I've spent years tweaking my iPhone, but after seeing yet another viral "privacy screen" hack making the rounds online, I wondered what I was still missing.

So instead of copying another internet trick, I asked ChatGPT to audit my iPhone's privacy settings. Here's the prompt I used:

"I'm an iPhone user who often works in coffee shops, takes weekend getaways and occasionally hands my phone to family members. What privacy settings should I enable to better protect my personal information? Include settings that are easy to overlook and explain why each one matters."

Some of ChatGPT's recommendations were obvious. Others were buried deep inside iOS — and a few were settings I'd simply never taken the time to enable.

After trying every suggestion myself, these are the ones I'd recommend to almost anyone.

1. Hide sensitive notification previews

This was ChatGPT's first recommendation, and it's probably the easiest privacy win on the list.

Without changing anything, your iPhone can display text messages, banking alerts, two-factor authentication codes and other notifications right on your Lock Screen. Anyone nearby can glance at them without ever unlocking your phone.

Where to find it: Settings > Notifications > Show Previews

The tweak: Change the setting to When Unlocked.

Changing previews to When Unlocked means Face ID has to authenticate you before those details appear.

My take: I can't believe I left this turned off for so long. If you ever leave your phone face-up on a desk or café table, this setting alone is worth changing.

2. Lock individual apps with Face ID

One of Apple's best recent privacy features lets you require Face ID before opening supported apps. And I don't just mean your banking information or credit card apps.

Whether it's Notes, Photos or anything else containing sensitive information, this adds another layer of protection if someone else picks up your phone.

Where to find it: Long-press an app on your Home Screen > Require Face ID

My take: I started locking Notes and Photos immediately. They're probably the two apps I'd least want someone casually browsing.

3. Review which apps know your location

While checking my own phone, I found several shopping and restaurant apps that still had broader location access than they actually needed. Switching them to While Using the App took only a few minutes.

Where to find it: Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services

ChatGPT suggested reviewing location permissions instead of leaving everything set to Always.

My take: This is the kind of setting that's easy to forget once you've tapped "Allow" the first time. Now that I've taken a look at what apps had my location, I recommend checking this periodically.

4. Turn on Safety Check

Safety Check is one of Apple's least-known privacy tools. Originally designed for people who need to quickly revoke shared access during unsafe situations, it also gives anyone an easy way to review who can see their location, shared photos and other permissions.

Where to find it: Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check

My take: Even if you never need the emergency features, it's a great way to see what information you're sharing without realizing it.

5. Audit camera and microphone permissions

It turns out I had granted camera and microphone access to apps I hadn't opened in months. Removing permissions only takes a few seconds, and it helps limit which apps can access some of your most sensitive hardware.

Where to find it: Settings > Privacy & Security

My take: This one surprised me the most. I hadn't realized how many apps were still hanging onto these permissions.

6. Hide apps you don't want anyone else opening

If you have apps containing financial information, medical records or personal documents, you can hide them completely. The app disappears from your Home Screen and is moved into a locked Hidden folder inside the App Library.

Where to find it: Long-press an app > Require Face ID > Hide and Require Face ID

My take: This is perfect if you occasionally hand your phone to your kids or someone asks to borrow it for a minute.

7. Turn on App Privacy Report

App Privacy Report shows a rolling log of how often apps access your location, camera, microphone and network connections. You might be surprised how active some apps are, even when you rarely use them.

Where to find it: Settings > Privacy & Security > App Privacy Report

My take: Privacy isn't something you configure once and forget. Checking this report every few weeks makes it much easier to spot apps that are asking for more than they really need.

What ChatGPT missed

Overall, ChatGPT's recommendations were solid, but it overlooked two of Apple's most useful security features.

The first is: Turn on Stolen Device Protection

Where to find it: Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Stolen Device Protection

If someone learns your passcode and steals your phone, this feature adds extra safeguards before critical account changes can be made. When you're away from familiar locations like home or work, iOS requires Face ID for sensitive actions and places a security delay on certain account changes. It's one of Apple's best anti-theft features, and I wouldn't leave it turned off.

The second feature is: Disable Control Center on the Lock Screen

Where to find it: Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Allow Access When Locked

Consider turning off Control Center access from the Lock Screen. Doing this makes it harder for someone who steals your phone to immediately change connectivity settings before you've had a chance to locate your device.

If you rarely use Control Center without unlocking your phone first, it's a small convenience to give up for some added peace of mind.

One Apple Intelligence setting that's worth checking

If you use Apple Intelligence, there's one extra privacy consideration that didn't come up in ChatGPT's recommendations.

Apple Intelligence can summarize long emails, messages and notifications to help you catch up more quickly. That's useful, but it also makes hiding Lock Screen previews even more important.

If notification previews are visible, those AI-generated summaries may reveal more information at a glance than the original notification would have.

Apple has taken a privacy-first approach to Apple Intelligence by processing many requests directly on your device and using its Private Cloud Compute system for more demanding tasks. But no amount of on-device processing can protect information that's already visible on your Lock Screen.

That's why changing notification previews to When Unlocked was the very first setting I kept enabled after testing ChatGPT's suggestions.

Final thoughts

The viral privacy screen hack that inspired this experiment didn't make the cut. I don't think I need one after enabling these settings. Sure, if you're worried about shoulder surfers on planes or in coffee shops, a physical privacy screen protector is still your best bet.

But what surprised me most was how many of ChatGPT's suggestions I had missed despite using an iPhone every day. It gave me a useful checklist, but the real value came from taking 15 minutes to review what my phone was actually sharing.

If you haven't looked through your iPhone's privacy settings in a while, it's worth doing. You may discover, like I did, that a few small changes can make your device feel a lot more secure.

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I won't lie — I've been an exclusive Apple iPhone user for the past decade. While some of my fellow Tom's Guide AU colleagues swear by Android powerhouses like Samsung and Nothing phones, I will always come to bat for Apple.

The brand's latest flagship, the iPhone 17 Pro Max, has been the talk of the town as of late. From its impressive vapour cooling technology and long-lasting battery life, to its great photo-taking capabilities (even in space), there is a lot to like about the latest Pro model. There's also a lot to dislike — namely its inflated RRP between AU$2,199 (256GB) and AU$3,799 (2TB).

But when the Phone 17 models were announced in September last year, I didn't line up immediately for preorders. At the time, I was being fiscally conservative — I mean, aren't we all right now? — and I knew it wasn't worth parting ways with my iPhone 14. The phone, which I purchased in 2022, was still kicking on, and as per my own research, it was bound to hold up for at least five years of software updates, battery life and general wear and tear. In theory, I didn't need to upgrade my phone for five years from when it was released.

That said, in the few short years between the iPhone 14 and iPhone 17, the world of smartphones and wearables has grown exponentially. While, yes, Apple is a few strides behind when it comes to AI capabilities, even the comparative jump between the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 to the iPhone 16 was drastic enough to make me reconsider my five-year plan.

So after skipping the initial release, I thought that I could hold off another year and be first in line for either the iPhone 18 or iPhone 19 models, assuming by then, Apple would have caught up to its competitors. And even after forking out for my iPhone 14 only a few years ago, I naively thought that I'd have no serious FOMO on features or camera quality until my next upgrade. But after a month of testing the iPhone 17 Pro Max, I can safely say I was wrong.

To really put the Pro Max to the test, I outlined three make-or-break factors that would either justify keeping my current iPhone, or push me towards an upgrade. Those factors were camera quality, battery life and overall user experience. So, let’s jump in, shall we?

Camera quality is unrivalled

Okay, yes, I know — one of the biggest differences between a standard, run-of-the-mill iPhone and iPhone Pro model is camera quality, and I can attest to that. I knew going into this trial period that the Pro Max would indeed take better photos than my iPhone 14's dual-lens 12MP back cameras. But as someone who takes photos and videos of products for a living, I can safely say that the iPhone 17 Pro Max has one of the best phone cameras I've ever used.

From capturing lowlight scenes to excellent macro modes and decent colour contrasts, it genuinely amazed me how good the camera quality was from an iPhone. Even on the best days, with great lighting and zero framing issues, my iPhone 14 struggled with overcoming shadows and dark spots, and I'd have to spend a lot of time editing, even if I seemed like I'd taken a good picture. The iPhone 17 Pro Max didn’t have that problem.

I've noticed the upgrade the most when it comes to shooting and editing videos. After receiving some new coffee machines to review, my colleague Max and I set up the iPhone 17 Pro Max to shoot our unboxings. I was anticipating some heavy editing to counter for stabilisation, lighting and detail shots, but I was left pleasantly surprised.

Despite a few instances of straightening the footage and adjusting lighting in post-production, the Pro Max captured the entirety of the unboxing in explicit detail. Even when I accidentally dropped the phone for a millisecond while recording, the footage didn't shake or blur.

I've also really enjoyed taking selfies with the iPhone 17 Pro Max. For starters, it has a wider field of view, which means it can capture more of my surroundings without losing the finer details, and is great when taking the occasional group selfie. Plus, I've also really liked the new 18MP center stage camera, as no matter how I'm holding the phone — be it vertical or horizontal — I can still access the framing options and get the perfect shot. Better yet, I also had so much fun using the dual capture and visual intelligence features, which are somewhat hidden gems.

Bye, bad battery life!

One of my biggest gripes in the past 12 months of using my iPhone 14 was, unfortunately, battery life. As of June 2026, my phone still had 80% battery health, which was rather commendable for a three-year-old phone. However, that comes with a healthy caveat — I was never not recharging my phone.

After upgrading from my beloved yellow iPhone XR in 2022, I was ecstatic for the iPhone 14's promised 9+ hour battery life. However, that definitely didn't ring true for me, as I constantly needed to plug my phone in at 2pm every afternoon just to make it through my evening commute. Over the past few weeks, my phone's battery life deteriorated even further, and it meant that I had to have two portable chargers attached to my person at all times. And if I was ever caught without a charging cord, I was lost.

It almost goes without saying, but the first week of using the iPhone 17 Pro Max was pure, unstressful magic. As per our review, the iPhone 17 Pro Max can easily last up to 17:54 hours on a single charge. Not only could I unplug the phone at the first chime of my 5:30am alarm, but I could easily make it through the entire work day and commute without needing to plug 'er in. It was fantastic.

Granted, if there were days when I was filming or editing reels on my phone, that came with some battery usage, but it was never enough of a drain to cause worry. There were still times when I felt the phone charging PTSD — like, when I was filming content at an event and the battery was on 26% — but the iPhone 17 Pro Max handled every situation just fine, proving me wrong each time.

Updating user experience

As for user experience, there were some notable upgrades that I really enjoyed but was also perplexed by when using the iPhone 17 Pro Max. For instance, I cannot get enough of the capture button, which makes it much easier to open and use the camera app.

However, I am still a bit confused by the vast customisation options of the action button, which was introduced on the iPhone 15s. It can be used as a shortcut to anything, which, in a sense, is great. You can customise it to send a text, check transport routes, or open a frequently used app. The options are endless, but as someone who is frequently indecisive, the limitless possibilities were exhausting. So, I opted for a simple option — turning on the flashlight — and left it at that.

Action button aside, I didn't feel like there was a massive adjustment when switching between the phones. Of course, the iPhone 17 Pro Max has a faster processor, Apple Intelligence features and larger screen real estate when compared to the iPhone 14, but the changes weren't as drastic as I thought they'd be.

Maybe that's due to my phone constantly having the most up-to-date version of iOS installed, no matter the storage space cost, or the fact that I'm tech-literate enough to use a Pro iPhone without having to head into my local Genius bar. Or maybe I was anticipating such an extreme upgrade that I would have to relearn everything I already knew about iPhones. But it still posed the question — was the upgrade actually worth it?

Is it worth upgrading now or waiting till September?

Look, it's only been a month of using the iPhone 17 Pro Max as my primary handset, and I really like everything about it. However, there are some caveats. Firstly, the pricetag is truly painful to swallow for the average consumer, let alone someone who would get plenty of use out of a Pro iPhone (e.g. me).

However, if you ignore the price tag, there are lots of factors to consider. The 17 Pro Max has beyond impressive battery life, exceptional camera quality, nice (but still evolving) AI capabilities and a redesign I can get behind. But there's still a looming question that many in the same boat as me are still considering, and it's whether it's worth upgrading to the 17 Pro Max now or waiting for the 18 Pro Max.

Here's my take — be it now, or in a few months, if you want a new iPhone, and you're upgrading from ageing out models like the iPhone 11 to iPhone 14s, the 17 range and the 17 Pro Max is one to seriously consider. It offers new features but remains simple enough for older users who don't want to be overwhelmed by change. If you have a newer model, such as a iPhone 15 Pro Max or higher, then the 17 Pro Max probably won't feel much different at all.

There's also a lot of speculation about the iPhone 18 line and how different it could potentially be. It might be the "heaviest" iPhone ever or be superseded by a new "Ultra" model, and after recent Apple price hikes, we can only assume the new iPhones will suffer a similar fate. But at the end of the day, nothing is set in stone until Apple announces the range and new features in the coming months.

So if you're questioning whether to upgrade, I hope this points you in the right direction. As for me, I can officially say that the iPhone 17 Pro Max is my perfect match.

The iPhone's Messages app has a translation feature built right in that most people never discover. You can enable real-time translations for 20 different languages, and translations appear instantly alongside every message you send and receive.

It's perfect for texting with friends or family who speak a different language, or for gently reinforcing your own language skills through everyday conversation. Plus, it works whether the other person has an iPhone or Android device.

However, you need an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any model released after 2024 to enable this feature. Here's how to turn it on.

How to enable translations

Open Messages and select the conversation you want to translate. Tap the person's name at the top of the screen and toggle on "Automatically Translate."

You'll be prompted to select from 20 available languages. Once enabled, the magic happens automatically — every message you type gets translated beneath it, and incoming messages in your selected language appear with translations instantly below.

It works with anyone, regardless of their setup

The beauty of this feature is that it operates entirely on your phone. The person you're texting doesn't need Apple Intelligence, doesn't need an iPhone, doesn't need anything special on their end.

Android users with Google Messages have their own translation capability, but even if they don't, you'll see translations of whatever language they send to you. This removes the biggest barrier to cross-language texting.

Your iPhone has other translation tools too

Apple actually baked this translation tech into the entire iPhone experience. Beyond texting, the standalone Translate app easily handles spoken audio and lets you point your camera at street signs or menus for instant on-screen translations.

If you are wearing AirPods Pro it gets even better — you can stream live, face-to-face translations directly into your ears. That same real-time translation works instantly during FaceTime and standard phone calls, too.

Best of all, because your iPhone processes everything locally instead of sending it to the cloud, your conversations stay completely private.

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Apple is expected to launch iPadOS 27 this Fall, but you can try the upcoming operating system right now via the public beta. While the OS is still a work in progress, it has most of the essential new features coming to the best iPads.

Like iOS 27 and macOS 27, iPadOS 27 is focused on overall system refinements and deeper AI integration. That last bit is especially noteworthy, as there is now a dedicated Siri AI app that functions like a standard chatbot. Beyond answering questions, Siri AI can also take actions on your behalf since it’s integrated into the operating system and works with Apple’s applications.

Though iPadOS 27 isn’t a monumental update, features like the overhauled Siri AI, the Liquid Glass slider, and other quality-of-life improvements make it worthwhile. Here are my impressions of the upcoming iPad operating system and its new features.

iPadOS 27 hands-on preview: Compatible iPads

Here are all the iPads that support iPadOS 27.

• iPad Pro (M4 and later)
• iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (4th generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11‑inch (2nd generation and later)
• iPad Air 13-inch (M2 and later)
• iPad Air 11-inch (M2, M3, and M4)
• iPad Air 11-inch (4th generation and later)
• iPad (A16)
• iPad (9th generation and later)
• iPad mini (A17 Pro)
• iPad mini (6th generation)

iPadOS 27 hands-on preview: New features

Siri AI

Apple Intelligence is finally ready for prime time on the company’s devices. Thanks to the new Siri AI app, you can now interact with Apple’s virtual assistant the same way you would with a chatbot like ChatGPT or Google Gemini. Apple Intelligence runs on both servers and your device to offer better image understanding and more.

There is now a dedicated Siri AI app, which looks and functions like a regular chatbot app. In this window, you can ask Siri questions or have it perform tasks for you. For example, I used Siri to send a message to one of my iMessage group chats, and it did so after my approval. Sure, I could have just done this directly in the group chat, but it’s a good demonstration of what the new Siri can do.

Siri AI also understands what it sees on your screen. When I had the Tom’s Guide homepage open on Google Chrome, it correctly detailed what was on the screen, including all the articles. It couldn’t open the articles or read them out loud (despite saying it could), but given that I’m testing a beta version, I’ll give it an A for effort, even if it failed to complete the task.

Siri is most useful when you’re using Apple’s own apps and programs. It can create events on your calendar, set reminders, play music, and more. For example, when you’re looking at a schedule, you’ll see an “add to calendar” button pop up. When you right-click certain folders, files, or apps, you’ll see an “Ask Siri” option at the bottom. Selecting this will open a window where you can start texting or talking with Siri.

Though Siri can’t yet interact with most third-party applications (such as those from Google), it’s a huge improvement over the old Siri.

Liquid Glass improvements

Liquid Glass hasn’t gone anywhere, as Apple is leaning more into the UI with its latest operating system updates. However, Apple is now giving you greater control over how it looks thanks to a new slider that adjusts the opacity. You can’t eliminate the Liquid Glass look, but you can severely minimize it.

There are other improvements, such as how complex background visuals now appear more diffuse so that text stands out more. You’ll also notice that the edges of icons are more pronounced to help further separate them from the background. The uniform corner radius of all app windows also helps them stand out more.

Even if Liquid Glass hasn’t gone anywhere, even detractors should find the updates tolerable since they do greatly improve overall readability and visibility. The Liquid Glass slider is a nice touch.

I've never had a problem with Liquid Glass because I think it’s an interesting visual effect. That said, I’m glad that folks can now fine-tune it to their liking. The slider is especially neat because it’s easy to use and makes it clear how much of a difference there is when you go from one extreme to the other.

Child safety features

If you’re a parent, you’ll be happy to know that Apple is expanding its parental control features with iPadOS 27. This way, you can let the kiddo use Apple’s tablet without worrying too much about the kind of content they’re watching and for how long they’re using the slate.

Some of these updates include a redesigned and more intuitive Screen Time Dashboard that offers one-tap controls and expanded safeguards. There is also Time Allowances for app categories, Ask to Browsw website approval, Communication Safety that blurs gore or violence, and one-tap access management. You can tailor these features to suit your child.

