to the enhanced Siri AI capabilities.
• Siri Mode in Camera: The Camera app now shows a “Siri Mode” option that requires the updated Siri (part of Apple Intelligence). This mode presumably allows users to trigger voice commands directly from the camera interface, such as capturing photos or adjusting settings hands-free.
• Siri voice customization sliders: New sliders for “Pace” and “Expressivity” work when accessing the updated Siri. Users can now adjust how quickly Siri speaks and the emotional tone of responses, making the assistant feel more natural and personalized.
• Golden Gate Bridge wallpapers: Although included in macOS 27 Golden Gate, new wallpapers and screen savers depicting the Golden Gate Bridge have been added to the iOS beta as well, providing a cohesive theme across Apple’s ecosystems. (H/T Sean Allen)
• watchOS 27 beta 3 Siri AI: The companion watchOS 27 beta 3 introduces Siri AI support and a standalone Siri app on the Apple Watch, enabling more complex queries and actions without needing an iPhone nearby.
• Safari new features: Upon launching Safari, users are greeted with four new feature highlights: automatically organize tabs, browse bookmarks by topic, get updates with “notify me” (page change tracking), and do more with extensions (create custom extensions). These additions aim to improve browsing productivity and discovery.
• Specular highlights on app icons: Specular highlights appear softer on app icons, noticeably adjusting the look of clear and tinted icons. This change makes icons appear more matte and less reflective, which could reduce visual glare and improve readability on OLED displays.
• Shortcuts action view launch: The Shortcuts app now includes an option to launch directly into the action view for editing, not just the new natural language input method. This gives power users a faster way to edit existing shortcuts without starting from scratch. (H/T Stephen Robles)
• Control Center status bar: The status bar in Control Center now shows cellular network signal and type (e.g., 5G, LTE) even when the device is connected to Wi-Fi. This provides users with a quick glance at mobile connectivity status without leaving the Control Center.

Expanded analysis of key changes

The Reminders icon update continues the visual overhaul that began with iOS 27’s Liquid Glass aesthetic. The hollow bullet points are more subtle and consistent with the translucent widgets and control center elements. Similarly, the softer specular highlights on app icons reduce the glossy look that some users found distracting, especially on devices with always-on displays.

The re-downloading of Apple Intelligence assets is a notable backend change. It suggests that Apple is pushing updated models that require a fresh install to ensure compatibility. While this may inconvenience some beta testers, it signals ongoing improvements to on-device AI performance and accuracy. The new “Optimizing Search and Siri” indexing text confirms that Apple is prioritizing integration between local search and Siri’s intelligence.

Siri Mode in Camera and the voice customization sliders are both part of the broader Siri AI initiative. The Camera integration hints at future capabilities where users can control photography more naturally, while the pace and expressivity sliders give users granular control over Siri’s personality. This level of customization was previously only available in beta versions of Siri in iOS 26.

New wallpapers featuring the Golden Gate Bridge are a thematic tie-in with macOS 27 Golden Gate. This suggests Apple is aligning the visual identity of its operating systems around iconic landmarks, possibly as a branding exercise. The wallpapers include both static images and animated screen savers that highlight the bridge at different times of day.

Safari’s new features are designed to help users manage the growing number of tabs and bookmarks. The “automatically organize tabs” feature uses machine learning to group related tabs, while “browse bookmarks by topic” employs AI to generate topic-based collections. The “notify me” feature tracks page changes—useful for tracking articles that get updated—and the extension creation capability allows developers to build custom Safari extensions more easily.

The Control Center status bar change is a small but useful quality-of-life improvement. Previously, when on Wi-Fi, the Control Center omitted cellular signal details, forcing users to check the main status bar. Now, users can see their cellular connection type and signal strength at a glance, helpful for troubleshooting connectivity issues.

Compatibility and availability

Not every iOS 27 feature is available on every iPhone. The update supports iPhone 11 and later, plus iPhone SE 2 and newer. However, Siri AI and other Apple Intelligence features require newer hardware, specifically devices with at least an A17 chip or Apple silicon—meaning iPhone 15 Pro and later models, as well as iPads with M1 or newer. Users with older iPhones will still receive iOS 27 but will miss out on the most advanced AI capabilities.

Apple will continue beta testing iOS 27 throughout the summer. A public beta should arrive in July, followed by the official release for everyone in September alongside the new iPhone lineup. Developers and enthusiasts are encouraged to test beta 3 and provide feedback through the Feedback Assistant app.

Have you found anything new in iOS 27 beta 3? Share your discoveries with the community as the beta testing progresses. Apple’s iterative updates will likely bring further refinements, especially to Siri and Apple Intelligence, as the company aims to deliver a polished experience by autumn.

Source: 9to5Mac News