Apple has released the iOS 27 Public Beta, giving iPhone users their first chance to experience the biggest software update coming later this year. While the final release is still a few months away, the public beta is already polished enough to showcase Apple’s biggest improvements, especially if you have a secondary device for testing.
The headline feature is undoubtedly Siri AI, but that’s only part of the story. iOS 27 also feels noticeably faster, introduces useful Apple Intelligence tools throughout the system, improves everyday apps like Safari and Photos, and finally adds several long-requested features.
If you’re wondering whether the update is worth trying, these are the iOS 27 Public Beta features that stand out the most.
Learn how to install iOS 27 Public Beta here.
1. Siri AI Finally Feels Like a Modern Assistant
Apple’s biggest upgrade in years is the completely redesigned Siri AI. Instead of responding to one command at a time, Siri AI understands conversations, remembers context between requests, and can perform much more complex tasks. It also has secure access to your personal information, allowing it to work with emails, messages, files, photos, calendars, reminders, and supported apps while keeping your data private through Apple Intelligence.
For example, you can ask Siri AI to find a document someone emailed you last month, summarize information from a PDF, add school holidays to your calendar, create shopping lists from recipes, or answer questions about what’s currently on your screen.
Siri AI is available on Apple Intelligence supported devices, including iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and newer compatible models.
Which iPhones Support Siri AI?
One important thing to know before trying the new iOS 27 Public Beta features is that not every compatible iPhone gets the full Apple Intelligence experience.
The complete Siri AI experience requires an Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone with at least 8GB of unified memory. That includes:
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 17
- iPhone 17 Plus
- iPhone Air
- iPhone 17 Pro
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
These devices support Siri AI, Personal Context, onscreen awareness, Visual Intelligence, Write With Siri, web-powered answers, and the new dedicated Siri app with conversation history.
However, two Siri AI features require 12GB of unified memory and are only available on:
Those exclusive features include:
- Expressive Siri voice customization with adjustable speaking style and pace.
- Enhanced dictation with improved punctuation, capitalization, and transcription accuracy.
If you’re using an iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus, or any iPhone 14 or older, you can still install iOS 27 if your device is supported, but you won’t have access to Apple Intelligence or Siri AI because those models don’t meet the hardware requirements.
The good news is that many of the best iOS 27 Public Beta features, including faster system performance, smoother animations, and several interface improvements, are still available on supported iPhones even without Apple Intelligence.
2. Your iPhone Feels Faster Almost Everywhere
Apple has optimized core parts of iOS, making everyday interactions feel quicker across the system. Apps launch faster, animations are smoother, AirDrop transfers complete more quickly, and switching between Wi-Fi and cellular networks is more reliable.
You’ll also notice improvements when opening the keyboard, navigating the Home Screen, launching the camera, syncing Messages between Apple devices, and browsing the App Library.
Unlike many Apple Intelligence features, these performance improvements benefit every supported iPhone running iOS 27.
3. Photos Gets Some of Apple’s Best AI Tools Yet
The improved Clean Up tool removes unwanted people and objects more naturally than before. Apple has also introduced Extend, which intelligently expands the edges of an image using AI, making it ideal for wallpapers or improving awkward compositions.
Another new addition is Reframe, which lets you adjust the perspective of an existing photo after it has been taken. Together, these tools make it much easier to rescue images that previously would have required third-party editing apps.
4. Safari Is Smarter Than Ever
One of the standout additions is the ability to create custom Safari extensions simply by describing what you want in natural language. Instead of searching for an extension, you can ask Safari to generate one that performs a specific task.
Safari can also organize tabs automatically into categories and monitor webpages for changes, notifying you whenever new information becomes available. These additions make browsing more productive without adding unnecessary complexity.
5. Apple Intelligence Can Help You Write Anywhere
Using the new Write With Siri option from the keyboard, you can draft emails, rewrite messages, improve grammar, shorten long paragraphs, or change the tone of your writing with just a few taps.
Apple says Siri AI can even learn your writing style by analyzing your previous emails and messages, making generated text feel more natural and personal instead of generic.
Whether you’re replying to work emails or posting on social media, this quickly becomes one of the most useful iOS 27 Public Beta features.
6. Visual Intelligence Is More Useful Inside the Camera
Apple has made Visual Intelligence easier to access by integrating it directly into the Camera app through a dedicated Siri mode.
Instead of simply recognizing objects, it can now calculate totals from receipts, estimate nutritional information for meals, answer questions about what your camera sees, and provide useful context without switching between multiple apps.
It turns your iPhone camera into a practical AI assistant for everyday situations.
7. AirPods Finally Get Custom EQ Controls
With iOS 27, compatible AirPods models now include a built-in Custom EQ that lets you adjust bass, mids, and treble independently. The changes are applied in real time while music continues playing, making it easy to fine-tune your preferred sound profile.
Custom EQ supports AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods Max 2.
8. You Can Customize the Liquid Glass Look
Apple has responded to feedback about its Liquid Glass interface by giving users more control over its appearance.
A new slider in Settings lets you decide how transparent or tinted interface elements should look. If you enjoy Apple’s glass-like design, you can keep it highly transparent. If you prefer readability, you can reduce transparency for a cleaner interface.
It’s a small change, but one that makes the visual redesign more flexible.
9. Creating Shortcuts Is No Longer Complicated
The Shortcuts app has always been powerful, but not particularly beginner friendly. Apple Intelligence changes that by allowing you to simply describe the automation you want. The Shortcuts app builds it automatically, after which you can refine it using natural language or edit it manually if needed.
This removes one of the biggest barriers that kept many users from taking advantage of iPhone automation.
10. Families Get Better Child Safety Controls
Apple has expanded parental controls with several thoughtful improvements in iOS 27. Parents can now manage screen time using separate limits for different categories like games, entertainment, and social media. Communication Safety has also been enhanced to better protect children by identifying graphic or violent content shared through supported apps before it is viewed.
The update also makes it easier to completely pause device usage or temporarily allow unlimited access when appropriate.
Should You Install the iOS 27 Public Beta?
The iOS 27 Public Beta already delivers a surprisingly polished experience. Siri AI is the biggest attraction, but it’s the collection of smaller improvements, from faster performance and smarter photo editing to better Safari tools and AirPods customization, that make the update feel like a meaningful upgrade.
As with any beta software, occasional bugs and app compatibility issues are still possible. If your iPhone is your primary device or you depend on critical apps every day, waiting for the stable release is still the safer choice. For everyone else, the iOS 27 Public Beta offers an excellent preview of what’s coming later this year.