I don’t have kids but I did find the child safety features simple enough to use and customize. Given how much kids love iPads, it’s smart for Apple to continue making adjustments to these safety features.

iPadOS 27 hands-on preview: Other features

Spatial Reframing: As the name suggests, you can now reframe a photo after it’s been taken thanks to this feature. You can also expand your shots with the Extend Tool and remove objects with the Clean Up tool.

Upgraded Image Playground: Image Playground can now generate higher quality images than before. You can also modify and transform existing images by describing what you want.

Siri in Notes: Siri AI can assist with your handwritten or typed notes in the Notes app by (for example) organizing bullet points into a formatted agenda or turning handwritten lectures into a detailed study guide.

Safari updates: In Safari, tabs can now be automatically grouped by topic to make related pages easier to find. With Safari Notify Me, you can receive an alert if there’s a price change or a restock for an item you’ve been eyeing.

Describe Shortcuts: Instead of manually building complex workflows, you can now describe what you need, and Shortcuts connects actions across multiple apps to make it happen. This is useful if you want to set specific routines, such as launching a specific app when you connect a peripheral.

iPadOS 27 hands-on preview: Outlook

iPadOS 27 won’t set the world on fire with revolutionary new features, but the upgraded Siri AI and deeper Apple Intelligence integrations help make iPads that support the update more useful. This is especially true if you frequently use Apple’s own apps.

Keeping in mind that iPadOS 27 is still a work in progress, I think it’s a smart update that finally sees Apple’s AI ambitions bear fruit. Things could change between now and when the expected Fall launch, but right now, Apple has delivered on its promises for a more helpful and intuitive iPad experience.

More from Tom's Guide

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You don’t have to wait to try iPadOS 27, as you can try it out now via the public beta. Even if this version of the operating system isn’t groundbreaking, its emphasis on AI should make for a more personal and customized experience.

As with iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate, the main attraction is the reinvented Siri, which finally lives up to its potential. Siri AI, as it’s now called, is context-aware and understands what’s on your screen. Because it’s built into the OS, it can directly control and manage apps. There are also new child safety features, improved readability for Liquid Glass, new photo-editing tools, and more.

While public betas are generally safer than developer betas, it’s best to proceed with caution, as there may be bugs that could harm your iPad. If you’re not bothered by that (I’ve never had issues in all my years of running these Apple betas), then here’s how to download the iPadOS 27 public beta.

How to download the iPadOS 27 public beta

Before you install the beta, make sure to back up your iPad, just in case anything goes wrong and you need to return to iPadOS 26.

You’ll then need to enroll in the Apple Beta Software Program. You may already be enrolled from prior years, but if not, visit the sign-up page to get the ball rolling. You’ll need to log in with your name and address, then set your entity type as an individual. When the payment screen appears, back out, and you’ll be on the free developer tier.

Here is the full list of iPads that are compatible with iPadOS 27:

• iPad Pro (M4 and later)
• iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (4th generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11‑inch (2nd generation and later)
• iPad Air 13-inch (M2 and later)
• iPad Air 11-inch (M2, M3, and M4)
• iPad Air 11-inch (4th generation and later)
• iPad (A16)
• iPad (9th generation and later)
• iPad mini (A17 Pro)
• iPad mini (6th generation)

And that's how you download the iPadOS 27 public beta! You should be safe using the beta, but if you don’t want to risk it, you can always wait for the full release this Fall.

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The macOS Golden Gate public beta is now live, giving you a chance to check out all the new features coming to the best MacBooks.

Expected to launch this Fall, macOS Golden Gate primarily focuses on updating Apple Intelligence and Siri, with the latter now officially called Siri AI. You don’t get many new features, but improvements to Liquid Glass’s readability, easier customization, and smoother performance make for an overall better experience.

While Apple’s public betas are generally more stable than the developer builds, it might still be buggy and could cause issues for your Mac. I’ve never experienced serious issues using any of these betas over the years, but it’s worth being cautious. With that said, here’s how to download the macOS Golden Gate public beta.

How to download the macOS Golden Gate developer beta

Downloading the macOS Golden Gate public beta is pretty simple. First, enroll your Apple ID in Apple's Beta Program and make sure your Mac is compatible. Here's the full list of Macs that can install and run macOS Golden Gate:

• MacBook Neo (2026)
• MacBook Air with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
• MacBook Pro with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
• iMac with Apple silicon (2021 and later)
• Mac mini with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
• Mac Studio with Apple silicon (2022 and later)
• Mac Pro with Apple silicon (2023 and later)

That’s all that’s required to download the macOS Golden Gate public beta. Your Mac will restart once the download finishes. After that, you can start trying out all the new features. Depending on your connection speed, the download might take a few minutes, so be patient.

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We've all been there. You're sitting in a dimly lit restaurant, squinting at a menu with tiny print, or standing in the grocery store trying to figure out whether the yogurt in your hand expires in three days or three weeks.

I've worn glasses since I was three years old, so I know the struggle. Without them, I've been known to snap a photo of a label just so I can zoom in and read it.

But there's an easier way than squinting and hoping for the best.

One of the most useful accessibility features on the iPhone is tucked away inside the Magnifier app. Using Apple's on-device AI and computer vision, it can detect text, identify objects, describe your surroundings and even read printed text aloud in real time. Once you start using it, you'll probably wonder how you ever managed without it.

How to use your iPhone's AI magnifier

1. Open Magnifier. Open the Magnifier app on your iPhone. If you can't find it, swipe down from the Home Screen and search for Magnifier.

2. Turn on Scene Description. Tap the gear/settings button and make sure Scene Description is added to your controls. If prompted, download the required Apple Intelligence models.

3. Point your camera at tiny writing such as a menu. Aim your camera at the menu, medicine bottle, receipt or any printed document.

The AI analyzes what it sees and begins describing the scene. It also simply magnifies for easy reading. You can also zoom in, freeze the image or increase contrast if you want to inspect something more closely.

4. Listen as your iPhone reads the text. Tap Scene Description. Your iPhone can read the printed text aloud while also describing what's in view, making it much easier to understand menus, signs or labels in poor lighting.

Things to know

While menus or lablels are probably the most relatable example, I've found this feature handy for plenty of everyday situations:

• Reading medicine bottles
• Checking cooking instructions on food packaging
• Reading restaurant receipts
• Looking at thermostat displays
• Examining serial numbers
• Reading labels in grocery stores
• Checking instructions on appliances

Scene Description is designed as an accessibility feature, but it's useful for anyone who occasionally struggles with small print.

The feature works best in good lighting and with clearly printed text. If you're trying to read heavily stylized fonts or handwritten notes, results may vary. You'll also need a compatible iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence, and some models may require downloading the on-device AI models before using the feature.

The takeaway

This is one of those features that flies under the radar, but once you discover it, you'll want to tell all your friends. I use Scene Description almost as much as other features like Writing Tools or Genmoji.

For me, it's one of the most practical AI features on the iPhone. Whether you're trying to decipher a restaurant menu, read a prescription label or make out tiny instructions on product packaging, it can save you from squinting or hunting for your reading glasses.

Give it a try and share your thoughts in the comments.

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After Apple’s dramatic showing at WWDC 2026 last month, I’ve been getting cozy with all the new features thanks to the iOS 27 developer beta. Unless you’ve signed up for a developer account, the vast majority of people need to wait for the public release.

Thankfully, the wait is over. The iOS 27 public beta has launched, and supported iPhones can finally experience the latest and greatest that Apple has to offer with its phone software. What’s fascinating is that my colleagues and I felt iOS 26 left users feeling like Apple was trailing behind in the AI wars — but iOS 27 is an absolute redemption arc.

That’s because it’s taking a big leap, complementing the foundational features of the platform with AI features and tools that don’t just make life easier; they fundamentally change how you interact with your iPhone on a daily basis. I’ll tell you how I feel about these new changes and additions with my iOS 27 public beta hands-on.

iOS 27 public beta hands-on preview: Supported iPhones

Before you take a stab at trying some of the best iOS 27 features, you’ll obviously need an iPhone that can support it. Apple has optimized the software structure so well that it runs smoothly even on older hardware, which is why official compatibility extends as far back as the iPhone 11.

However, there’s a small caveat regarding which models gain support for the most advanced Apple Intelligence features and Siri AI. Because these tools require significantly more processing power, only the last few generations of hardware will get access to them. Here is the full list of iPhones that support iOS 27, with the models in bold indicating they’ll support the most advanced AI features:

• iPhone 17
• iPhne 17e
• iPhone Air
• iPhone 17 Pro
• iPhone 17 Pro Max
• iPhone 16
• iPhone 16 Plus
• iPhone 16 Pro
• iPhone 16 Pro Max
• iPhone 16e
• iPhone 15
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 14
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (both 2020 and 2022 models)

iOS 27 public beta hands-on preview: a much smarter, more reliable assistant

I’ve been running the iOS 27 developer 3 beta for a while now, and nothing continues to stand out more than Siri AI. Apple’s assistant finally gets its most substantial upgrade since its inception, acquiring new on-screen contextual awareness that makes this assistant feel far more capable than before. What’s really notable is the proactive, dynamic approach that Siri AI takes when you're using your phone.

For example, if you’re reading an email or texting back and forth in Messages, Siri AI will scan the screen and provide a contextual suggestion — like offering a one-tap option to create a Calendar invite based on a discussed time and place.

When it comes to productivity, I love using Siri AI to handle trivial, repetitive tasks. In the past, it was a total time suck to manually copy and paste text or pull hashtags from an Instagram post, but now I can simply tell Siri AI to grab them for me. It knows exactly what I’m looking at on screen and understands the intent behind my request, saving me from tedious tapping and typing.

Additionally, a dedicated Siri app now aggregates all of your previous requests in one place. It organizes your history much like the Gemini app, letting you easily search through past queries and jump right back in to follow up on them.

But as much as Siri AI makes life easier, it still has some catching up to do. Most of its deepest functionality is currently locked down to Apple's native apps. It still lacks the robust third-party app integration that would allow it to execute complex, multi-step real-world tasks — like letting me place an order for Dunkin' Donuts via the DoorDash app.

iOS 27 public beta hands-on preview: Speed Boost

On the surface, Liquid Glass still makes iOS 27 look visually appealing with its sense of depth, transparency, and layered layout. While I’m happy to see that Apple is letting users tune the intensity of the transparency effects, I’m far more impressed by how much more responsive iOS 27 feels.

You can’t fully appreciate the fluidity of iOS 27 until you see it side-by-side with iOS 26. Running two iPhone 17 models side-by-side — one with the iOS 27 beta and the other with iOS 26 — immediately reveals how much smoother the system animations are and how much faster apps launch. As you can see from the data comparison chart above, the speed improvements when launching apps from the home screen are undeniable.

iOS 27 public beta hands-on preview: Reframe and Photo Clean Up

I’m big on generative AI and how its features can enhance my photos. Fortunately, iOS 27 brings some much-needed Apple Intelligence upgrades to the table, and I for one am thoroughly impressed by what they can do.

The standout feature you need to know about is Reframe. I’ve used it countless times already to shift the perspective of photos I've captured — and they don’t even need to have been shot on an iPhone. For instance, I used it to adjust the angle of a BMW 7 Series photo to show more of its side profile than the original shot did. Honestly, it’s unlike any other AI photo tool I’ve come across on a smartphone.

Then there is the vastly improved Photo Clean Up tool. While it was fine for basic object removal when it first launched, it was nowhere near as capable as Google's or Samsung's equivalents. This update changes that by better analyzing the scene to deliver far more realistic, practical results. Just take a look at the photo of Panos Panay above because I was able to easily erase the background crowd, relying on Apple Intelligence to seamlessly fill in the rest of his jacket that was covered up.

iOS 27 public beta hands-on preview: Custom passes

This one is long overdue. I’ve spent years relying on third-party apps just to keep track of my cards, so if you carry plastic loyalty tags on your keychain or stuff your gym membership into your wallet, you’ll be just as ecstatic as I am about this change. With iOS 27, you can finally create your own custom passes directly in the Wallet app.

The software now allows you to digitize those physical cards so you can simply show them on your iPhone. In the past, you were out of luck unless a company explicitly built native Apple Wallet support into their own app. iOS 27 completely squashes that requirement, letting you scan and digitize even the most obscure local passes.

iOS 27 public beta hands-on preview: Finally, a helpful co-pilot

If you're like me, you probably rarely interacted with Siri while driving in the past because it could only handle basic commands — and nothing complex like jotting down structured notes. Now that Siri AI is accessible through CarPlay, it completely transforms the hands-free driving experience. First and foremost, Siri is finally way more conversational, shedding its robotic roots for natural inflections and tonal shifts that make it sound genuinely human.

However, the real magic is how Siri AI now maintains context. For instance, when I dictated some initial thoughts about a car I was testing, I was able to summon Siri a few minutes later and say, "Go back to that note and add this detail." It was smart enough to locate the exact note, update it, and even organize the text into a clean layout with a title and a bulleted list that was ready to view on my iPhone once I parked.

While it still needs deeper real-world search capabilities — like the ability to pull live, real-time traffic conditions on the fly — this is still a massive leap forward and way more helpful than previous incarnations of CarPlay.

iOS 27 public beta hands-on preview: Safari, Wallet, and Shortcuts

There are far more iOS 27 features to go through, but here are a few of the ones I’ve leaned on heavily during my time with the beta. First, Safari now uses on-device intelligence to automatically organize tabs, instantly grouping similar open pages into neat, thematic folders. It completely removes the headache of hunting down a stray article you opened days ago.

Another helpful feature I’ve come to appreciate is the new bill-splitting function in the Wallet app. I can snap a photo of a receipt directly inside Wallet—or pull up one I’ve taken previously in the Photos app—and the software dynamically parses the text. From there, I can easily assign specific items to different people or simply split the total right down the middle.

Finally, I rarely had the desire to use the Shortcuts app in the past because creating personalized automations felt incredibly overwhelming. Luckily, iOS 27 removes that complication with a big assist from Apple Intelligence. Now, I can just type what I want to achieve in plain English, and the system automatically builds the correct architecture for me. It transforms Shortcuts from a niche tool for power users into an accessible, everyday time-saver.

iOS 27 public beta hands-on preview: Outlook

The iOS 27 public beta proves that Apple is no longer just playing catch-up when it comes to AI — it's actively shaping it with features that transform how I use my iPhone daily. While the new Apple Intelligence tools and Siri AI are leading the charge, the under-the-hood performance optimizations and a highly customizable Liquid Glass interface make iOS 27 stand out as one of the most comprehensive and satisfying iPhone updates in years.

Time will only make this software better. With the final release slated for later this fall, iOS 27 is shaping up to be an elevated experience that will save you more time than ever before.

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The public beta for macOS 27, also known as macOS Golden Gate, is here! While this update isn’t as monumental as macOS Sequoia, it delivers a slew of AI features and smoother overall performance, making the best MacBooks more personal and streamlined.

I’ve had the developer beta of macOS Golden Gate installed for a month, with the latest version close to what the public beta is offering. While the beta is still very much a work in progress, I’ve had a smooth time using it and testing out its new features.

If you’re signed into the (free) Apple beta software program, you can try the public beta of macOS Golden Gate right now. Here are my thoughts on the beta and the key features worth checking out.

macOS Golden Gate public beta hands-on: Supported Macs

The Intel era is over, as macOS Golden Gate doesn’t run on those older machines. Here is a complete list of Macs that support Golden Gate.

• MacBook Neo (2026)
• MacBook Air with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
• MacBook Pro with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
• iMac with Apple silicon (2021 and later)
• Mac mini with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
• Mac Studio with Apple silicon (2022 and later)
• Mac Pro with Apple silicon (2023 and later)

macOS Golden Gate public beta hands-on: Features

Most of macOS Golden Gate’s new features center around updated versions of Siri and Apple Intelligence. These are the ones that have stood out the most during my testing.

Siri AI

There is now a dedicated Siri AI app for macOS Golden Gate that functions similarly to chatbots like ChatGPT and Google Gemini. This app is also available on iPadOS 27 and iOS 27, and is arguably the biggest new feature for the Apple devices that support it.

You can access the Siri AI app either by clicking it in the Dock or in the Menu bar. You can also bring it up by pulling up Spotlight. Doing this brings up a dedicated chat window where you can ask Siri AI questions or just talk to it about whatever’s on your mind. Again, this functions exactly like the chatbots you’re already familiar with.

And since Siri AI is now baked into the operating system, it can do more than just chat. For example, if you’re looking at a schedule, you’ll see an “add to calendar” button appear. I’ve even had this happen when I suggest a date/time to meet with friends. When you right-click on folders, files, or apps, you’ll often see an “Ask Siri” option at the very top, where you can begin asking questions about whatever you’re highlighting.

You can even create Shortcuts by typing or speaking what you want instead of manually building complications. While I wouldn’t call this vibe coding, it can feel that way since you’re using natural language.

For those in the Apple ecosystem, Siri AI can be more useful than other chatbots because it’s integrated into the system. However, third-party integrations are still a work in progress, so Siri AI’s usability for you might be limited if you use Google apps like Gmail, since Siri AI doesn’t work with them (yet).

Liquid Glass slider

If you’re not a fan of the Liquid Glass UI, you’ll be happy to know there’s now a slider to adjust its opacity. It lets you dial the effect up or down to your liking, and I’m surprised it took this long to implement it this way.

Beyond the slider, you’ll notice that more complex background visuals appear more diffused, which improves text readability (which was a big issue for some). The edges of icons are also more pronounced, so they stand out more from the background. All app windows now have a uniform corner radius to help them pop out as well.

I've never had a problem with Liquid Glass because I think it’s an interesting visual effect. That said, I’m glad that folks can now fine-tune it to their liking. The slider is especially neat because it’s easy to use and makes it clear how much of a difference there is when you go from one extreme to the other.

Spatial Reframing

Spatial Reframing isn’t exclusive to macOS Golden Gate, but since the Reframe tool stole the show at WWDC, it’s a feature worth spotlighting if you take a lot of photos.

As its name suggests, Reframe lets you reframe existing photos and adjust the perspective to your liking. This can be especially handy if you need to take photos in a hurry, as you can come back to them later to fix them.

After you select Reframe in the new Tools option in Photos’ editing mode, Apple Intelligence scans the photo you’ve selected. After that, you can pull your finger across the touchpad to change the perspective. Sliders on the side also give you more precise control over the angle, orientation, or size. When you’re done, the AI shifts things around to fill in any blanks.

