The best new iPhone features in iOS 27

Apple has officially released the latest version of its iOS operating system for iPhone and iPad, bringing a host of new features.

iOS 27 is available to install today on supported devices, offering iPhone and iPad users an improved experience across several apps and their everyday smartphone interface.

The biggest improvements introduced in iOS 27 relate to intelligence and AI, with Apple’s Siri digital assistant being revamped as a full-on agentic AI that is built more closely into applications across the operating system.

In addition to AI-powered improvements, iOS 27 also adds more conventional upgrades that make smartphone or tablet functionality more accessible, easier to use, and more customisable.

Devices that support iOS 27

iOS 27 is available for iPhone and iPad users with supported devices. However, some of the new features that are powered by on-device AI processing will only be available for newer iPhones and iPads that have Apple Intelligence.

Below are the iPhones that can be upgraded with iOS 27:

• iPhone Duo
• iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max
• 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 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-gen or newer

The iPads below can be updated to iOS 27:

• iPad Pro (4th-gen and later)
• iPad Air (4th-gen and later)
• iPad (9th-gen and later)
• iPad mini (6th-gen)

For more information on what to expect in the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system, check out the key features below.

An all-new, agentic Siri

Siri has been completely reimagined in iOS 27, and it is now called Siri AI.

This entirely new version of Apple’s digital assistant is more deeply integrated into your iPhone and is more capable than ever. It is capable of building context around your personal behaviour, assisting you with tasks through on-screen awareness, and integrating with systemwide features for broader functionality.

Siri AI is an agentic assistant, capable of considering a request and performing secondary tasks based on what the user has requested.

It is integrated into everything from your Camera app to your Wallet, and there is now a dedicated Siri app that stores your conversation history in iCloud so it can be accessed across all your devices.

Editing and generating images

Another highlight of iOS 27 which is closely linked to the operating system’s AI upgrade is a host of improvements to the Photos app.

There are now Spatial Reframing, Extend, and upgraded Clean Up tool in the application that give users more ways to edit their images with the help of AI.

Users can also create their own AI images using Image Playground, which supports creating images in virtually any style. Apple said it will add support for the SynthID standard in future, which will allow the images created by the app to be identified by software as AI-generated.

Child safety and screen time

iOS 27 introduces a number of changes that are aimed at helping parents to manage what their kids can see on their iPhone and what functionality is available to them.

There is now a new setup flow for child accounts, with parents able to choose the exact apps that kids have access to on their device. iOS 27 also adds a feature that automatically detects and blocks gore or violent content when it’s detected in shared images or videos.

The Screen Time app has also been redesigned, and it now makes it easy for parents to set daily time allowances across app categories, as well as schedule times when apps are enabled.

Performance and functional improvements

A new iOS also brings an upgraded interface and refinements to Liquid Glass, which allow its blur to be customised in Settings, from ultraclear to fully tinted. App icons have also been updated to be clearer and more defined.

Apple said that search functionality across Spotlight, Photos, and Mail is more stable and efficient, and that apps launch up to 30% faster on iPhone and iPad. It also said that AirDrop transfers are up to 80% faster on iOS 27.

iCloud Shared Albums now support full-resolution image and video sharing, Apple Maps includes an enhanced Flyover experience with satellite and AI imagery, and application icons and widgets can now be anchored anywhere along the sides or bottom of the screen.

For more information about iOS 27, check out the Apple website.

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