Apple has released iOS 27 Beta 4 and iPadOS 26 beta 4 to developers. The build fixes the depth effect bug that beta 3 introduced, adds a useful automatic episode download feature to the Apple TV app, refines Siri customization settings, and contains code strings that reference an iPhone with two batteries, pointing at the rumored foldable iPhone Ultra.
Siri Visual Fixes and Accessibility
The depth effect bug introduced in beta 3, which affected Siri’s visual presentation when invoked from the Dynamic Island or by swiping down on the Home Screen, is now resolved. Siri also gets a new splash screen at those same entry points.
Apple has dropped the wallpaper Notification Center feature that debuted in beta 3, which showed a cutout of your wallpaper subject when swiping. It does not carry forward to beta 4.
A new “Always Show Request” toggle in Accessibility settings displays a transcription of what you say to Siri on screen. This is a useful addition for users who want visual confirmation of what Siri heard.
Siri voice selection has also been updated. On devices without custom Siri voice support, the interface now offers a proper voices and accents picker. On devices that do support custom Siri voices (limited to the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air), Apple is showing additional voice options flagged as coming soon. Two enhanced voices now have working pace and expressivity controls, while five legacy voices still show those sliders as coming soon.
There is also a new option in Siri Settings to adjust preview length in the Siri app, ranging from none up to five lines.
Apple TV App Gets Automatic Downloads
Apple TV auto-download feature now appears in the Apple TV app’s Settings section as an Automatic Downloads toggle. Enable it and the app downloads the next two episodes of any show you have active in Continue Watching, then deletes them once you finish. Streaming-heavy users will notice this immediately, especially when traveling without reliable Wi-Fi.
Photos and Control Center
A new “Zoom Photos to Fill” toggle in the Photos section of Settings slightly zooms photos that nearly match the screen’s aspect ratio, filling the display more cleanly. It is enabled by default.
Control Center gains support for the adaptive mode slider for AirPods Pro, making it easier to switch between and adjust adaptive audio settings without opening Settings.
Dual-Battery Code Points to Foldable iPhone Ultra
Code strings in beta 4 reference an iPhone with two separate batteries, including the string “The batteries in this iPhone are performing as expected.” This is not standard iPhone hardware language and aligns directly with reports about the forthcoming iPhone Ultra, which is expected to use a dual-battery design to accommodate its foldable form factor.
Dual-battery setups are common in foldable Android devices precisely because the folding mechanism divides the internal chassis into two sections. Finding it referenced in iOS 27 code this early in the beta cycle suggests the software is being prepared ahead of a hardware reveal later this year.
Other updates include new ProRes Log and Log 2 recording format options as well as per-network Wi-Fi Assist toggles. AirPods also have redesigned options in Control Center, and adaptive audio settings are now accessible from this user interface.
Apple’s release notes for beta 4 detail substantial fixes. Close to half of the Known Issues listed in beta 3 are resolved in this build, and users report improved performance, stability, and responsiveness across the system. iOS 27 is shaping up for a solid state ahead of its expected September launch alongside the new iPhone lineup.