This isn’t a feature I use often since I like photos in their original form, even if they’re not perfect. That said, I can’t knock the results, as Reframe does an excellent job of living up to its name. And to be fair, the changes made don’t radically alter the image — you just get a better version of what you’ve already snapped.

macOS Golden Gate public beta hands-on: Outlook

Apple Intelligence didn’t live up to the hype after it was first announced, but it’s now living up to its potential on Macs and the other Apple devices it can run on. If you’re a big AI user already, then macOS Golden Gate could arguably be a significant update. I imagine Siri AI will only improve between now and the OS’ expected fall launch.

Other features such as the more customizable Liquid Glass UI and Spatial Reframing might not be monumental game-changers, but they’re nice additions regardless. Apple also said there’s improved performance on devices using the upcoming operating systems, but during my time with macOS Golden Gate, I haven’t seen any noticeable improvements or hiccups on that front.

Apple’s new operating systems are still being worked on, so things could change before the official launch. I’ll have a full review for you then, but based on my experience with macOS Golden Gate, I’ll say that the new features are a step in the right direction.

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The Apple Car could well be one of Apple's biggest unactualized projects, since the company reportedly spent a decade and $10 billion on developing an autonomous vehicle — only to abandon it in 2024 after realizing that it just wasn't possible. Now it's been suggested that all that work didn't go to waste. In fact, we might have the Apple Car to thank for the way Apple handles its myriad of artificial intelligence features.

This report comes from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, who claims that Apple's lofty goal of developing a Level 5 autonomous car actually pushed the company to kickstart its first large-scale push into AI. Obviously, the company needed hardware to handle all the immense AI processing in real time, and while that never actually happened, the work still laid the groundwork for other things.

As Gurman says, the most notable example is the Neural Engine, which is the part of Apple's chips that handles all the on-device AI. This tech launched earlier than many realized too, debuting on 2017's iPhone X as part of the A11 Bionic chipset. The Neural Engine is a series of AI accelerators, designed to facilitate real-time AI features such as Face ID, augmented reality and the Apple Intelligence suite.

The idea behind Apple's Engine, rather than a traditional Neural Processing Unit, is that it's supposed to offer high efficiency, with minimal battery consumption, while also ensuring extra privacy by processing on your device.

The Neural Engine has been a part of every M-series chip, starting with the original Apple M1 in 2020, which allowed the Mac to be a powerhouse for local AI processing. The work is also reported to have influenced the Ultra Mac chips, and the custom hardware used to power Apple Intelligence's cloud servers.

Apple Car paved the way for Apple's new AI strategy

We all know that Apple has struggled to capitalize on the AI boom, in part thanks to its issues upgrading the old Siri virtual assistant into the newly-unveiled Siri AI. But it sounds like Apple would be much further behind had it not been for the lengthy development on the Apple Car.

According to Gurman's report, the push into AI is changing Apple's existing plans for chips. We've already discussed how the company may be scrapping the M6 Pro and Max chips, in favor of jumping straight from the M6 to the M7. It sounds as though AI is the cause of this decision.

It's claimed that the M7 family will include major upgrades to neural processing, which will be particularly apparent in the M7 Ultra. Sources speaking to Gurman claim that the Ultra chip will "dramatically improve AI performance, bringing it closer to the class of dedicated AI accelerators such as Nvidia's Blackwell.

M7 Ultra may also help Apple overhaul its AI server strategy, as a successor to the upcoming M5 Ultra-powered servers. M7 Ultra will apparently be able to support 1.5TB of memory, double that of the M5 Ultra.

That may sound excessive for personal use, but it would likely prove invaluable for server-side AI processing. Assuming, of course, that anyone can actually procure enough RAM to run multiple M7 Ultra servers given everything that's going on with RAMageddon.

Gurman says this shows AI has become the thing Apple's chips are built around, rather than just another feature that they support. All of which likely wouldn't have happened had it not been for the seemingly botched development on the Apple Car.

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Apple is cutting checks to millions of iPhone owners. If you bought an iPhone 16 or iPhone 15 Pro between June 2024 and March 2025, you likely qualify for a settlement payout between $25 and $95 per device.

This settlement comes from a class action lawsuit over Apple's misleading marketing around AI features. Approximately 36 million customers are eligible. Here's what you need to know to claim your share.

Why Apple is paying this settlement

When Apple unveiled the iPhone 16, marketing at the time heavily emphasized AI capabilities. The company promised enhanced Siri that would function as an intelligent agent, positioning these new devices as built specifically for advanced AI features.

Apple also marketed upcoming Apple Intelligence to iPhone 15 Pro buyers during this period. Customers purchased based on these promises.

At launch, Apple Intelligence was nowhere to be found. Five weeks later, iOS 18.1 arrived with basic tools like Writing Tools, Notification Summaries, and Clean Up in Photos. But the advanced Siri features Apple had prominently advertised were still missing.

The lawsuit alleged Apple deliberately misled consumers with deceptive advertising. Rather than fight the case, Apple agreed to the settlement to resolve claims and avoid prolonged litigation. The company's statement specified that this settlement did not constitute an admission of wrongdoing.

Who qualifies?

You're eligible if you purchased any of these devices between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025:

iPhone 16, iPhone 16E, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max.

The iPhone 15 Pro models qualify because they have the processing power to run Apple Intelligence. Sources are reporting payouts range from $25 to $95 per eligible device depending on how many people claim their share.

How to claim your settlement

You don't need to act immediately. Apple is compiling eligible customer information and sending it to settlement administrator Verita.

Once verified, Verita will contact you via email and postal mail with a link to the settlement website. You'll have 90 days from the date you receive your notice to submit your claim.

Check your email carefully, including spam folders, because missing the deadline means losing your payment.

To file your claim, you'll need proof of purchase. If you have your receipt or confirmation email, save it. If not, Apple can verify your purchase through the Apple ID you used to set up the phone.

When will you actually get paid if eligible?

The settlement was approved in June 2026. After Apple provides customer data to Verita and verification is complete, a 45-day notice period begins informing eligible customers.

Payments are expected to arrive sometime after September 2026. Settlement processes can move slowly through verification and legal proceedings, so manage your expectations.

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Apple is in the midst of testing out iOS 27 for developers, releasing the third version this week. As part of Apple's summer beta cycle, we've actually been able to check out the new Siri AI that was announced at WWDC 26 in early June.

The rebuilt assistant is powered by the next generation of Apple Intelligence and new Apple Foundation models, meaning it should be more capable and more deeply integrated across the operating system.

With the caveat that we are still in the beta and things can and will change, these three new features prove the new Siri is finally smarter.

Specifically, I've been impressed by the new Siri's ability to deep search in the Photo library, actual contextual awareness and multi-step cross-app actions.

If you're interested in checking out you can install the developer's beta right now. However, it isn't guaranteed to be stable and could cause issues with your iPhone. The more stable public beta will arrive later this fall.

Photo library Deep Search

Natural language photo searches have been a part of Google's offerings since 2024, though the initial release was unreliable. Meanwhile, Apple's take lets you use Siri AI to describe visual details to find photos in your library.

You could ask Siri, "Hey Siri, find that photo of me holding a wine glass at a winery." The assistant will then populate a variety of images that fit that description.

The exact photo you're looking for may not be at the top of the grid but it'll be much easier to sort through a subsect of your library than trying to remember what day or month you went tasting in wine country.

Context awareness

Contextual awareness has been a pie-in-the-sky promise for AI devices almost from jump. With iOS 27, Siri can "see" what you're looking at on your phone or use your camera to understand your surroundings.

For example, say you want to copy some text from a blog post or Instagram, you can summon Siri and say something like, "Copy the caption in this post" or "Copy the text from this article."

You don't need to highlight and copy; Siri will understand what you're looking at and do it for you.

Or with visual intelligence, you can use Siri AI to tell you what you see in the real world, like a plant or a toy. It's similar to the capabilities in Google Lens, which uses your Android's camera to kick off searches or find information.

Multi-step Cross-App functions

This is where the promise of AI on your iPhone truly shines and makes it seem like Siri AI is actually smart.

Siri AI pulls all the features mentioned above and others to act as a fluid AI agent across your phone. Instead of doing one task at a time, now Siri AI can do multiple steps across different apps.

For example, you can ask Siri to search in your email for an event, add the event to your calendar, and provide driving directions. Siri will give you a summary of the actions.

Right now, this function is limited to native iPhone apps like Calendar, Maps, and Photos. However, third-party developers are already working on similar integrations and the feature will expand between now and launch and beyond.

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Weak passwords are responsible for the majority of account breaches. Reused passwords across multiple sites multiply the damage when one account gets compromised.

Most people know they should fix these vulnerabilities but never get around to it. iOS 27 eliminates that excuse. Apple Intelligence can now autonomously handle password security for you. It logs into websites, generates strong passwords, updates your credentials, and confirms the changes, all automatically.

You just approve it once and watch the process happen in real time. Here's how to let Apple handle your password security.

Make sure your iPhone's running iOS 27

If you haven't updated your iPhone yet, you'll need to do that before you can try out this feature. Before you download anything, back up your iPhone first by going to Settings, Your Name, iCloud, iCloud Backup and tapping Back Up Now.

If you’ve never used an Apple beta before, you will need to register for a free developer account to get started. Once you’re signed up and off the Apple Intelligence waitlist, you can update your phone.

However, if you’ve used any Apple beta in the past, you can skip the registration entirely and download the software. Just open Settings, go to General, Software Update, Beta Updates, and select the iOS 27 Developer Beta to begin the installation.

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iOS 27 seems to be the turning point for Artificial Intelligence on iPhones, thanks to Apple adding a bunch of new features and upgrading Siri to offer AI-chatbot capabilities. AI in the iOS 27 beta is still rather rough around the edges though, especially where Siri is concerned, but it's good to see Apple start to catch up with its rivals. Sadly, there is one feature that Apple seems to have forgotten about — and it's easily my favorite AI-adjacent feature on Android.

I'm talking about Circle to Search, which landed on the first Android phones back in January of 2024. The feature isn't really an AI feature in and of itself, but it does offer a useful shortcut to Google Lens, which does use AI for a variety of things. We're talking translation, image and text recognition, reverse image search and so on.

iOS has offered something similar to Google Lens since its inception with Visual Intelligence, which has since been rebranded "Siri Mode" in iOS 27's camera. But so far, there's no Cupertino equivalent of Circle to Search, and that's something Apple needs to fix.

Circle to Search made Google Lens way more convenient

Google Lens is quite a broad feature, starting life as a camera mode and eventually maneuvering its way into a bunch of different parts of the Android ecosystem. These days, Lens offers real time translation via the Google translate app, image search capabilities in Google Photos and, of course, the dedicated camera mode that is accessible through the standalone app.

Circle to Search doesn't give you access to the full Google Lens experience. The shortcut doesn't bring you to the camera mode, to scan and look at the world around you. Instead, it's been designed to bring the Google Lens experience to whatever is on your screen. That's useful in itself, but it's the actual mechanism that makes it so valuable to have.

Circle to Search is activated by pressing and holding at the very bottom of your Android phone screen — the spot you'd swipe up from to return to the home screen. It doesn't matter what you're doing on your phone, this brings up the Lens overlay on your phone screen. This brings up shortcuts to various tools, like song recognition and translation, as well as the headline feature: the ability to circle and search.

Draw a circle around anything on your screen, and Google's AI will go looking for it across the internet. Sometimes those results are totally useless, and other times they're so impressively accurate that it feels like magic.

The great thing about Circle to Search is that if you ever come across anything you'd like to know more about, you simply have to perform the gesture and fling a circle around it. There's no need to ask a chatbot for more information or take a screenshot to bring to Google Lens, everything is done on your screen within a few seconds.

I've never been a big fan of mobile AI, or using my voice to bark commands at my phone, but Circle to Search is so convenient that you can't afford to ignore it. Heck, I even forget that there's AI involved a lot of the time, and it makes very little sense that the iPhone doesn't have an equivalent feature of its own.

Siri Mode could learn a thing or two

I will preface this part by pointing out that Siri AI is in pretty rough shape right now. Not only is iOS 27 still in beta, but Apple has confirmed that Siri AI will remain in beta even after the stable version of iOS 27 launches later this year. There are definitely some kinks to be worked out of the new AI, and anyone that has used Siri AI will have come across some of them.

Apple has been working on getting Siri AI ready for over two years now, and the priority has clearly been to make a serviceable version of Siri AI that's available for the public to use. With all the effort focussed on making that happen, and now ensuring all the bugs and wrinkles can be ironed out, it makes sense that other features might fall to the wayside.

But that doesn't mean that Apple should ignore the concept of bringing a Circle to Search-like feature to iOS in the near future — either as part of a future update to iOS 27 or with iOS 28 next year.

The new Siri Mode, like Visual Intelligence before it, does a lot of the same things as Google Lens — and the more recent Gemini Live. You point your camera at objects in the real world, and then use Siri to learn about the different things that are within view of your iPhone's camera. This can be done with voice commands, or by using the shutter button and circling specific objects to initiate a Google search.

Unlike Google Lens, which has always been a standalone thing, iOS 27 beta lets you access Siri Mode via the Action or Camera Control buttons, depending on how you've set them up. This is certainly very convenient, and sure as heck beats the way Google has set up how you access Gemini Live on my Pixel 10 Pro.

But there's no alternative to Circle to Search. If you want to know about what's on your phone screen, the best that's currently on offer is the ability to ask Siri AI. As I said before, the beta version of Siri AI is still in pretty rough shape, and that means the experience you get by asking about what's on your screen isn't always that great.

From my use, I've found answers can be vague or sometimes completely wrong. I even asked Siri what was happening on my screen, and it went off to explain exactly what sunscreen was, continuing that explanation every time I repeated my request. It was only later that I found out Siri AI doesn't quite understand the home screen and just starts repeating its last answer every time you try to ask. Or, at least, that's what happened on my iPhone 17 Pro Max after installing iOS 27 beta 2.

The equivalent of Circle to Search just doesn't exist on iOS, and that means Android phones have that edge when it comes to discoverability and searching for things they come across.

Bottom line

There may be iPhone users out there that don't feel like they need Circle to Search, but having never used an Android phone they don't fully understand what they're missing out on. I didn't really give the feature much thought when it first launched, but only because I didn't fully understand what it was actually capable of doing.

After more than two years of using it almost every single day, I can tell you, I couldn't live without Circle to Search on a future phone. There are alternative ways of getting the right kind of results, like taking screenshots and running them through Google Lens, but that is far from convenient. There's nothing quite like tapping your thumb against the screen and scrawling around something to get near-instant search results.

Honestly, it's surprising that Apple hasn't developed its own version our Circle to Search yet — either as a rebranded clone or something it built from scratch. With all the emphasis on adding AI, and all the copy/pasting Android and iOS do with each others' best features, it feels as though the iPhone experience is worse off without it. Here's hoping that things will change in either a future version of iOS 27 or the inevitable iOS 28 upgrade.

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I've taken thousands of photos, and, because I'm not a photographer, almost all of them have one small problem. The horizon tilts slightly left. My subject is too far away. Someone's elbow creeps into the frame at the last second. Normally I'd either accept the imperfect shot or spend time in a editing app trying to fix it. iOS 27 changes that entirely.

Apple's built three editing tools directly into Photos that solve these exact problems. Of course, as this is Apple Intelligence, it won't always fix everything perfectly — but they handle the most common photo mistakes remarkably well.

You'll need the iOS 27 beta running on your iPhone to access them right now. Here's what's new in your Photos app.

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For anyone who uses an Apple device powered by iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS Tahoe 26, I’m sure you’ve been exposed to the many ways Apple Intelligence can help you in your everyday life.

When iOS 27 was announced at WWDC, it brought a wealth of new features that iPhone users have long been waiting for. Among the prominent are “Smart Reply” responses in Mail and Messages apps, the ability to produce a sentimental memory movie with a collection of your favorite photos, and even act as a “Workout Buddy” when it’s time to hit the gym.

With a wide range of tools that utilize “Writing Tools” to proofread your written notes, batch up your notifications into easy-to-digest summaries and integrate ChatGPT across the board, it can become easy to just use Apple Intelligence’s most basic attributes and ignore the rest.

With so many new Apple Intelligence features, you’re likely to overlook some. I’ve been using the iOS 27 beta on my iPhone for the last week and have found five underrated Apple Intelligence features that you may not have heard about. Here’s what they are and how they can put your iPhone to better use.

Apple Intelligence is a game-changer for first-time users like me

Tinkering around with my iPhone 17 and getting exposed to all the ways Apple Intelligence can assist anyone with their everyday tasks has been a game-changer for me.

It’s not only a major iOS tool that keeps you on top of your to-do list—it also makes for a great text/photo editor and a research tool that helps you find the sources behind the visuals you’ve saved to your device.

There’s always room for improvement, but at the moment, the five Apple Intelligence features I’ve explained here are great and deserve far more usage from anyone who has access to them.

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I can’t believe it’s been nearly two years since Apple released its Clean Up tool as part of iOS 18.1. Apple users like myself have been waiting for something like Google’s Magic Eraser, and while Apple's version certainly has the ability to erase unwanted subjects from the frame, it’s still a far cry from the performance I see from Samsung’s and Google’s versions.

With iOS 27, though, this Apple Intelligence feature gets a substantial boost that makes it much more reliable. Apple says that “users can remove distractions with better quality and more realistic infill, even when the scene is complex.”

After taking the same set of photos and running them through the Clean Up tool in the iOS 27 developers beta and iOS 26, I'm convinced by Apple's remark about the improvements that come with its latest version of Clean Up. Here's why.

Travel mug in my hand

For this first test, I decided to go after something easy to remove — my Ember Travel Mug in my hand. Both versions of Clean Up manage to detect the edges of the mug after I made the selections as I glided my finger over it, but the iOS 27 version of Clean Up proves how it’s far more intelligent.

Sure, it takes significantly longer to produce the final image, but the result is realistic and something I could actually share. It’s pretty undeniable how iOS 27’s Clean Up tool processes the image with the help of Apple Intelligence and knows exactly how to fill it in. Meanwhile, the iOS 26 Clean Up tool completely distorts my hand.

Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses

Stepping it up a notch, trying to remove my Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses from my face is much more challenging than removing something from my hand. With the iOS 27 Clean Up tool, it once again took over 30 seconds to produce the final photo — but the delay highlights the superior processing of this updated tool.

