iOS 27 on the iPhone: What’s New and What Actually Matters

Apple released iOS 27 on 14 September 2026. The headline is Siri AI, but there are also new photo tools, changes to Safari and Shortcuts, a slider to adjust the look of the interface and a new set of parental controls. This guide covers what matters for most iPhone owners. It is part of our WWDC 2026 coverage.

Which iPhones can update

iOS 27 runs on the iPhone 11 and later, and on the iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later. Some features need newer hardware. Siri AI needs an iPhone 15 Pro, an iPhone 15 Pro Max or any iPhone 16 model or later. The new, more expressive Siri voices use on-device models and need an iPhone Air or an iPhone 17 Pro model or later. Our Siri AI guide has the full list.

Siri AI on the iPhone

Siri AI is an entirely new version of Siri, and it is a beta that works in English to start. On the iPhone you will notice four things.

A Siri app. It keeps your conversations in one place, lets you pick one up again later and syncs them across your Apple devices through iCloud.

Siri mode in the Camera app. It brings Visual Intelligence into the viewfinder, so you can ask questions or take action on what is in front of you. Examples include splitting a bill, looking up nutritional information for a plate of food and adding a custom pass to Wallet. You can also take a screenshot and ask Siri about it. Apple notes that some features may not be available in all regions or languages.

Write with Siri. In most places you can type, Siri can draft something from scratch or give you feedback. In Messages and Mail it can match your writing style and tone.

A voice you can adjust. You can pick a voice and change how expressive it is and how fast it speaks.

Photos: Spatial Reframing, Extend and Clean Up

The Photos app has some of the most practical changes. Spatial Reframing lets you change the framing of a photo after you have taken it. Extend expands a shot beyond its original edges. The Clean Up tool can now remove larger objects. Apple notes that usage limits may apply to these tools.

For a small business, the value is in fixing photos rather than retaking them. A job site photo with a bin in the corner, a product shot with too little space for a website banner or a social post that needs a different crop can all be sorted in the app. Keep the original photo, especially for job records or anything where accuracy matters, and be careful with edited or generated images in marketing. Image Playground can now also create photorealistic images, with usage limits.

Safari and Shortcuts

Safari can group your tabs into topics automatically. A feature called Notify Me watches a page for changes, such as a price drop or a restock, and alerts you. Describe an Extension lets you create a simple Safari extension by explaining what you want in plain language.

In Shortcuts, Describe a Shortcut lets you explain what you want to automate, and the steps are put together for you. It is a gentler way into automation than building every step by hand.

A slider for Liquid Glass

Apple has added a slider that lets you adjust the Liquid Glass look of the interface, from ultra clear to fully tinted. You will find it in Settings under Appearance. If you find the transparent look hard to read, move it towards tinted.

New parental controls

iOS 27 also brings Ask to Browse, Time Allowances, a redesigned Screen Time and wider Communication Safety. They do not switch on by themselves, and every device in a Family Sharing group needs to be updated first. Our guide to what to set up first walks through it.

How to update

Open Settings, tap General, then tap Software Update. Back up before you update. Our checklist before you update covers backups, storage, apps and Family Sharing.

Should you update straight away?

For most home users, updating soon is fine once you have a backup. If you use your iPhone for work, check that the apps you rely on support iOS 27 first, and avoid updating in your busiest week. Siri AI is a beta with usage limits, so treat it as an extra rather than something your work depends on.

Need a hand?

If you would like help preparing your iPhone, our Mac and Apple device setup and troubleshooting service covers it. Or contact Your Mac Tech directly.