iOS 27: New iPhone Features

iOS 27 launched on September 14, 2026, featuring additional AI features, performance enhancements and more personalization possibilities. The update also beefs up parental controls and makes adjustments across iPhone apps. For some users, however, there is a key distinction: upon debut, Siri AI was not available in the European Union.

The new Siri can take more natural inquiries and understands personal context more. Announced features include:

• Contextual conversations: Responses based on personal information and onscreen content.
• App actions: Tasks performed through requests to the assistant.
• Dedicated Siri app: Access to previous conversations, with iCloud sync.
• Camera integration: Questions and actions related to objects in front of the camera.
• Writing assistance: Text creation, revision, and adaptation.

Apple Intelligence expands the tools available across apps:

• Photos: Composition adjustments after capture, image expansion beyond the edges, and removal of more complex objects.
• Safari: Tab organization by topic and notifications about webpage changes.
• Image Playground: Image creation in more styles, with edits through touch or natural language.
• Shortcuts: Automation creation and modification through descriptions.
• Calendar: Event creation from natural language requests.

iOS 27 also includes features beyond artificial intelligence. The MacRumors guide highlights:

• Lock Screen: A compact clock and an option to add a volume slider.
• Media playback: An option to dismiss the Now Playing widget from the Lock Screen.
• Control Center: Access to settings for the current app.
• Alarms: Volume controls independent of the iPhone ringtone.
• Notes: Support for Markdown copy and paste.
• System recovery: A new recovery mode for iPhone and iPad.

The update also enhances Liquid Glass reading with a transparency adjustment and also speeds up program launches, photo loading and AirDrop transfers. AirPods also include an adjustable equalization.

The main changes for families include:

• Parental approval before access to new websites.
• Schedules that determine when specific apps are available.
• More comprehensive management of app access and screen time.

That was not available in the European Union when iOS 27 launched. Apple blamed the delay on obligations under the Digital Markets Act. Users should be aware of this limitation before they think the update will provide them quick access to the new assistant.

And then there’s feature compatibility, which is also device-specific: the Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features mentioned in the release notes require an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max or iPhone 16 models and later, with further requirements for some functionalities.