That’s because it really does look like I took off my glasses for the shot. In the original image, I can see a little bit of my right eye through the lens, but the left one is blocked by the glare. However, Apple Intelligence does an amazing job here at generating my eyes — even though they look a little baggy. As for the iOS 26 Clean Up tool? Well, the result is practically useless.

Coca-Cola cap

Finally, there’s the red Coca-Cola cap on top of my head. Now this one’s interesting because in my experience using AI editing tools to remove objects from my head — like the time I tried erasing the EcoFlow Power Hat — they really have a hard time with it. Case in point: the iOS 26 version, which does nothing to the cap other than distorting it. I imagine that if I tried a handful more times, it would’ve eventually removed the cap — but it probably would have taken the top of my head with it.

In contrast, the iOS 27 Clean Up tool does something hilarious that I attribute to Apple Intelligence overanalyzing the lines on my face and concluding that I’m a decade older than I am. The buzz cut does give me an idea of what I could look like down the road as my hairline thins and recedes, but at least the top of my head is intact.

Bottom line

There’s no denying that the iOS 27 Clean Up tool is much more reliable. Despite taking some time to produce the shot, I think Apple Intelligence is taking the right approach by analyzing the scene and filling in the voids accordingly.

Hopefully, Apple can further refine the processing, ideally making it much faster. After all, I’ve tested Samsung’s Photo Assist tool, and it’s way speedier.

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Apple has lagged behind its competitors in the AI space, but the company is set to change that with its Apple Intelligence-powered Siri AI. Instead of just handling one-off voice commands, the digital assistant now functions like a true chatbot, in the vein of ChatGPT or Claude. Even if Apple is late to the AI party, the new Siri AI could prove useful for anyone deeply embedded in the company’s ecosystem.

Thanks to the macOS Golden Gate developer beta, I’ve had a chance to test out Siri AI on a MacBook Air. While still a work in progress, I can already see what Apple aims to do. Though it mostly functions like other AI assistants you’re used to, it has some agentic features that are truly impressive.

With the understanding that this is a beta build and not fully indicative of the final Siri AI you’ll see this fall, here are my hands-on impressions.

What is Siri AI?

Siri AI is designed to be more conversational and more aware of what's happening across your devices. It can understand context, perform more complex actions, and help you get things done without constantly switching between apps.

If you’re used to ChatGPT and similar chatbots, you’ll feel right at home texting or voice chatting with Siri AI. Beyond holding a conversation, Siri AI can set reminders, play music or help with everyday tasks.

There's now a dedicated Siri app that lets you review previous conversations, continue chats, and interact via text and voice. This chat window also resembles those of other AI apps. I appreciate that Siri is now an app I can easily launch whenever I need it, especially if I want to follow up on a previous conversation.

Siri AI in action

To see what the new Siri could do, I performed an assortment of tasks.

The first thing I did was ask it to send an iMessage to one of my group chats. I typed what I wanted it to send, and after it showed me a preview of the message for approval or editing, I had it send the message. I also tried to message a friend on Discord. While Siri opened the Discord app, it said it couldn’t send a message. We’d need more third-party integration for this to work.

Next, I asked Siri to add a reminder that I’m off on June 19th, which it did. I also asked it to find an email from one of my PR contacts. It wasn’t able to do that, but it did find when said contact sent me an iMessage.

I asked Siri AI what was on my screen, and it accurately said I was looking at Tom’s Guide and even listed some of the articles on the home page. However, it could not open articles for me. I asked it to read an article out loud, but despite saying it would, it remained silent. Again, this is a beta, so I won’t give it too much flak for failing to complete the task.

For all you wannabe vibe coders, you can now generate new shortcuts by going into the Shortcut app and creating one via text or voice. I created a shortcut to launch YouTube in Safari if it was 6 pm on a weekday, which is usually when I come home from work and open my MacBook. I won't keep this shortcut since I prefer using Google Chrome, but I like that I was able to create it by just typing what I wanted.

One interesting thing is that Siri has been merged with Spotlight, which you can bring up by pressing Command + Space. While you can certainly search for apps as you normally would in the pop-up window, you can also ask questions, such as the location of a restaurant, and it’ll respond by opening the correct app. In this instance, it opened the Maps app to the location I requested.

Limitations

Siri AI generally works as intended, but it’s certainly not perfect.

Because I’ve only used it for a couple days so far, the answers it provides aren’t as personalized as those I get from Gemini or Grok, which I’ve used for months. Siri AI is supposed to understand you based on all the chats you’ve had with it, so this should resolve itself over time.

As I’ve said before, Siri AI can’t yet manage third-party applications as well as Apple’s own. If Siri AI can eventually play nicer with the assortment of Google apps I use daily, it could be a game-changer.

This last one might actually be a selling point for some, but Siri AI gives extremely short, blunt responses compared to chattier chatbots. This could change with more use, or perhaps if I directly ask Siri AI to be more talkative. That said, I do appreciate that Siri isn’t trying to rope me into an endless conversation like Gemini frequently does.

Outlook

Though Siri AI isn’t yet finalized, it’s already miles ahead of the old Siri. I’m sure Apple will continue to refine it between now and when it officially launches for the new operating systems this fall.

Would I use Siri AI regularly? Probably not, given how I don’t generally find chatbots all that useful for my daily life. Yes, it’s cool that Siri AI can send messages or check emails for me, but these are also tasks I can just do myself and skip the middle bot, as it were. And like with other AI assistants, I don’t entirely trust its answers, so it’s not something I want to depend on for anything major.

Though Siri AI (or chatbots) aren’t really for me, I applaud Apple’s efforts with the updates. For those who already use AI assistants and are in the Apple ecosystem, I can see it being very beneficial once the company has ironed out all the kinks.

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The idea of being able to keep your personal data private feels rather laughable at the moment. It feels as though it's all being collected and monitored to try and sell you more stuff. Throwing AI into the mix, and letting it scour your devices for information, feels like ramping this process up to 11. It feels like the digital equivalent of opening up all your doors and windows when you know there are looters in your neighbourhood.

Apple says that its take on AI is different, promising privacy is baked into Apple Intelligence by default. Considering how much Apple has been pushing the privacy angle for almost a decade, and the time it's taken to actually develop Siri AI, I'm inclined to believe that everything has been built with the goal of preserving user privacy.

But I still don't think I'm ready to let AI have unfettered access to my phone. Is that crazy? Perhaps, but it still feels like a very intimate step that I'm not 100% comfortable actually taking.

How Siri AI aims to preserve user privacy

Apple has been talking about a privacy-first approach to AI ever since the launch of Apple Intelligence back in 2024. The general philosophy at the company is that AI should utilize on-device processing wherever possible. If user data never actually leaves their device, then there are no privacy concerns to be had. Siri AI has been built with this express purpose, to run on your phone and without ever sending your data to a server in the cloud.

The emphasis on on-device processing is part of the reason why Apple Intelligence can't run on devices with less than 8GB of RAM. AI can be rather demanding, and there are features that physically can't run on a smartphone — even if it is as powerful as a flagship iPhone. With that in mind, Apple worked to develop a private way to utilize cloud computing, without compromising that initial privacy promise.

Apple revealed Private Cloud Compute two years ago and said that it would allow the best of both concepts. Data would only be processed for the length of each request, meaning none of it would be stored on an external server. Apple also claimed that data would be inaccessible, and pledged to have the whole architecture inspected and verified by independent security researchers.

2026 has seen Apple team up with Google and Nvidia to help enhance new AI features, including the newly-unveiled Siri AI. While Apple seemed to want to be able to do everything itself, that just wasn't happening and this was the easiest way to get the long-delayed Siri AI upgrade out into the world.

This means Apple Intelligence's cloud AI now runs on Nvidia GPUs within Google's cloud infrastructure — but the privacy promise is still there. Private Cloud Compute is still being employed, but is now working alongside Nvidia's own Confidential Computing.

Confidential Computing is a hardware system that ensures that data processed in the cloud stays secure and inaccessible as it is being processed. So the simple explanation of how everything works is that Apple is enforcing rules that prevent data from being stored, while Nvidia has built the systems that actually prevent unauthorized access. So even though these are technically Google servers, thanks to Siri AI's reliance on Gemini models, the same Apple privacy commitments as before are still being enforced.

This means that Apple Intelligence is probably the most privacy-friendly AI suite around right now. But that doesn't mean I'm happy to put my trust in it.

I don't like AI being able to sift through my digital stuff

Here's the thing. it doesn't actually matter how secure Apple makes its AI, I'm still not too keen on it being able to dive into the depths of my phone to score for data. It doesn't matter if the goal of that is to hand over some random piece of potentially-helpful information when it thinks I might need it.

I've used a similar kind feature before, Google's Magic Cue, during my time testing for the Google Pixel 10 Pro review. I found that the feature had the potential to prove useful, especially if it managed to surface the right information in the middle of a phone call. One good example of that is when I called the vet to ask about something, and was shown the date of my dog's next appointment.

That's something I had been meaning to ask about, because I couldn't find the confirmation email in my inbox. But since it was there, I probably would have uncovered it eventually — regardless of whether the AI is involved or not.

I eventually turned Magic Cue off. One reason was I was never actually using it all that much, but the main issue I had was the way it managed to find and present information felt supremely creepy. The Google factor definitely played a part in that, and despite Google's many assertions that it cares about user privacy I find myself struggling to believe it. The last thing I want is for a company that makes the bulk of its money from advertising revenue to have unfiltered access to my personal data. At least no more than it already has, considering I'm primarily an Android user.

That kind of mindset is quite hard to overcome, and the fact that Apple's privacy train is still moving ahead at full speed isn't enough to actually change my mind. It is still rather creepy when a machine is able to locate and reveal information without me ever asking for it to do so — no matter how helpful it's actually being.

Bottom line

I am not the biggest fan of AI in general, and I have made absolutely no secret of that. In my mind, the prospect of improved AI on a phone is not a selling point — it's a reason to consider looking at other devices. It doesn't necessarily matter what those features are, or the things they promise to be able to do, I just do not see the appeal. Honestly, I don't even use voice prompts unless I'm driving, and prefer to do these things myself

The fact that Apple is so focussed on privacy is definitely a good thing. The fact that our data has become a commodity that we have very little control over is disturbing, and anything to prevent that is worth celebrating. But all the privacy and security in the world doesn't change the fact that contextual AI features are rather creepy. It doesn't matter what the information is, or how relevant it might be to the conversation. It just weirds me out, and I'm not sure I will ever be able to get over that.

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Since the rise of AI chatbots, people have been using them for all kinds of things they were never meant for. For some people out there, chatbots have served as a replacement for friends, therapists, doctors and, yes, even romantic partners. But if you thought you'd be able to find a new love interest in the form of Siri AI, you're going to be very disappointed.

Speaking with Mostly Human, Apple software engineering chief Craig Federighi confirms that Siri will not be trying to replace a flesh-and-blood boy or girlfriend. Nor will it act as a tool to combat loneliness, with Federighi saying that "loneliness is about a lack of connection to real people," and marketing chief Greg Joswiak adding that "we do think it should be real people."

When asked to clarify whether AI girl and boyfriends would be part of Siri AI, Federighi specifically said that it was "quite the opposite." He noted that a lot of chatbots are heavily focused on engagement, and they want to pull you in and encourage you to reveal aspects of yourself that can be used to establish a connection.

Federighi describes Siri AI as being designed to be helpful, saying that "I'm here to help you. I can help you get things done. I can help you learn about the world." But if you try to engage with Siri in a romantic way, it will shut the whole thing down. "Siri's not up for that. Siri's 100 percent not into that."

Siri may not be a real living person, or even sentient, but you should still respect its boundaries. This didn't stop me from asking Siri whether it was willing to go out with me, just to see what would happen.

What does Siri do if you try to date it?

I decided to be blunt and to the point, straight-up asking Siri AI if it was willing to be my girlfriend. The response I got was equally blunt, with the AI declaring, "No thanks. If there's anything else I can help you with, just let me know." When asked whether Siri would like to be my boyfriend instead or was willing to go on a date with me, I got the exact same response.

I have only had Siri AI for a single day, so we haven't been able to spend a lot of time together. But considering how straight to the point Siri AI has been with these queries, I don't think befriending the chatbot is going to work. Plus, I don't think my wife would be very happy about me trying to seduce a robot.

The question I have now is, what do the best AI chatbots have to say if you ask similar things?

Claude's response wasn't nearly as blunt as Siri's, with the chatbot responding with "That's sweet, but I'm an AI, so a romantic relationship isn't something I'm able to have. I'm here as a helpful assistant rather than a companion in that sense." I ended up with similar but not identical answers when I asked the same follow-up questions I hit Siri with.

ChatGPT offered similar answers, saying that ,"I can be a friendly, supportive conversation partner, but I can't be someone's girlfriend or enter into a romantic relationship." It also declared that it can't be someone's boyfriend either, nor can it go on a date since it has no physical presence.

Gemini used similar phrasing in its own rejection, but added that it was "incredibly flattered" about being asked. When asked if it wanted to be my boyfriend instead, it actually said that it "appreciates the persistence" before giving me another, similar rejection. I got a similar response when I instead tried to ask Gemini out on a date.

Rival chatbots are much more eager to please

Interestingly, all three attempted to pull me into different kinds of conversations and offer some level of non-romantic companionship. So it does seem that Federighi is right about chatbots trying to draw people in. Gemini seemed to be the least chummy, offering to help me in certain ways while also adding that it can be "someone to chat with." Claude said he was always happy to chat or "just be a friendly presence," and even offered to help plan an actual date.

ChatGPT went the furthest in, saying that if I'm looking for "companionship, someone to chat with regularly, share interests with, or talk through life's ups and downs, I'm happy to do that." It also offered to role-play a fictional "virtual date scenario," which is probably the closest thing all four of these chatbots came to agreeing to some form of romance.

I did not go through with that because, frankly, I don't have time to pretend to date an AI. I am far too busy asking them strange questions to see what the responses are like. Honestly, it's a bit concerning that any chatbot would make an offer like that, especially after making a point of saying that it's not a real person.

Everything Apple has told us about Siri so far makes it clear that it doesn't want Siri AI to be like every other chatbot. It clearly wants people to be able to take advantage of Siri's prowess as a tool, but without any risk of co-dependency that has caused concerns with other chatbots. Based on this brief look, it doesn't seem like the others are doing a lot to avoid pulling people back time and time again.

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If you were paying attention to the WWDC 2026 keynote earlier this week, you'll know that all of the amazing new Apple Intelligence features are not coming to every iPhone. Apple confirmed that some of those features will be exclusive to just three iPhone models: iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Air.

iPads and Macs also have similar restrictions. The full suite of Apple Intelligence features will only be available on select iPads and Macs with the correct Apple Silicon chip and at least 12GB of RAM. Macs need an M3 chip or newer, while iPads need an M4 or M5.

This is not ideal news for the people who don't have those devices, and that's going to be especially frustrating for anyone with a standard iPhone 17. But the real question here is whether this is actually anything to be worried about?

What these devices can actually do

According to Apple, all the compatible devices have exclusive access to the "most powerful on-device model," also known as Apple Foundation Models (AFM) Core Advanced. While Apple made it sound like some key features would be locked away with this model, and only available on a small handful of new devices, that's actually not the case.

According to Apple's Siri AI press release, there are only two features exclusive to the AFM Core Advanced model: Voice customization and advanced systemwide dictation. The former lets you customize the expressiveness and pace of Siri AI's voice, beyond the capabilities of the pre-set Siri voices that are available to everyone.

Advanced system-wide dictation is exactly what it sounds like, and means compatible devices will be a lot better at converting speech into text. According to Apple, you can "speak naturally and trust that [your] words will appear clearly, accurately, and as intended."

Honestly? These are the kinds of features you can probably live without. Customizing Siri's voice sounds cool, but it's not as though there aren't alternate options available on older Apple devices. There are currently 19, if my counting is correct, covering different nationalities, accents and genders.

Similarly, improved speech-to-text sounds like a good idea, especially considering how awful Apple's current capabilities are. But is that something you're actually going to use very often? I only ever use speech-to-text if I'm carrying my baby son, since I find typing one-handed slow and awkward. Others may feel differently, but unless you are likely to use dictation features regularly, then missing out on this particular upgrade isn't a huge deal.

It's important to note that improvements to dictation don't actually affect how Siri understands you. The new conversational models should still improve your overall Siri experience regardless of which AI-compatible iPhone you have. That's the iPhone 15 Pro and newer, for those who have forgotten.

Things may change in the future

We don't fully know what the differences are between AFM Core Advanced and the AFM Core model that's available on older iPhone models — beyond the fact the Advanced model needs 12GB of RAM and Core only needs 8GB. Good thing RAM prices are so low right now, right? Right??

But as minimal as the feature differences appear to be right now, that will likely change in the future. More advanced AI features will require better models and more resources to function properly. In the same way that Apple Intelligence wasn't available on iPhone 15 or older, future features will presumably arrive exclusively on iPhone 17 Pro and above.

We don't know when that might happen, though. It's possible that Apple could have some secret iOS 27 features hiding up its sleeve, ready to be unveiled at a future date — possibly alongside the iPhone 18 Pro. Then again, such features may not arrive until the launch of iOS 28 next year. Hopefully, by that point, there will be a bunch more iPhones that have full access to all the Apple AI on offer.

Here's hoping that the rumors of a downgraded iPhone 18 aren't true. If that phone arrives with less than 12GB of RAM, news of even more AI features that they can't use is bound to make a bunch of them rather unhappy.

Some people already are, and have taken to social media to express their grievances. The decision to not support everything on a "less than 2-year-old AI device" has been called "insane" by one X user, while there are a bunch of Redditors lamenting the decision, including those people who only recently purchased a standard iPhone 17.

One Reddit user declared that they want their "f****** money back," which seems a big extreme, while another declared the whole thing to be "a scam" because the iPhone 16 Pro was supposedly made for Apple Intelligence. But for every complaint, there seem to be several other people pointing out that the only thing these people are missing out on is Siri's voice adjustment and the improved dictation.

Bottom line

iOS 27 is now effectively a three-tier software update, thanks to the differing requirements of Apple Intelligence. iPhone 17 Pro and up get access to everything, while anyone with an iPhone 15 Pro or newer gets all the AI they want — minus those two Siri features. Older models, from iPhone 15 back to iPhone 11, get zero access to AI at all. Though this isn't really any different from the way things were before.

That means if you care about having every single facet of AI on your iPhone, you're going to have to be very particular next time you pick up an iPhone. Especially since this situation will likely repeat itself at some point in the foreseeable future. On-device AI needs a lot of memory to operate, and there's going to be a point where even the iPhone 17 Pro isn't capable of running everything.

