Apple releases public beta of iOS 27 with new Siri AI and other OS updates

Apple has released the first public betas for its OS 27 lineup, including iOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, and tvOS 27. The updates introduce a rebuilt, Gemini-powered Siri AI featuring conversational context retention and a dedicated app. However, these advanced AI features require newer hardware, such as an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, and are entirely blocked on current Apple TV models. Non-AI upgrades include a new CPU Scheduler that improves responsiveness on older iPhones, visual design tweaks in macOS, and 30% faster app loading times on tvOS.

iOS 27 public beta release

• ▪Apple released the first public beta versions of iOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27 on July 13, 2026.
• ▪Users can install the iOS 27 public beta by registering their Apple ID at beta.apple.com and selecting the beta option under Settings > General > Software Update.

Siri AI overhaul

• ▪Siri AI features a dedicated standalone app across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and visionOS that displays past conversation history and syncs across Apple devices.
• ▪The rebuilt Siri assistant, officially named Siri AI, is powered by a custom Gemini model and features conversational context retention, screen awareness, and multi-step action capabilities.
• ▪The iOS 27 Camera app introduces a Siri mode that allows users to point their camera at objects to ask questions, analyze bills, or retrieve nutritional information.

Apple Intelligence hardware requirements

• ▪Apple Intelligence features are architecturally blocked on current Apple TV 4K hardware because the features require an A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM, which current models lack.
• ▪Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features require at minimum an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 model.

macOS 27 Golden Gate design

• ▪macOS 27 Golden Gate introduces a dialed-down Liquid Glass design, unified corner window radii, visual improvements to Finder and app sidebars, and a Menu Bar overflow button.
• ▪The macOS 27 public beta allows users to customize the pacing and expressiveness of Siri's speech using Expressive Voices, currently limited to American accents.

Performance optimizations across platforms

• ▪Apple claims iOS 27 launches apps up to 30 percent faster, transfers files via AirDrop up to 80 percent quicker, and displays new photos up to 70 percent sooner.
• ▪The tvOS 27 public beta reduces app loading times by up to 30 percent on supported Apple TV 4K hardware.
• ▪Apple's iOS 27 introduces a CPU Scheduler efficiency upgrade that improves responsiveness on older iPhone models reaching back to the iPhone 11.

tvOS 27 Apple TV compatibility

• ▪The tvOS 27 update adds Hi-Res Lossless Audio support in Apple Music up to 24-bit/192kHz, which requires routing audio through HDMI ARC/eARC or a USB-C-to-DAC adapter.
• ▪The tvOS 27 update supports the second-generation (2021) and third-generation (2022) Apple TV 4K models, while permanently ending support for the Apple TV HD (2015) and original Apple TV 4K (2017).