The second public beta of iOS 27 is now available for iPhone users, offering an early look at Apple's most significant software update of the year. This release brings a host of new features, with Siri's artificial intelligence capabilities taking center stage. Additionally, users will find performance improvements, a redesigned Screen Time experience, and more customizable Liquid Glass design elements. Here's everything you need to know about installing the beta, exploring the new features, and what to expect in future updates.
How to Join the iOS 27 Public Beta
Participating in the Apple Beta Software Program is free and does not require a developer account. However, it is strongly recommended to back up your iPhone to iCloud or a computer before proceeding, as beta software may contain bugs, reduce battery life, or cause compatibility issues with third-party apps. For the best experience, consider installing the beta on a secondary device rather than your primary iPhone.
To install the beta, visit the Apple Beta Software Program website and sign up or sign in with the same Apple Account used on your iPhone. After accepting the program terms, open Settings on your iPhone, navigate to General > Software Update > Beta Updates, and select iOS 27 Public Beta. Return to the Software Update screen and tap Update Now when the beta appears. iOS 27 supports all iPhones capable of running iOS 26, including iPhone 11 and newer, as well as iPhone SE (2nd generation and later). However, Apple Intelligence features, including Siri AI, require an iPhone 15 Pro or newer.
Siri AI: The Headline Feature
The cornerstone of iOS 27 is Siri AI, a rebuilt version of Apple's virtual assistant powered by next-generation Apple Intelligence. Siri can now maintain ongoing conversations, search personal information across apps, understand onscreen content, and perform actions within applications. Responses appear from the Dynamic Island, and users can pull down to view the full conversation. A standalone Siri app syncs conversation history privately through iCloud.
After installing the beta, try asking Siri to find a specific detail from Mail, Messages, Notes, Reminders, or Calendar. Follow up without repeating the original context to test the conversational capabilities. In future betas, Siri will gain access to information from third-party apps. The Camera app also introduces a Siri mode for Visual Intelligence, allowing users to photograph barcodes or flyers and convert them into Wallet passes or calendar events. Additionally, Apple has added controls for Siri's pace and expressivity under Settings > Siri > Voice, which also affect spoken output in Maps and Safari.
Siri AI initially supports select English variants and will not launch in the European Union immediately. It requires an Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone, with some advanced on-device features limited to iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, or iPhone Air.
Apple Intelligence Enhances More Apps
Beyond Siri, iOS 27 spreads AI capabilities across several built-in apps. Safari can automatically organize tabs by topic, group bookmarks and Reading List items, and surface recently closed topics on the Start Page. A new Notify Me feature monitors webpages for changes, such as product restocking. Safari can even generate specialized extensions from natural-language descriptions.
Photos gains three powerful editing tools: Clean Up for removing large distractions, Extend for generating content beyond the existing frame, and Spatial Reframing for adjusting the apparent camera position after capture. Try Extend on a photo with a crooked horizon or Spatial Reframing on a portrait with an awkward composition. The Passwords app can automatically replace weak or compromised passwords, handle verification codes, and show progress in a Live Activity. Shortcuts now builds automations from plain-language requests, allowing iterative refinements.
Other Apple Intelligence additions include Call Context in Phone, which surfaces details like reservation numbers when calling a business; photorealistic generation in Image Playground; natural-language event creation in Calendar; and enhanced editing tools across the system.
Liquid Glass Customization
iOS 27 does not replace the Liquid Glass design introduced in iOS 26 but refines it for better clarity and flexibility. Controls now diffuse complex backgrounds more effectively, with darker edges and brighter highlights for improved readability. App icons have more layers and definition. The key new addition is a Liquid Glass customization slider under Settings > Appearance, ranging from ultra-clear to fully tinted. This setting applies system-wide, including third-party apps.
Performance Improvements for All iPhones
Apple has promised significant speed enhancements in iOS 27, even for older iPhones. App launches can be up to 30% faster, AirDrop transfers up to 80% faster, and new photo captures appear up to 70% faster. The CPU scheduler has been optimized back to iPhone 11, improving unlocking, Home Screen navigation, Control Center scrolling, and Lock Screen switching. Camera launches faster in Low Power Mode. Intelligent network switching reduces the tendency to cling to weak Wi-Fi signals. Search across Spotlight, Photos, and Mail has been rebuilt, with Mail now displaying up to five ranked Top Results.
Screen Time and Child Safety Overhaul
The Screen Time experience has been redesigned with a new dashboard that gives parents a clearer view of a child's activity and one-tap access to changes. Time Allowances set limits for categories like Games, Entertainment, and Social Media, while Schedules control app availability at different times. Separate routines can be created for school days, evenings, and weekends. The Ask to Browse feature extends Ask to Buy to websites, and children can request permission before contacting new people. Communication Safety now detects and blurs gore or violent content in addition to nudity. Note that these features require all participating Family Sharing devices to run iOS 27.
Additional Features in the Beta
The smaller improvements in iOS 27 add up to a more refined experience. Messages now sends large media in the background without blocking newer texts and consolidates group-chat Tapback notifications. Photos adds full-resolution Shared Albums, support for Windows and Android contributions, keywords, star ratings, and customizable slideshows. Users can save any video frame as a photo with one tap. Alarm volume can be adjusted independently of system volume. Extra-large widgets can fill an entire Home Screen page. AirPods gain a custom equalizer for lows, mids, and highs. iPhone can connect directly to compatible GymKit equipment. FaceTime supports simultaneous front- and rear-camera video on iPhone Air and iPhone 17 models. Home adds more reliable HomeKit Secure Video recording and native 4K camera support with eligible hardware and iCloud+ service.
The iOS 27 public beta will continue to evolve throughout the summer, with Apple planning a final release this fall. If you encounter any issues, use the built-in Feedback Assistant app to report them directly to Apple.
Source: 9to5Mac News