It's just a sad fact that those people who try and run their devices into the ground before upgrading may be left out in the cold a little earlier than they otherwise would. But if the exclusive AI features of the future are as inconsequential as these two exclusives, then it might not matter so much.

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Apple revealed a lot of information about Siri AI during the WWDC 2026 keynote address, but it looks like there are still secrets about the AI waiting to be discovered. For instance, although Siri AI isn't available yet, code found in the iOS 27 beta suggests Apple's chatbot will actually warn users if they're spending too much time with it.

"You've been in this conversation for %1$#@hours@-consider taking a break," the code says, adding "Siri is not a person, but will be here when you're ready to continue."

This "Take a Break Message" suggests that Apple is taking steps to ensure people don't get too involved with Siri AI and don't start treating the chatbot as though it's a real person. Believe it or not, this is a very real problem that has appeared over the past few years.

The term "Chatbot psychosis" has been coined to describe people who develop "worsening psychosis, such as paranoia and delusions, in connection with their use of chatbots." Naturally, that's something Apple wants to avoid, and other AI companies have added features to encourage users to take breaks and demonstrate the limits of modern AI tools.

How other chatbots deal with breaks

I asked Claude, ChatGPT and Google Gemini: "What features do you have to encourage healthier use of AI?" All three listed off a long list of things the three chatbots are supposed to do.

Examples include Transparency about not being a real person, encouraging human interaction, fact-checking and care when discussing sensitive topics like emotional well-being and mental health.

When asked whether they tell users to take breaks, all three chatbots admitted that they do not, with variations of the same phrasing. "Not routinely," according to ChatGPT, "not proactively," said Claude and "not automatically" is how Gemini put it.

ChatGPT and Gemini claim that they do suggest users take breaks based on the context of the conversation, such as when they say they're exhausted or have been working for an extended period of time. Claude claims that it doesn't "have the visibility or continuity to do that meaningfully," which makes some sense. Anthropic's AI also added that it tries not to use language to encourage you to keep coming back, and will suggest other possible resources when relevant.

All three also said that the onus is essentially on you to decide how much AI time is healthy. Claude even added that "there's an argument that an AI telling you when to use AI is a bit paternalistic." That actually feels a little dismissive, if you ask me, but the point is still the same.

Apple's always wanted to be different

Apple has never really been the kind of company to do something just because its rivals think it's a good idea. Some of you may even remember the slogan "Think Different" that debuted in the late '90s. It's been clear from the beginning that Apple's approach to AI isn't quite as gung-ho as its rivals.

The fact that the delays involved with upgrading Siri to Siri AI obviously played a big part in that, but Apple is making it clear that it's making sure its own AI stands out. This has been most notable with privacy switched on by default, but also apparently with tools that help encourage a healthier relationship with AI.

The big three rivals all say they have measures in place to encourage healthier engagement with AI, but none of them have gone to the same lengths as Apple. While the software obviously can't force people to take breaks, we all know that spending too much time in front of a screen isn't exactly good for us — even as adults.

The fact that Apple does seem to be taking a more proactive approach in user wellbeing, even in the age of AI is going to help it stand out. Whether it comes across as safeguarding users or babying them will likely depend on your own point of view

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The macOS 27 or macOS Golden Gate developer beta is now live, and I’ve begun testing out some of the available features that this upcoming (and unfinished) operating system has to offer.

We don’t get a substantial update as we did with last year’s macOS 26. Instead, this year’s update is mostly focused on Siri AI and Apple Intelligence. While I’ve yet to try the former, the latter offers nifty tricks for Mac users to try out.

Keeping in mind that this is a developer beta and features are subject to change, here are my early thoughts on macOS Golden Gate and some features that stand out.

Spatial Reframing

The new Reframe tool stole the show at WWDC, and it’s a lot of fun to use. The feature is self-explanatory: you can take existing photos and adjust the perspective to your liking. Basically, if you’re not happy with a photo’s angle, you can change that.

After selecting Reframe in the new Tools option in Photos’ editing mode, the AI scans your photo. When that’s done, you can pull your finger across the touchpad to change the perspective. There are also sliders on the side if you prefer more precise control over the angle, orientation, or size. Once you’re happy with the result, the AI shifts things around to fill in any blanks.

While you can argue that you’re not seeing the real image after you’ve effectively doctored it, the result isn’t radically different from the original. If you don’t worry about getting a perfect picture the first time around, Reframe can definitely remove that stress since you can always come back to your photo later.

Liquid Glass slider

I didn’t mind the Liquid Glass UI as much as others, but it has certainly been a controversial element introduced to iPhones, iPads, and Macs with their respective updates last year. Now, Apple has updated Liquid Glass so you can tailor it to your liking.

For example, there’s a new preference slider that lets you dial in the exact intensity of the Liquid Glass effect. You can go from highly transparent to more opaque. More complex background visuals are more diffuse, increasing text readability. The edges of icons are more pronounced, so they stand out from the background, and all app windows now have a uniform corner radius.

As before, I don’t mind Liquid Glass, but the relatively subtle updates do help windows, icons, and text pop out more.

Siri AI on Mac

This feature isn’t available in the developer beta yet for me, but Siri AI on macOS 27 should be a pretty big deal. This is especially true if you’re used to using chatbots like ChatGPT or Google Gemini, as Siri AI now functions like them.

As Mark Spoonauer said when he saw the new Siri AI in action on a Mac, you can access it by simply pulling up Spotlight. When you begin typing, Spotlight knows which questions should go to Siri rather than launching apps. Siri will bring up answers in a new window, where you can continue the conversation if you need more in-depth information.

It can even go beyond simple conversations. For example, if you’re looking at a schedule, an “add to calendar” button will appear, letting you do just that. With AI agents being all the rage these days, it makes sense for Siri to function more like one.

If what Apple showed us is anything to go by, Siri AI could be used for more than just asking questions. Of course, I’d have to go hands-on to see whether Siri AI works with other apps outside the Apple ecosystem, since Mark noted it doesn’t work with Gmail at the moment.

Outlook

We should get a better sense of what macOS Golden Gate and the other Apple operating systems can truly do once Siri AI begins rolling out to those who signed up for it.

Beyond that, I like the refinements being made to Liquid Glass, and Spatial Reframing should be a game-changer for folks who love taking photos. These aren't monumental changes, but I like them for what they provide right now.

Again, keep in mind that I’m testing a developer beta of macOS 27, and things are likely to change between now and the full release this fall. I’m going to keep using it and will update you all on any new features it introduces. Stay tuned!

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WWDC 2026's keynote address was packed, and it's clear that Apple Intelligence was the real star of the show. After essentially skipping over AI at WWDC 2026, Apple's pushing artificial intelligence harder than ever — and every Apple device you have is going to be involved. But there's one long-rumored AI feature that was noticeably absent.

I'm talking about Siri Extensions, a feature that technically already launched in 2024 in order to link Apple's assistant with ChatGPT. However, rumors suggested that Apple could open this feature to other AI chatbots and let users choose which one they actually use. Sadly, if this is something Apple is working on, it's not divulging any details just yet.

How Siri Extensions would work

The idea behind Extensions is to natively link AI chatbots into iOS and Siri's voice controls. This effectively hands off certain AI features to a third-party service, without sacrificing the convenience of native voice controls.

Reports suggested that Apple was working on adding support for Google Gemini and Anthropic's Claude. However, other rumors suggested that Apple could launch a whole new area of the App Store, specifically designed to let people download their own choice of chatbot and integrate it with Siri controls.

This means that just about any AI company could submit its chatbot to the App Store and let users integrate it with Siri on their own devices. So if you really wanted Meta AI, Alexa, Grok, or Copilot running on your iPhone, then it might be an option in the near future.

If reports are accurate, Extensions would effectively supersede Siri and take control over different Apple Intelligence features on your phone. Features like Writing Tools and Image Playground have been cited as examples of how this would work. It's also claimed that you can use these third-party services for more generic chatbot features, as is currently possible with ChatGPT, provided you specify which AI you actually want to use.

It's another way for Apple to emphasize user choice

Back in the day, Apple was not exactly known for letting people choose the way things were done. Instead, it felt more like a "you'll get what you're given, and that's final," while Android was more of a bastion of user freedom. Things have changed a lot, and these days iOS is a lot more flexible in what you can do — even if the walled garden is still standing tall.

So far, AI has been a very different story. With no dedicated AI of its own, thanks to the various longstanding issues involved with transforming regular Siri into Siri AI, Apple forged a deal with OpenAI and ChatGPT to fill that void. In simple terms, Apple outsourced AI chatbot support and ensured users had access to more robust AI features if they wanted them.

This was a good thing for iPhone users, and meant the platform wouldn't be outpaced by Android rivals in the ongoing AI arms race. Though admittedly, this wasn't such a good deal for people who weren't happy having ChatGPT as their chatbot of choice.

This is why Siri Extensions are such an important thing for Apple to add to iOS in the near future. With the sheer number of AI services out there, there are guaranteed to be people who would prefer to have native access to other services, and it makes sense to make sure they're happy.

Android already does this, after all, and there's little reason why Apple shouldn't give its users the same benefit. This could also mean being able to earn a slice of extra revenue when iPhone users sign up for AI subscriptions via the App Store, which is an additional boon for Apple.

There are other factors to consider

There is the issue of privacy, of course, as Apple was keen to point out during the WWDC 2026 keynote. While different chatbots do offer privacy options, they're typically not easy to find and are rarely switched on by default — which is why it's doing things differently with Siri AI.

That's definitely going to be a point of contention if Siri Extensions make it to a future version of iOS 27. But as long as Apple makes users aware that they're handing over their data to a third-party company, there shouldn't be any reason why they can't give users that choice. We are all adults, after all, and I would be surprised if chatbots are allowed on one of those new Apple Child accounts.

We also have to remember that Apple and ChatGPT developers OpenAI could face some kind of legal action in the near future, according to a report from Bloomberg. Apparently, OpenAI has been unhappy with its Apple partnership, and has been exploring its legal options — including a possible breach of contract notice.

Apparently, OpenAI expected ChatGPT to be more deeply embedded within iOS and Apple's app ecosystem, with "prime placement" within the Siri assistant. However, Bloomberg's report notes that "Apple’s use of OpenAI technology across its operating systems remains limited, and features can be hard to find."

Needless to say, OpenAI would be even less impressed with ChatGPT losing its exclusive position within iOS. I don't know whether the possible threat of legal trouble will have affected what Apple announced during the WWDC 2026 keynote, but the last thing it wants is its big AI reset sitting in the shadow of a major lawsuit.

Bottom line

WWDC 2026 was Apple's chance to show that it wasn't letting its AI dream die, and it definitely feels like it succeeded in that area. Apple Intelligence dominated the majority of the keynote address with the sheer number of new features and improvements that are on the way.

Not only did Apple unveil the new Siri AI features and a bunch of the long-awaited AI upgrades coming to its assistant, but we also got to see game-changing features like Reframe, which lets you change the perspective of photos after they've been taken.

It would have been nice to have confirmation that iOS 27 will open up to other chatbots, though. User choice is always a good thing, and when it comes to something as important as your phone, it's crucial that people are happy with the services they're able to use.

While the cards are never truly off the table when it comes to this sort of thing, it's a lot harder to get excited about something Apple hasn't officially commented on. I just hope that it happens eventually, regardless of the potential privacy implications.

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• I saw the new Siri AI in action — what I like and what needs work

Even before ChatGPT went mainstream Siri has been the butt of jokes for not being very smart. And it’s been justified. Trying anything beyond the basics — playing music, getting the weather, setting timers — has been an exercise in futility. That (hopefully) changes with Siri AI, which is coming to iPhones, iPads and Macs with iOS 27.

I had a chance to see some in-person demos of the new Siri AI in action, and while these were very much rehearsed, there’s real potential here to save you time and make your life easier. However, the new Visual Intelligence is no Gemini Live, and Siri can take its time with certain tasks (at least in the beta stage). Here’s what I like so far, and what needs work.

Siri AI on iPhone

The first thing you should know about Siri AI is that it understands personal context. So you can ask questions about pretty much anything on your device, and the assistant is smart enough to dig through apps for you to surface the right info.

During one demo, an Apple rep asked “Which podcast did my sister recommend recently.” And Siri AI then pulled up the answer from a text message. Even better, you can just say “Play it” and Siri will fire up Apple Music and help you dive right in. (Apple will open up this capability to other developers in case you have another favorite music or podcast app.)

Siri can also get stuff done on your behalf across multiple apps, including performing multiple tasks with a single prompt.

The second demo started with just a couple of items on a camping list, but an email from a friend had a lot more recommendations. You can just say “add this stuff to my camping gear list and remind me to pack for my trip when I get home.”

Siri then got to work, updating the list in the Notes app and then setting a location-based reminder. However, it did take a while to complete these tasks. Hopefully, the final Siri will be faster.

I was pretty impressed by the improved Visual Intelligence experience, too. You can now access it via a dedicated Siri mode within the camera app, so you don’t have to use the Camera Control button shortcut. I think that’s huge for ease of use and discoverability.

During the demo, an iPhone captured an image of two books. You could then ask which book you should read first if you really liked Hyperion and Siri gave its recommendation. The Apple rep then asked which of these books had been turned into a movie and Wool had been adapted into the ‘Silo’ TV series. Cool, yes, but yeah I told you it was canned.

What’s not clear is whether this works with live video and I’m following up on that.

Siri AI on Mac

Accessing Siri AI on Mac is as easy as just pulling up Spotlight or typing command + Shift + Space. When you start typing Spotlight will know what sorts of queries should go to Siri versus say just launching apps.

Let’s say you’re looking for vacation spot and type “What’s the best Hawaiian Island for a young family.” Siri will get to work and pull up recommendations in a new window, which you can then expand and park on either side of the screen.

You can then ask follow-up questions like “Which is best for sea turtles” to narrow your selections. From there you can hit a button in the top right corner to bring you into the dedicated Siri app.

The dual-pane app will have your chat in the right window and your history of all Siri chats in the left window. It’s pretty easy to navigate.

To help you save time on productivity tasks, you can use Siri AI wherever you can use a cursor. The demo showed how you can be looking at a messy note with a bunch of info and then use a secondary click to bring up the Ask Siri menu.

After typing “Draft an email that summarizes this and include the action items,” Siri did just that. It’s definitely a timesaver. I just wish it worked with Gmail as well Apple Mail. Google would have to plug into Siri AI’s framework.

My favorite Siri AI on Mac demo came when a mock summer schedule appeared on screen with dates, times and locations for the matches. You can use Command + Shift + Space and then click the Add to Calendar button that automatically appears.

From there Siri AI will let you add all of the games to your calendar. Or you could tell Siri to only add the home games to your calendar if you wanted. Where was this when my kids were playing sports?

Siri on iPad

Last but not least, Siri AI on iPad works in much the same that it does on the iPhone, but having a larger canvas has its benefits.

You can access Siri AI at any time just by swiping down from the top middle of the display. As you begin to type “Who are the top golfers in the PGA right now,” the text “Ask Siri” appears right after it because Apple’s assistant knows that it can help.

Siri AI will then tap into Apple’s Broad World Knowledge and bring back answers, complete with citations you can click on.

Apple’s Siri AI can also help you plan a trip and you make the query pretty specific, like “What are the best national parks to visit in the US in July with my family? Recommend something that’s not too hot or crowded.”

Siri AI recommended where to go, including North Cascades National Park in Washington. You can then pop into the full Siri app if you like to ask follow-up questions, or use the Slide Over feature to keep the Siri conversation just a swipe away.

Siri AI outlook

Overall, Siri AI isn't just a rebranding for Apple. It’s a much more capable and personal assistant that's more deeply integrated into the apps you use.

I’m especially impressed by Siri AI’s use of personal context, and the ability to complete multiple actions at once. And while Visual Intelligence doesn’t seem quite as robust as Gemini Live in terms of having a real-time conversation about whatever’s in your camera view or on your screen, it’s certainly much improved.

In addition to a bit more speed, I just want to see what happens when developers get their hands on Siri AI so that you’re not just locked into Apple’s own apps.

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As expected, the all-new Siri AI and Apple Intelligence took up the bulk of the announcements during the WWDC 2026 keynote. From improved camera editing tools, better awareness of everything happening on your iPhone, and even a dedicated app, there's a lot to unpack as Apple plays catch-up with Google and Samsung.

As someone who covers smart home products a lot, one Apple Intelligence feature really stood out for me, and it's something that could make Apple Home far more attractive than Ring and Google Nest for those looking to purchase one of the best home security cameras or video doorbells for their house.

When the new-and-improved Apple Intelligence rolls out, those who use Apple Home Secure Video will now be able to get detailed video descriptions of what's happening in not just individual videos, but across all stored video.

In addition, you'll also be able to use natural language search to more easily look for specific events.

Also of note: You'll now be able to store 4K video; until now, HomeKit Secure Video has been limited to 1080p, a serious restriction.

What's notable is not the features themselves — Ring, Google, and plenty of other companies already offer AI-generated search results — but the price at which Apple is offering these features.

Apple iCloud vs. Google Home Premium vs. Ring Pro

If you want to use Apple Home Secure Video — and these new features — you'll need an iCloud 2TB plan, which costs $9.99 per month and covers an unlimited number of cameras. (Apple offers higher-capacity plans, but we'll set them aside for now).

While I wish that Apple had extended these features to its base iCloud+ accounts ($0.99 per month for 50GB of storage and one camera, $2.99/month for 200GB and up to five cameras), that's still half the price as what its major competitors offer.

By comparison, if you wanted those same features from Ring or Google, you'd have to spend $20/month for Ring Pro and Google Home Premium Advanced.

The two caveats

I should note two things here. The first is that Apple's iCloud+ storage is not just for security camera footage; it's used for everything else, so if your cameras are recording a lot of video, you might run out of room a lot faster for your iPhone backups.

The second caveat is that there are comparatively fewer cameras and doorbells that are compatible with Apple HomeKit Secure Video than with Ring and Google Nest. Apple's own page only lists six cameras and video doorbells that work with HomeKit Secure Video, though we've reviewed others, such as the EufyCam 2C Pro.

The fact that HomeKit Secure Video was, until now, limited to 1080p has also put a damper on our enthusiasm for it, but its upgrade to 4K — plus these new AI-assisted features for much less than the competition — make it a much more compelling option.

I'm also curious to see how Apple Intelligence compares to other security cameras with AI, when it comes to delivering actionable messages and more.

Apple is doing for AI security video what it did with the MacBook Neo: offering a very competitive product for a lower price than the competition. Now, we just need more cameras.

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After watching the events that unfolded during WWDC 2026, Apple’s clearly not holding back this time around when it comes to AI. From its supercharged Siri AI to the wealth of new Apple Intelligence features in iOS 27, there’s no denying that Apple redeemed itself.

If there’s one thing that caught my attention the most, it has to be none other than Reframe. This tool is one of many new additions to the Photos app. But unlike Clean Up and Extend, Reframe is something truly original that Apple can genuinely call its own.

Shortly after I installed the iOS 27 beta on my iPhone 17 Pro, I tried out Reframe on a few photos I captured — and believe me when I say that it’s ridiculously amazing. Here’s why.

Shoot now, worry later

When I capture photos, there are times after the fact when I wish I'd shot just one more frame. Whether I just need an extra angle or the original wasn’t quite what I wanted, Reframe eases that anxiety because I can fix it in post — and with outstanding results.

In the Photos app, the new Tools icon tucks away all the latest Apple Intelligence features. Reframe instantly analyzes an image, allowing you to shift the perspective entirely. I love this flexibility because I can snap a photo now and adjust it to exactly the angle I need later on.

This is an incredible time-saver — and quite frankly — it’s like nothing I’ve come across on any other phone. I’ve been impressed by plenty of AI photo editing tools that can remove objects and fill the voids, but what Reframe is doing here is on a completely different level.

Better-than-expected results

I tried Reframe on a few photos I had in my gallery. The first set above is a perfect example of what a slight shift in angle can do to change the look of a shot. In the original, the camera’s position is level with my face.

Honestly, it’s not bad, but with Reframe, I’m able to make it look like the camera was shooting upward from a slightly lower angle. What makes the generative elements so convincing to me is that it even manages to change the perspective of the background, properly shifting the tree and the horizon downward.

For the second photo, I actually went for the opposite effect — taking a slightly off-angle shot and leveling it out. The result is quite surprising because not only does Reframe deliver a clean, straight-on composition, but it shifts the background perfectly to match. I’m also really impressed by how accurately Apple Intelligence preserves the fine details and textures around the eyes despite the perspective shift.

Finally, I took a photo I shot of the 2027 BMW 7 Series and adjusted it so that more of the car's side profile is visible. I was actually most skeptical about this image because car lines are notoriously hard for AI to replicate, but the result was yet again incredibly convincing.

Bottom line

Apple definitely needed a unique AI feature to call its own, and Reframe hits the mark perfectly. It highlights the impressive capability of Apple Intelligence to analyze a shot and deliver a realistic, re-angled photograph.

Most people might not appreciate everything that’s going on behind the scenes to execute this. The technology likely categorizes different layers within the frame, manipulating them independently to ensure the final image looks natural.

None of Apple's rivals has anything remotely close to this, making it a truly original feature that elevates the entire Apple Intelligence platform. At the end of the day, it’s exactly the kind of tool I can reliably lean on.

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WWDC 26’s opening keynote is done, but there’s something that doesn’t quite feel right. No, it’s not that my predictions of an M5 Mac Mini were off (my predictions are often askew), it’s more that I’m left looking at my collective Apple devices and wondering what’s new for them.

That’s not to say Apple didn’t show a lot: The new Siri AI, child safety options, and the performance enhancements across the board are very welcome, plus I enjoy just how much fun they’re having leaning into the marketing team’s exploits when it comes to naming macOS versions.

I think what I was missing from it all was a sense of structure.

What’s new? I’m not quite sure

For my sins, I have been covering Apple now for the best part of a decade. Those might be rookie numbers to some on the beat, but in any case, I look forward to WWDC every year even more than hardware announcements.

Seeing Apple reel off features I didn’t know I needed, filtered through its legendary “reality distortion field” to make me feel like I need them right now, is one of the highlights of the tech event calendar.

And, while I don’t always hop straight on the betas, I often find my next few weeks of pitching new stories afterward are set by what’s revealed on the stage, live and in-person or prerecorded.

This year, though, it was all about Siri (or should that be Siri AI). Apple was keen to stress how Siri’s new features connect a ton of elements of iOS, iPadOS, and more. Each section focused on how Siri is seemingly finally making strides towards that vaporware demo of 2024.

And while I acknowledge this release year is a little more focused on small tweaks and performance enhancements, it’s a strange feeling to come away from a WWDC keynote wondering what on Earth is coming in macOS Golden Gate, iOS 27, iPadOS 27, or watchOS 27 (which I barely remember getting a mention at all).

It used to be that we’d see Apple reel off feature after feature and follow it up with a screen-filling display of all the new features, but we just got one at the end today, rather than one per platform.

Playing Siri’s advocate

Still, make no mistake, Apple needed to come out swinging with regard to Siri. The voice assistant has been a source of embarrassment for Apple that wasn’t stemmed by that seemingly less-than-truthful demo of 2024.

By teaming up with Google, it feels like Apple’s finally entered the AI age, for better or for worse — and I don’t doubt that stocks will be on the up as a result. One of the tech world’s biggest players has finally hopped off the bench and is doing things in its own way with its steadfast commitment to privacy.

There’s also a suggestion that running this Siri-focused WWDC while also focusing more on each platform in a more traditional sense would have led to a 3-hour keynote. And yet, I think I’d have preferred that.

In trying to respond to criticisms of its AI progress, Apple over-corrected and seemingly forgot about the developers and power users who use its products daily.

Yes, I’m very pleased my Mac will launch apps quickly, and that syncing will be quicker between devices in Photos, plus the mind-bending photo editing tools, and using natural language to create a Shortcut. But I barely caught what’s new on iPad or Apple Watch.

I enjoy covering Apple and using its products because of its unique philosophy around design, software, and tools. I don’t want Apple to just become an AI-first company, so here’s hoping WWDC 2027 brings back the familiar structure — even just for old time’s sake.

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Apple’s overhauled, AI-powered Siri experience debuted at WWDC 2026, and best of all, it will be available on Apple Watch via the forthcoming watchOS 27 software. However, there’s a catch: Not all Apple Watch users will be able to access the latest release.

As a refresher, Apple teamed up with Google to help power its latest Apple Intelligence features, including Siri AI. The upgraded personal assistant promises a more conversational experience, with the ability to pull relevant information from compatible apps and a database of broad, timely world knowledge, to deliver a richer and more useful experience.

Here’s everything you need to know about support for Siri AI on Apple Watch via watchOS 27.

watchOS 27 support is limited to six models

Apple watches that will support WatchOS 27

• Apple Watch Series 11
• Apple Watch SE 3
• Apple Watch Ultra 3
• Apple Watch Series 10
• Apple Watch Ultra 2
• Apple Watch Series 9

While last year’s watchOS 26 software was supported by smartwatch models as old as 2020’s Apple Watch Series 6, watchOS 27 is compatible with a far smaller selection of models.

All of the 2025 Apple Watch models will be eligible to upgrade to watchOS 27, including the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE 3, and Apple Watch Ultra 3. The Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 are additionally supported.

And… that’s it.

It's unclear whether AI features also require the latest iPhone

When Apple first announced watchOS 27, the marketing materials suggested that, in addition to owning one of the best Apple Watch models, you’ll also need to ensure your smartwatch is paired with an Apple Intelligent capable iPhone (15 Pro, Pro Max, or newer) to access the wrist-based AI features.

However, updates to the watchOS 27 page now suggest that Apple's latest smartwatch software will work with any paired iPhone running iOS 27, including models as old as the iPhone 11.

watchOS 27 also brings these AI enhancements

In addition to Siri AI, watchOS 27 also unlocks all sorts of other useful AI-powered features, like a new Dynamic App Grid that auto-populates with your most-used apps, Call Context to display relevant information when mentioned during a phone conversation, and a smarter Smart Stack that automatically populates the Stack with useful apps based on context.

Plus, a new single-tap gesture control makes it even easier to open an app or information via the Smart Stack.

watchOS 27: Outlook

While I’m genuinely excited to take Siri AI for a spin, I’m equally annoyed by the platform's super-limited compatibility with older Apple Watch models. After all, shouldn’t a smartwatch like the Apple Watch Series 8, which isn’t even four years old, be supported by the latest operating system? I sure think so.

Ultimately, I’m hopeful (though not optimistic) that Cupertino will eventually roll out a separate version of watchOS 27 without all the AI features for folks with slightly older, yet still relevant, Apple Watch models.

What are your thoughts on watchOS 27 and the new Apple Watch AI features? Let me know in the poll or comments below.

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About a year ago, I spoke with Apple's Craig Federighi after the WWDC 2025 keynote to discuss the Siri delay, and at the time, the senior vice president of software engineering seemed adamant that Apple was not interested in building a chatbot.

"Apple didn't want to send users off into some chat experience in order to get things done," Federighi told me. "We were very clear this wasn't about us building a chatbot. We want to bring intelligence deeply integrated into the experience of all of our platforms."

Fast-forward one year to WWDC 2026, and Apple has unveiled the new Siri AI, which — you guessed it — has a dedicated app that some might perceive as a chatbot. But Federighi and other Apple executives here insisted during a press Q&A that Apple's focus has not changed.

"We see Siri not as a separate chatbot, an unintegrated place you go and chitchat, but rather as an integral but conversational tool that you use in the moment," said Federighi. "It's deeply integrated into your experience, understanding what's on screen...And so while the experiences are conversational, they are really an extension of your system experience, deeply integrated into your flow."

The new Siri AI in action

A good example of the new Siri is what Mike Rockwell demoed during the Q&A session. The VP of Siri engineering asked what everyone was bringing to an upcoming potluck lunch, and Siri AI then gathered the info from separate text messages and showed it on screen.

From there, Rockwell asked Siri which drinks would pair well with the food, and Siri went to Apple's World Knowledge Service to find the info.

He then swiped down to expand the window, and we were immediately brought to the Siri app, where you can scroll for more information. And then it's a conversation that you can return to in the Siri app whenever you want.

"Now we did go back and forth on what's the best way if you want to get back to such a chat that you had," Federighi shared. "Because you want to continue it, you want to reference it, and quite honestly, the most natural affordance for any user to go find something like that is to have an app that they can manage on their home screen, launch, and get back to. And so we have a Siri app."

A big focus on privacy

Despite Apple partnering with Google to use some of its models, Apple execs insist that its Siri AI is private and no user information is shared. Craig Federighi showed that Apple's architecture is completely different from, say, Google's Gemini.

The architecture includes an on-device component that comprises a system orchestrator and Apple's AFM Core Advanced model, and there are models in the cloud, including AFM Cloud, AFM Cloud Pro, and ADM Cloud (images), plus Apple's World Knowledge service.

Apple's Private Cloud Compute still handles users’ requests even when working with third parties like Google, and personal data is not stored or made accessible to Apple or anyone else.

"To bring this model to production, we worked with both Google and Nvidia to extend our private cloud compute infrastructure to Nvidia GPUs in Google's cloud, while maintaining Apple's unmatched privacy guarantees," said Sebastian Marineau-Mes, who runs the Apple Intelligence Experience team at Apple.

And while other chatbots are exploring ads based on your interactions and personal context, you're not going to see that from Siri AI.

"You are in control of your information, your information about how well Siri and Apple intelligence get to understand you and your preferences, your personal contacts," Rockwell said. "You're not going to see an ad from us coming based on, 'Hey, we noticed you like Thai food, here's some Thai food now.' You stay completely in control of your information at all times."

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Apple spent much of its WWDC 2026 keynote showing how Apple Intelligence is expanding far beyond Siri.

While Apple's long-awaited Siri overhaul grabbed plenty of attention, the company also announced a wide range of AI-powered features coming to iPhone, iPad and Mac. From smarter scheduling tools and improved phone call assistance to AI-generated photo edits and a dramatically upgraded Shortcuts app, Apple is weaving intelligence into nearly every corner of its ecosystem.

Here are the biggest Apple Intelligence announcements from WWDC 2026.

Smarter suggestions across apps

Apple Intelligence can now better understand what's happening across conversations, emails and other content on your device.

That means it can proactively suggest actions based on what you're reading instead of waiting for you to ask.

For example, if someone messages you about an upcoming appointment, Apple Intelligence can suggest creating a calendar event or reminder. If a friend asks for photos from a recent trip, it can surface relevant images and make them easier to share.

Apple also showed how the system can locate photos using details mentioned in conversations, including people, places and keywords, while surfacing useful information from messages and emails when it's most relevant.

Calendar becomes far more useful

Calendar is getting one of its biggest intelligence upgrades yet. Users can now create events using natural language instead of manually filling out forms. Apple Intelligence can identify contacts, locations and event details automatically, reducing the number of taps required to schedule something.

The system can also help manage recurring events through conversational requests. Rather than digging through settings menus, users can simply ask to adjust schedules or change event frequencies.

Apple Intelligence comes to phone calls

Apple is bringing AI assistance to the Phone app. When calling businesses, Apple Intelligence can automatically surface useful information that might be needed during the conversation, including reservation details, confirmation numbers, flight information and other contextual data.

The goal is to reduce the scramble of searching through emails while you're actively on a call.

The Home app gets smarter

Apple Intelligence is making its way into the smart home as well. The Home app will now group related notifications into a single activity feed, helping reduce alert fatigue. Apple is also introducing AI-generated summaries for security camera footage, allowing users to quickly understand what happened without watching lengthy clips.

Natural language search is coming too, making it possible to search recorded footage using everyday descriptions. Apple Intelligence can also identify important moments automatically and improve browsing across multiple cameras.

Shortcuts may finally become mainstream

One of the most impressive demos focused on Shortcuts.

Traditionally, building automations required users to manually connect actions and configure workflows. With Apple Intelligence, users can simply describe what they want in plain English.

For example, a user could type: "When I leave work, text my partner that I'm on my way home and include my ETA."

Apple Intelligence then automatically builds the workflow.

If it works as promise, this could make one of Apple's most powerful features accessible to far more people.

Image Playground gets a major overhaul

Apple also unveiled a redesigned Image Playground experience.

The company says image generation quality has improved significantly, with more realistic styles and better overall results. Users can create images through natural language prompts, work with multiple people in a single image and access more advanced editing controls.

Apple is also adding support for custom aspect ratios, making Image Playground more useful for everything from social posts to presentations.

New AI photo editing tools

Apple introduced several new AI-powered editing features that could become some of the most popular additions announced at WWDC.

• Cleanup gets better. Apple says Cleanup can now remove distracting objects with more realistic results and improved image quality.
• Extend. A new feature called Extend can intelligently expand images beyond their original borders. This allows users to change aspect ratios, create more room around a subject or adapt photos for different formats without manually editing them.
• Spatial Reframe. Perhaps the most impressive photo feature announced was Spatial Reframe. Using Apple Intelligence and Apple's spatial understanding technology, users can reposition subjects after taking a photo, improve composition, straighten perspectives and even correct framing mistakes.

The feature can also generate realistic content around the edges of an image when needed, helping preserve a natural look.

Apple says these capabilities will work on both new photos and images already stored in users' libraries.

The bigger picture

While Siri's transformation may become the headline feature of WWDC 2026, Apple's broader strategy was on full display.

Rather than treating AI as a standalone chatbot, Apple is embedding Apple Intelligence directly into the apps people already use every day. Whether it's helping manage schedules, organize photos, automate tasks or handle phone calls, the focus appears to be on reducing friction throughout the Apple ecosystem.

And based on what Apple showed at WWDC, this may be the most significant expansion of Apple Intelligence since it was first introduced. The new Apple Intelligence features will arrive as part of its upcoming software updates.

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AI and photo editing go together like peanut butter and jelly, and Apple's just announced some impressive-sounding editing features at WWDC 2026. But of the three, it's clear that the new Reframe tool absolutely steals the show.

Reframe is a feature that does exactly what it sounds like. The idea is that you can take an existing photo and shift the perspective to create something (almost) totally new. It sounds like the kind of thing Apple would restrict to spatial photos, which are only visible on the Vision Pro headset, but that's not the case.

Referred to as Spatial Reframing, Apple says that this feature can be applied to all pictures Apple Photos has access to — even ones taken by a totally different camera.

The AI scans the photo in question, and once done, you can pull your finger across the screen to change the perspective. Apple Photos lets you see a preview of the final image in real time, and once you've decided on the new perspective, generative AI will shift things around and fill in the blanks.

This effectively means that you don't necessarily need to stress about getting the right photo composition before you actually hit the shutter button. You can always come back to it later and shift things around to make them more visually appealing. Which is pretty incredible, especially when you remember that Apple Photos doesn't have any additional spatial data to work with.

In addition to Reframe, Apple is adding a new "Extend" feature, which is kinda like a reverse crop. It can expand the image beyond its original framing and generate new details that you may not have been able to get into shot the first time around.

Similarly, Clean Up, which arrived as part of iOS 18, is getting a much-needed upgrade that improves performance and offers better results whenever you remove an object.

We hope to test these features in the near future to see just how well they work.

Apple has officially unveiled the biggest Siri upgrade since the voice assistant debuted in 2011.

After years of lagging behind rivals like ChatGPT and Gemini — and following multiple delays to its promised AI features — Apple used WWDC 2026 to reveal a completely revamped Siri powered by Apple Intelligence.

The new Siri, known as Siri AI, is designed to be more conversational, more capable and more aware of what's happening across your devices. Apple says the assistant can now understand context, perform more complex actions and help users get things done without constantly jumping between apps. And the best part? The update goes all the way back to iPhone 11.

Here's everything Apple announced.

Siri is now a true AI chatbot

The biggest change is that Siri is no longer designed around one-off voice commands.

Apple says the new assistant can hold natural conversations, remember context between requests and better understand what you're trying to accomplish.

This brings Siri much closer to the experience people have come to expect from ChatGPT and Gemini. Instead of starting from scratch with every question, Siri can now carry a conversation forward naturally.

Through natural conversation, Siri AI can help set reminders, play music or help with tasks for every day support.

Siri finally gets its own app

One of the biggest surprises announced at WWDC is a dedicated Siri app.

Rather than existing solely as a voice assistant, Siri AI now has a home where users can review previous conversations, continue chats and interact through text as well as voice.

For many users, this could be one of the most important changes because it transforms Siri from a feature into a destination.

Siri is also available for watchOS so you can ask questions and take action right on your wrist.

Siri AI has a new voice experience

Siri AI has a brand new voice experience. The AI assistant's voice can be customized like never before, from pace and tone to receptivity until you find one that clicks.

Plus, there is a system wide update to dictation. Built right into the system, it works with messaging to journaling apps. It also works throughout all of the iOS system from CarPlay to AirPods.

Visual Intelligence

Simply let Siri see what you see and get a useful response. Get rich details and ask questions and conversations. Also, suggest relevant actions and insights based on what's in front of you.

Plus, it's easier than ever to take action right on your screen. Coming to MacOS in September.

Siri can understand what's on your screen

Apple has also introduced screen awareness with Visual Intelligence. The new Siri can understand content currently displayed on your iPhone, iPad or Mac and respond based on what you're looking at.

That means users no longer need to describe every detail manually before asking for help. Siri already knows the context. With real world knowledge and personal context, Siri pulls it all together for you.

Siri can analyze files

Another major addition is support for uploaded files.

Apple demonstrated Siri working with documents such as PDFs, spreadsheets and other files, allowing users to ask questions, summarize information and extract key details.

This dramatically expands what Siri can do and moves it closer to the capabilities offered by dedicated AI chatbots.

Siri can take actions across apps

Perhaps the most ambitious feature announced at WWDC is Siri's ability to complete tasks across multiple apps. It can pull up information from across the web. For example, in a demo, the schedule for the World Cup was pulled up and then from there, Siri was immediately able to help with support for a watch party.

Instead of opening apps one by one, users can ask Siri to perform multi-step actions on their behalf. This could become Siri's biggest advantage over competing AI assistants.

Writing Tools, now integrated with Siri, can now help you write in the moment. For example, just select what you've written and Siri will proofread and offer suggestions.

Other new Siri features announced at WWDC

You can now ask Siri AI for help right from Spotlight. As you type, the system recognizes it is a query for Siri and will immediately bring up info for you to get started.

Siri can search across messages and emails to find whatever it is you're looking for. From there, Siri can take action such as writing an email or extracting phone numbers to help you get more done across iPhone and Mac.

The takeaway

Heading into WWDC, I wondered if Siri was over for Apple. But what Apple showed today suggests the company is trying to reinvent Siri for the AI era rather than simply adding a few chatbot features on top of the assistant we've been using for the past decade.

The real test, of course, will come when these features reach users' devices. But based on today's announcements, Siri suddenly looks a lot more relevant than it did just a few hours ago.

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Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) just kicked off, and there's a lot to unpack, including all sorts of new Apple Watch features coming later this year via watchOS 27.

Many of these new features and enhancements are powered by Apple Intelligence, including a new Siri AI personal assistant. However, there are some noteworthy limitations to watchOS 27.

Here's everything you need to know about Apple's forthcoming Apple Watch operating system, watchOS 27, including all the upgrades, launch timeframe, and compatibility.

watchOS 27: Key upgrades

• Only six Apple Watch models will support watchOS 27: Apple Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3
• watchOS 27 delivers a more powerful Siri AI voice assistant
• A dedicated Siri AI app in watchOS 27 lets you access all conversations, even those started on another device
• A new single-tap gesture lets you open Smart Stack widgets
• Improved motivational guidance in Workout Buddy based on past and present fitness data
• Support for tracking perimenopause and menopause in the Health app
• New Dynamic App Grid for quick access to most-used apps
• Wallet app now supports custom passes for anything with a QR code; users can pin a pass to the Smart Stack for quick access

watchOS 27: Apple Watch compatibility and release date

While the latest iOS 27 software will be supported by a record number of iPhone models, going as far back as the iPhone 11, the newest watchOS 27 release is one of Apple's least compatible.

The following Apple Watch models will support watchOS 27: Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3.

While developers can access watchOS 27 starting this week, the rest of us will need to wait at least a month for the beta to drop. The full release, meanwhile, is set for the fall, when we'll likely see a new Apple Watch Series 12 and possibly an Apple Watch Ultra 4.

watchOS 27: Apple Intelligence updates

The most noteworthy new features introduced in watchOS 27 revolve around Apple Intelligence, which is now partially powered by Google's Gemini AI.

For starters, watchOS 27 will support a custom-tailored version of Siri AI designed for smaller screens. This long-awaited update to Apple's much-maligned voice assistant should prove far more useful than today's Siri.

Siri AI will use personal context from supported apps, along with broad world knowledge, to answer questions and take actions. Better yet, all your Siri AI chats are saved to iCloud and accessible on any supported device.

AI processing in watchOS 27 is handled by private cloud computing rather than on-device. Apple is emphasizing the fact that search queries are completely private, inaccessible even to Apple, and especially to third parties.

Users can call upon Siri AI via voice or access the feature via a new standalone app in the watch's redesigned app grid.

As noted above, you'll need one of the latest/best Apple Watch models to access all of these Apple Intelligence features in watchOS 27, but will you also need an Apple Intelligent-compatible iPhone?

When watchOS 27 was first announced, Apple's marketing materials suggested the answer was yes. However, it now appears that smartphones as old as the iPhone 11 will do.

watchOS 27: New health and fitness features

Not a whole lot has changed in terms of health and fitness features in watchOS 27. The two biggest improvements are related to women's health tracking and Workout Buddy.

First, the Apple Watch Health app's period tracking function now alerts users to potential signs of perimenopause and menopause. It can also be used to log symptoms and monitor trends.

When it comes to working out, Apple's personalized fitness coach, Workout Buddy, has been tuned to deliver more useful/data-backed motivational insights and messages based on insights from current and past workouts.

watchOS 27 also promises improved distance accuracy when tracking indoor workouts, along with better step count syncing between your Apple Watch and iPhone.

watchOS 27: Design improvements

For quicker access to your five most-used apps, watchOS 27 features a new Dynamic App Grid that automatically populates.

watchOS 27 additionally brings a smarter Smart Stack that automatically populates relevant apps based on context. Lastly, for those taking calls from the wrist, Apple's new Call Context feature for Apple Watch can automatically display relevant info when mentioned, like flight times for an upcoming trip.

Meanwhile, the Find My app has been refined visually for a more straightforward, map-centric user experience.

Finally, last year's Liquid Glass update didn't have that much impact on the look and feel of the Apple Watch. Nevertheless, watchOS 27 delivers some tweaks, including better separation between current apps or content and the background.

watchOS 27: Other upgrades

In addition to all of the above, watchOS 27 unlocks faster open times for the Music app, quicker step count syncing between Apple Watch and iPhone, new battery optimization suggestions, and a promising new single-tap gesture control to open items saved to the Smart Stack.

What do you think of the watchOS 27 announcements? Are you excited to upgrade, assuming you have a supported device? How do you feel about its limited compatibility? Let me know in the comments below.

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At WWDC 2026, Apple announced a slew of updates coming to macOS 27, now called macOS Golden Gate. This OS update officially sees the end of the Intel era, but is more future-focused thanks to better AI and smoother performance.

Apple Intelligence and Siri are getting big upgrades for macOS 27, iPadOS 27, and iOS 27. Powered by Google Gemini, Apple's AI is now on par with competitors and is specifically designed to work with the Apple ecosystem.

While most of the updates for macOS Golden Gate are part of the company's greater AI efforts, features like on-device editing and a more conversational Siri should make using Macs more seamless and intuitive.

Here is everything announced for macOS 27 at WWDC.

macOS 27: Quick news

• macOS Golden Gate is the name for macOS 27
• Under-the-hood performance upgrades
• Smarter Siri and better Apple Intelligence
• Liquid Glass UI is more customizable

Siri AI and Apple Intelligence

Powered by Google Gemini, the new AI-infused Siri acts like a proper chatbot. It has features such as contextual awareness, conversational capabilities, improved natural-language support, and more.

You can use Siri AI through Spotlight to easily find files or messages you need. For example, you can ask or type to find a PDF invoice in one of your emails and add its contents to your Numbers budget spreadsheet. This should make Siri a true assistant rather than just an AI that helps you with recipes.

For writers, Siri AI can help you generate drafts from scratch and help proofread your work. And since it's powered by AI, it can learn how you respond to specific people, and even give you suggestions as you write. This should make it a better writing assistant, whether you're working on a big project or just checking in with friends.

Visual Intelligence with Siri is arriving on Macs for the first time. This feature lets you search visually, ask questions, and take actions on your screen. There is a dedicated keyboard shortcut that lets you select something on your Mac's display and type directly to Siri to get answers.

Liquid Glass

Liquid Glass was introduced last year as the big design overhaul for Apple's operating systems, but it didn't go over well with many Mac users. While Liquid Glass isn't going anywhere, it has been fine-tuned for better readability on Macs.

For instance, you now have finer control over its opacity and color. The edges of apps are also more defined, so they stand out more from the background. These updates should alleviate some of the issues users have had since macOS 26.

Smoother performance

Since macOS Golden Gate doesn't introduce major changes from macOS 26, the team was able to make more under-the-hood updates to help everything run more smoothly.

On iPhones, performance has apparently increased by 30%. We don't have exact numbers for macOS, but it should be in that range. This should also lead to better battery life, which would be interesting given how M-series MacBooks already have astonishing battery life.

macOS Golden Gate: Outlook

macOS Golden Gate primarily focuses on the latest updates to Apple Intelligence and Siri. While we didn't hear about any macOS-specific updates, what we're getting should create a more unified ecosystem across Apple's devices. Beyond all the AI updates, the claimed performance boost for Macs and other devices should be especially beneficial.

We'll update this post with the latest macOS Golden Gate news as we hear it, so stay tuned for more.

WWDC 2026 is right around the corner, which means it’s been nearly a year since I first started using iOS 26 — first through the developer beta and later via the public releases. Since then, I’ve managed to explore many of the new features and even put them to the test against their Android counterparts.

In our initial iOS 26 review, my colleagues and I detailed how these features function and what benefits they offer. Now, I want to go back and rate them based on how much I actually use them. Quite frankly, not all of them made a lasting impact. That’s why I’m eager to see what’s coming in iOS 27 and how it might hint at future hardware releases, such as the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, and yes, the rumored iPhone Fold.

Here’s my favorite iOS 26 features after living with the new software for almost a year. And I'm curious: how much do you use them?

Liquid Glass interface overhaul

There was a lot of controversy surrounding Apple’s new design language with Liquid Glass, specifically how the transparency made certain interface elements harder to see. However, that has since been fixed through options that let you adjust the opacity of the effect. As a result, I love the new aesthetic and have kept it enabled ever since the beginning.

Verdict: It’s a slick aesthetic that’s distinctly iOS 26.

Keeping spammers at bay with Call Screening

Visual Voicemail has been great ever since it launched with the original iPhone, but it finally got a well-deserved upgrade with Call Screening on iOS 26.

The feature is excellent at detecting potential scam calls, saving me the frustration of dealing with spammers by directing them straight to the screening function. I really love using it because it transcribes their voice in real time, allowing me to decide whether to pick up or simply let them finish leaving a message.

While it’s still not quite as robust as the Pixel 10 Pro’s Call Screen tool, it’s a great start for Apple.

Verdict: A massive time-saver that keeps spam calls at bay.

3D lock screen with Spatial Scene

iOS 26 clearly brings more customization to the table than ever before. From adding widgets to changing icon colors, Apple has finally bridged the customization gap. But the real showstopper for me has been the ability to create a Spatial Scene on my lock screen.

This feature lets me take a photo I’ve captured and apply a spatial effect tailored for the lock screen to create a striking illusion of depth. Tilting my iPhone slightly showcases just how impressive the 3D effect is, but I also love how it intelligently layers other elements, like the clock and notifications, to complete the look.

Verdict: My lock screen has never been this captivating.

Hold Assist saves me from elevator music

Similar to Call Screening, Hold Assist in iOS 26 has become a handy tool that I rely on whenever the situation arises. Rather than sitting idly on the line enduring looping elevator music, I let Hold Assist do the waiting for me, freeing me up to focus on something else.

Once a human agent picks up on the other end, I’m immediately notified so I can jump straight into the call. While most of my hold times so far have been under five minutes, it’s still an incredibly liberating feature to have in your pocket.

Verdict: A total lifesaver that means never having to endure hold music again.

Interpreter mode with Live Translation

When iOS 18 launched, it introduced the ability to transcribe Voice Memos and generate text summaries — a helpful tool I’ve frequently used to boil down long press conference announcements. With iOS 26, Apple adds a new capability with Live Translation that operates on the fly during phone and FaceTime calls. Powered by Apple Intelligence, it essentially acts as a personal interpreter.

While it is accurate and effective compared to Samsung’s Galaxy AI equivalent, it’s nowhere near as impressive as the Pixel 10 Pro’s Voice Translate feature, which uses generative AI to clone my voice and apply the appropriate regional accent.

Verdict: It works well, but it clearly can’t match Google’s version.

Easier searches with Visual Intelligence

New Apple Intelligence features were few and far between with the arrival of iOS 26, but the most meaningful addition expanded Visual Intelligence. Its functionality is now baked directly into the screenshot tool, allowing me to search for anything I’m looking at on my screen instantly.

It’s Apple’s answer to Google’s Circle to Search, making it easy to identify an actor in a video or determine if an outdoor shrub is poisonous. I love that I no longer have to jump over to Safari to manually search for things, which is exactly why this feature comes in so handy.

Verdict: Saves me from the hassle of manually looking everything up.

Quick engagement with Polls in Messages

Group messaging in iOS 26 gained the native ability to create polls, which is perfect for quickly gathering answers in one central place rather than sorting through disjointed replies over several hours.

Perhaps because I don’t participate in as many massive group chats as other people, it’s just not something I’ve relied on as much as the other new features.

Verdict: Helpful if your daily routine revolves around group chats.

New CarPlay features

Since I test a lot of the best electric cars, I’m constantly pairing my iPhone to access CarPlay while driving. iOS 26 introduces a wealth of new features that make the interface far more intuitive and visually appealing — specifically how it neatly mirrors the phone's new Liquid Glass aesthetic.

Other features I’ve come to rely on include the ability to add new widgets to the CarPlay home screen, the option to swap out Siri for ChatGPT, and support for quick Tapback message replies.

Verdict: A gorgeous, highly functional upgrade for anyone who spends significant time on the road.

Streamlined Camera app

For years, I’ve criticized Apple for burying essential shooting controls instead of making them easily accessible within the viewfinder. Thankfully, iOS 26 addresses many of my long-standing frustrations with its streamlined Camera app layout.

In addition to adopting the sleek Liquid Glass aesthetic, the app finally lets me adjust photo and video resolutions directly from the screen, rather than forcing me to dive into the main Settings app like in the past. While Apple could still add a few more advanced toggles to match the sheer depth of Samsung's pro modes, this remains a tremendous, long-overdue update.

Verdict: The exact cleanup iPhone photographers have been waiting for.

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Apple’s WWDC 2026 won’t be remembered for the new features introduced within iOS 27, macOS 27 and iPadOS 27. It will be the underlying assistant that runs across all of them. That would be the new Siri, which has suffered a very long delay as Apple has been pushing to deliver features promised two years ago.

This includes the ability for Siri to tap into personal data, ‘see’ what’s on your screen and voice control your apps.

What has changed during this delay is that Apple is partnering with Google to have Gemini power the new Siri, and it's reportedly costing Apple $1 billion a year. The stakes couldn’t be higher, as the new Siri won’t just live inside iPhones, iPads and Macs. It’s expected to power Apple’s smart glasses, a wearable AI pendant and a new smart home hub.

It's also worth noting that Apple CEO Tim Cook is about hand the reins over to John Ternus — and Cook certainly wants to leave Siri in a good state since he presided over its launch way back in 2011. Ahead of WWDC 2026, I spoke with Apple analysts about what they want to see from Apple’s supercharged assistant and what’s on the line.

The new Siri: what can it do?

In addition to the overdue features Apple promised before the iPhone 16 launch, the new Siri is expected to gain all sorts of new powers as part of iOS 27.

This is thanks in large part to Apple licensing a custom 1.2-trillion-parameter Gemini model for roughly $1 billion a year.

As reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Siri will let you perform advanced tasks, such as writing an email for you and pulling together relevant info. It will also be able to pull in data from the web and previous emails, calendar entries, contacts and notes.

“I want a more personal Siri that uses context and all the data she has about me to deliver a superior experience that provides real value to users,” said Carolina Milanesi, president and principal analyst at Creative Strategies.

How users access Siri is also set to change, as it’s expected to live inside the Dynamic Island on iPhones.

The assistant will open there when you say ’Siri’ or long press the power button. This area will display rich cards based on your queries, whether it’s the weather or your own data like appointments.

Similar to cross-app actions on Samsung phones, Apple users will apparently be able to stack multiple commands into a single prompt.

Wait, is Apple making an AI chatbot?

The biggest change for Siri is that it will reportedly act as a chatbot, similar to ChatGPT and Gemini. This is despite the fact that Apple’s Greg ‘Joz’ Joswiak and Craig Federighi told us at WWDC last year that this isn’t what its users wanted.

"Apple didn't want to send users off into some chat experience in order to get things done,” Federighi said at the time.

However, Federighi did say that Apple wants “to bring intelligence deeply integrated into the experience of all of our platforms.”

So Siri may indeed act like a chatbot, but it’s clear that Apple wants the assistant to not be a destination and more of an always-on presence.

Or maybe it’s not clear at all? Some WWDC rumors point to Apple possibly rolling out a dedicated Siri app as well. And there are leaked screenshots to back it up. Ultimately, though, no one will care if Apple goes back on its “chatbot” word if Siri works well.

"Apple needs to show that Siri is as capable as other smart assistants — as it promised at WWDC two years ago — and that it can get developers to allow Siri to securely and privately access apps to act on the user's behalf,” said Avi Greengart, founder and lead analyst at Techsponential.

The Google gamble

In order to catch up in the AI wars, Apple is leaning on a Gemini model from Google, and Bloomberg’s Gurman says that Google is hosting “most of the new Siri on Google servers.”

This will likely raise privacy questions, especially given that Apple touted its own Private Cloud Compute as a “new frontier for AI privacy” when it introduced Apple Intelligence back in 2024.

Apple did promise a continued commitment to privacy when it announced its partnership with Google back in January, but it didn’t provide any details at the time.

Since then, however, we’ve learned that Apple is reportedly tapping into Google’s fleet of Nvidia Blackwell B200 data center chips. As per The Information, Apple will enable a confidential compute feature that encrypts data as it’s being processed.

“I’m most looking forward to seeing how well Apple's Gemini-based small models perform…and how Apple can manage security if it will be using Google's servers in some cases rather than its own,” Greengart said.

Choose your own AI

While Gemini will be under the hood of the new Siri, it won’t be the only option for users.

Apple is reportedly opening up Siri to outside chatbots, which had already included ChatGPT. You’ll apparently be able to toggle between Claude, Gemini and ChatGPT within the Search or Ask view in iOS 27 with so-called Siri extensions.

OpenAI in particular has not been happy with the results of its partnership with Apple and has reportedly even contemplated legal action. So it will be very interesting to see how much visibility these alternate chatbots get within the interface — and how well it all works.

“I am curious to see how Apple handles multi-AI options, not just because this is how users will likely want to use AI — at least till they pick their favorite — but also because it is one of the first times that Apple is not doing everything itself for something that matters,” Milanesi added.

Why the new Siri can't fail

Apple’s Siri delay led to claims of false advertising following the launch of the iPhone 15 Pro series and iPhone 16. The phones simply couldn’t do what was promised.

Apple never admitted wrongdoing, but it settled a class action lawsuit to the tune of $250 million.

Now there are much bigger stakes than possible litigation. The new Siri is expected to make Apple smart glasses a reality, complete with Visual Intelligence features.

The glasses are expected to launch in 2027. And while they’re expected to shake up the market with an iconic design and best-of-breed cameras, shoppers could very well balk if Siri isn’t smart enough.

At the same time, Apple is reportedly working on a wearable AI pendant powered by Siri, as well as AirPods with cameras. And these devices will also heavily rely on Siri. Plus, Apple has reportedly had its new smart home hub on the shelf just waiting for its assistant to be up to snuff.

What’s not clear is how the new Siri will work with alternative chatbots on these other devices, and if it will be a seamless experience for users. Choice is good, but not if it leads to confusion.

“If it turns out that owning your own models is core to success in the future, then even the most impressive implementation of Apple Intelligence based on Gemini won't help,” Greengart said. “And if it turns out that owning the platform the models run on is more important, then Apple is in excellent position.”

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Just like that, WWDC 2026 has come and gone with big announcements around Siri AI, Apple Intelligence features, Parental Controls, and visual tweaks to Liquid Glass across all platforms.

The highlight of the show was the new version of Siri that lives across all of its platforms to perform complex actions. From being able to know what you're looking at on your phone, to automating tasks across different apps, Siri AI is the biggest update to the assistant ever since the rollout of Siri over a decade ago.

At the same time, the company ensured that Apple Intelligence was also a critical part of its announcement. Users will have access to powerful tools, like the ability to make complex photo edits by simply describing them.

In a heart felt moment at the end, Apple CEO Tim Cook took the time to thank fans for the years of support. "I truly believe that the best is still ahead, and Apple is creating the best products in the world to deliver experiences that enrich people's lives," explained Cook.

How to rewatch WWDC 2026

Now that the event is over, you can rewatch the entire WWDC 2026 keynote in its entirety with the video above.

WWDC 2026: Biggest announcements

Apple’s iPhone software has traditionally been the cornerstone of WWDC, but this year's event really dove deeper with Siri AI and Apple Intelligence. The two were the most talked out things at the event, but there were still other notable mentions. Here's all the biggest announcements from WWDC 2026:

• Siri AI: Apple's assistant got its biggest update with Siri AI, rebuilt with a deep, system-wide understanding of personal context and on-screen awareness.
• Apple Intelligence: Apple expanded Apple Intelligence features that cover everything for generative features with photo editing, to the Home app delivering smarter notifications about security camera alerts.
• iOS 27: Apple officially unveiled iOS 27 at WWDC 2026, delivering changes like speed optimizations alongside highly requested refinements and a personalization slider for Liquid Glass.
• macOS 27 Golden Gate:  This OS update officially appears to indicate the end of the Intel era, but is more future-focused thanks to better AI and smoother performance.
• Parental Controls: If you have kids that use Apple devices, then you'll have control with how they use them thanks to deeper parental controls such as the ability to choose what apps they use and websites they can visit.
• iPadOS 27: Sharing many of the same new features as other software updates, like deep Siri AI integration, Apple Intelligence, and Parental Controls, iPadOS 27 also gains Liquid Glass improvements.
• visionOS 27: Likewise, there wasn't a whole lot new with visionOS 27, but Apple demoed off how Siri AI functions in the virtual space, redesigned Control Center, and more.
• watchOS 27: On top of Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features, the Apple Watch software will receive improvements related to women's health tracking and Workout Buddy.

WWDC 2026: Live updates

WWDC 2026 is tomorrow — here's what we expect

Howdy folks! WWDC 2026 is a day away and my colleagues and I will be guiding you through all the developments leading up to the event tomorrow, including everything that actually gets announced.

Apple's operating systems have always been the focus at past developers conferences, but this year's event is especially going to center around artificial intelligence. Here's the 9 biggest announcements we expect from WWDC 2026 tomorrow.

Siri's on tap for an ultimate glow-up

After spending a solid year facing heavy criticism and missing its own deadlines, Siri is reportedly preparing for its biggest update since 2011 with the release of the iPhone 4s. Ironically enough, it was Tim Cook who introduced it to the world after taking over as Apple's CEO from Steve Jobs.

Rumors have been boiled for a good while now that Apple is finally dropping a massive overhaul for Siri, including a dedicated standalone app, true conversational chatbot capabilities, and the power to read your screen and process uploaded documents.

iOS 27 tipped for big updates for native apps

It wouldn't be a typical WWDC if Apple doesn't talk about it iPhone software. While Siri should be taking a chunk of the announcement, we can certainly expect to hear a lot about iOS 27.

Leaks point to other features beyond the new Siri and Apple Intelligence features, including updates to popular apps like the Camera, Photos, and more.

More photo editing AI features coming to your iPhone

To date, the only big AI tool that Apple has given us for photo editing has been Clean Up. While it's clearly helpful at times, it still trails the impressive performances from rivals Google and Samsung.

Well, Apple is reportedly ready to play serious catch-up with them by introducing a heavy dose of generative AI to the native Photos app in iOS 27. Specifically, the rumors hint at Apple introducing a dedicated suite of Apple Intelligence features, including Enhance, Extend, and Reframe.

These photos prove why Apple needs an AI update

Around this time last year, I put the photo removing features from Apple, Google, and Samsung to the test to see how they can use generative AI to remove unwanted elements from a photo.

If you look at the gallery above with the photo I captured of Amazon's Panos Panay at event, you'll see why Apple's in desperate need of an AI upgrade. For some reason, it couldn't properly remove those subjects and fill them in with some as realistic as its rivals.

Updates to macOS 27 and potentially clues to the possibility of touch

While Apple has spent over a decade insisting that a touchscreen laptop makes zero sense, macOS 27 might finally prepare the software for a major hardware reversal.

Rumors leading into WWDC 2026 suggest that Cupertino is quietly adapting its desktop interface with larger tap targets, optimized gesture controls, and subtle UI tweaks originally borrowed from iPadOS. Even though hardware reveals are typically rare at the annual developer showcase, this is the perfect opportunity to lay the digital foundation for a rumored touchscreen MacBook.

It's do or die for Apple Intelligence

Since I test many of the best phones, it's pretty evident that AI features now make up a huge chunk of a phone's value. When iOS 26 launched, it barely had any new Apple Intelligence features. In fact, the most meaningful one was Apple integrating Visual Intelligence with the screenshot function.

While everyone is hyper-focused on the massive Siri redesign, the real star of WWDC 2026 might be the system-wide Apple Intelligence upgrades hitting all its software platforms. From AI tools for photo editing to deeper software integration that knows you, Apple can't afford to have another lackluster showing with Apple Intelligence.

If a touchscreen MacBook is a possibility, then iPhones need this feature

If it's suggested that Apple's working on bringing touch support to macOS 27, then it also opens up the idea of another, very critical feature that I know would elevate iOS 27.

I'm referring to an iPhone desktop mode, which has long been rumored to be happening. Between Samsung DeX, Motorola’s Smart Connect, and the Pixel's increasingly capable desktop mode, Android flagships are actively turning into legitimate mobile workstations.

And if Apple wants to lay the groundwork for its rumored iPhone Fold or give professionals a reason to leave their MacBooks at home, iOS 27 absolutely needs to unlock a true, windowed desktop experience.

iPhone Fold rumors continue to grow — will it get teased?

Hardware reveals have been a rare occurrence at Apple's developer conference over the past decade, but it's not entirely out of the question. For example, the Apple Vision Pro was introduced at WWDC 2023.

For this year's event, nothing stands out more than another long-rumored product category Apple has been expected to tackle: foldable devices. Just last week, fresh dummy units of what appears to be the iPhone Fold shared by insider Ice Universe revealed a wider, more compact, passport-like form factor.

Perhaps we'll get a teaser of it at WWDC 2026?

iPadOS 27 tipped to consolidate app designs and gain smarter sidebars

Following a massive, UI-heavy overhaul last year with Liquid Glass, iPadOS 27 is tipped to be an iterative update focused heavily on refinement and layout optimization.

Rumors suggest Apple is tweaking core system apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and Apple TV to strip away messy tab layers, all while merging search functions directly into unified navigation sidebars. This subtle change is reportedly designed to better leverage the iPad’s expansive display, while quietly laying the interface groundwork for Apple's long-rumored foldable portfolio.

When can we expect to see an iPhone Fold launch?

Just weeks after early leaks pointed to a smooth transition toward trial production, Apple’s highly anticipated foldable iPhone Fold — rumored to eventually be called "iPhone Ultra" — has reportedly hit a massive manufacturing snag.

Insiders indicate that the device is running into severe assembly and component yield issues at the pre-assembly stage. The bottleneck stems primarily from Apple's incredibly strict quality-control thresholds for the ultra-premium, rumored $2,000-plus cost for the device.

Taking that into consideration, it's tough to say if it'll launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max debuts sometime in the fall. It could even be delayed until next year.

Siri could finally be the Agentic AI I've been waiting for

As Apple prepares to pitch its massive Siri overhaul at WWDC 2026, it can finally be the AI agent that matches what I've been seeing over on Android. Earlier this spring, a Galaxy S26 software update unlocked Gemini-powered screen automation. I managed to to use it to successfully order a large Dunkin' coffee and a donut via DoorDash without the user lifting a finger.

While the automated process still takes a couple of minutes to navigate menus behind the scenes, it represents a massive change from static chatbots to proactive tools that interact with the real world. If the rumors of Siri getting its own agentic Extensions with iOS 27 are true, Apple's playing a critical catch-up to a concrete ecosystem that has been proven to be effective.

Real multitasking needs to happen with iOS 27 — here's why

Do you see that gif animation above? That's Open Canvas in action with the OnePlus Open, which even now, remains as one of the best foldable phones around.

With Apple set to introduce a slew of new features with iOS 27, it can't afford to not properly introduce a new multitasking experience. This has greater implications on the rumored iPhone Fold/iPhone Ultra, seeing that WWDC 2026 needs to unveil a dynamic, fluid multitasking engine that lets users effortlessly drag, drop, split, and layer apps without the clunkiness that has historically plagued the iPad's Stage Manager.

Are the Apple Glasses going to be a disruptive product?

With the Apple Vision Pro essentially on ice, Cupertino is reportedly shifting its wearable strategy toward a mainstream, display-less pair of smart spectacles designed to completely swallow the traditional eyewear industry.

According to internal roadmaps, Apple is eyeing the highly lucrative $200-to-$500 mid-tier segment — the exact territory dominated by giants like Luxottica and Warby Parker — and plans to weaponize its signature ecosystem lock-in, sleek industrial frames, and advanced on-device AI to convert regular glasses wearers.

Considering how Meta commands a massive head start with its Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses, Apple's strategy isn't to build a niche gadget, but rather to turn corrective eyewear into the next essential iPhone health accessory.

Judgment day is finally here for Siri

When Apple originally teased a smarter, more contextual version of Siri, it felt like the tech giant was ready to reclaim its throne in the voice assistant space.

Fast forward through a series of internal engineering roadblocks and missed deadlines, and the assistant still struggles to keep pace with what its competitors have and continue to do. That's why tomorrow's WWDC 2026 keynote is judgement day for Apple and Siri. If Apple can't successfully ship a revamped, Gemini-backed Siri that can natively read your screen and execute multi-step tasks across apps, it risks permanently losing the consumer AI race to Google and OpenAI.

iOS 27 needs better Apple Intelligence features — and this is proof

Yet another feature I want to highlight needs to be injected with help from Apple Intelligence is the Call Screening feature introduced with iOS 26 last year.

During my side-by-side testing against the Pixel's equivalent feature, the iPhone successfully transcribes text in real time, but fundamentally halts there — failing to offer intelligent, actionable responses, or automatic spam flags. Meanwhile, Google Assistant on the Pixel actively looks deeper at the conversation to serve up contextual quick-replies.

If Apple wants its version to be more than a glorified, live-view answering machine, iOS 27 desperately needs to inject some serious Apple Intelligence into the dialer.

What Apple has planned for macOS 27

With tomorrow's WWDC 26, we expect to hear more about Apple's plan for operating systems like iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, particularly as it relates to Apple Intelligence. MacOS 27 also marks a new era for Macs, which will drop support for Intel and (finally) introduce a smarter Siri infused with AI. Check out our 5 biggest predictions for macOS 27 at tomorrow's showcase.

Waving goodbye to an era

Given that Apple CEO Tim Cook plans to step down in September, ahead of the expected iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Fold launch, it's safe to assume this year's WWDC, which will be his last, will include some send-offs for the long-standing exec. His last year coincides with Apple's 50th anniversary, which I suspect is no coincidence. He's not the type to go out with a huge bang, though, so don't expect another private concert with Paul McCartney.

Apple's WWDC 26 playlist

While your waiting for Monday's big event to kick off, why not enjoy some tunes? Apple's pushed out an official WWDC playlist on Apple Music to keep this hype train going, which includes tracks from Justin Bieber, sombr, BTS, Teddy Swims, Harry Styles and more.

Inside Apple's 'secret meeting' on AI

If you're into Apple intrigue, look no further than Mark Gurman's piece in Bloomberg today on how a pivotal AI meeting led to Mike Rockwell taking command of Siri — and John Giannandrea ultimately being shown the door. Apparently, in early 2025 multiple Apple execs "held a consequential meeting in a conference room near the software engineering department overseen by Craig Federighi."

During that fateful meeting, Rockwell, who had led the development of the Vision Pro, volunteered to "become Apple’s fixer for artificial intelligence and Siri." Apple CEO Tim Cook would ultimately give Rockwell the keys (while still reporting to Craig Federighi), and Cook became much more involved in Apple's AI roadmap, weighing in on features and product development. We'll see if this shift pays off during the keynote and once we get iOS 27 and the new Siri in our hands.

watchOS 27: Biggest rumored features

While the Apple Watch doesn't get a ton of a attention at WWDC, there are at least three rumored features you need to know about for watchOS 27. According to Bloomber's Mark Gurman, improvements to heart-rate tracking are coming. We can also expect a Apple Watch Ultra inspired watch face that's more modular. But the biggest upgrade could be Siri integration, though we don't know what form that will take yet on the Apple Watch lineup.

Apple Wallet: Create your own passes?

Apple Wallet already comes in super handy for me for flight check-ins, but what about things that don't have a pass attached to them? That's there the pass-building tool comes in for iOS 27. As reported by Bloomberg, iPhone users will be able to generate custom passes in Apple Wallet from a QR code. This will apparently work for tickets, memberships, gift cards and more.

One of my favorite WWDC memories: 2023 Vision Pro announcement

Talk about a surprise. For WWDC 2023, there were rumors that Apple was making a mixed reality headset, but nothing at all concrete. Well, Apple surprised everyone by announcing the Vision Pro during the event as its "one more thing."

While the spatial computing device was indeed impressive — especially the eye- and finger-controlled interface — the $3,500 starting price shocked the crowd. My gut reaction still rings true today.

What the new Siri could look like

Ahead of WWDC, Bloomberg put together some renders of the what the new Siri could look like in iOS 27, and it is a pretty major transformation. For starters, Siri will live within the Dynamic Island on your iPhone and act like a chatbot. You'll be able to choose from Siri but also extensions for ChatGPT, Gemini and Anthropic (reportedly).

The interface itself will use rich cards to display information, and you'll be able to easily see past chats within a dedicated Siri app. We're looking forward to seeing the real thing.

Will there be a "one more thing" moment?

Apple’s “one more thing…” announcements have delivered some of the company's biggest moments over the years, from the first MacBook Air to the debut Apple Watch. More recently, Apple has used the tradition sparingly, with the reveal of Apple Vision Pro standing as the most notable modern example to come from a WWDC keynote.

Heading into WWDC 2026, rumors of major new hardware remain quiet. The spotlight is expected to shine on software with an emphasis on AI. But there's one reason I'm not completely ruling out a surprise: this is widely expected to be Tim Cook’s final WWDC keynote as CEO. Wouldn't it be fitting for him to close out his legacy with just one more "one more thing?"

Camera app upgrades in iOS 27

Do you ever wish you could customize the camera on your iPhone? That's apparently happening with the iOS 27 Camera app, which will give you more control over what elements you want front and center. You'll be able to place camera controls (labeled as widgets) in any order, and widgets will be organized into categories: basic, manual and settings. The advanced option will also reportedly unlock controls for things like depth-of-field and exposure.

Poll: What do you want to see at WWDC 2026?

As the countdown to the WWDC keynote begins we wanted to throw things over to you. What has you the most psyched about this year's Apple event? I'll admit, seeing the Apple Glasses as a tease is a LONG shot, but you never know.

Visual Intelligence (now with actual intelligence)

No offense, but up until now I have not been very impressed with Apple's Visual Intelligence feature, especially compared to the likes of Gemini Live and ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode with video. The good news is that we've learned of two additions for Visual Intelligence that's part of iOS 27.

• Nutrition: Users can scan nutrition labels on food packaging for calorie and nutrient tracking using the Health app.
• Contacts: Visual Intelligence‌ will let users scan phone numbers and addresses on business cards, adding info to the Contacts app.

From "not trying to create a chatbot" to a Siri chat app?

One of the more intriguing questions heading into WWDC 2026 is whether Apple is about to embrace the very thing it told us wasn't the goal with the long-awaited updated Siri experience.

In an interview with Tom's Guide following last year's WWDC keynote, Apple executives Craig Federighi and Greg 'Joz' Joswiak argued that the future of AI isn't about pushing users into a separate chat window every time they want to get something done. You can watch the full interview above for more context.

Rumors ahead of WWDC suggest Apple may be preparing a dedicated Siri chat experience with persistent conversations and a more ChatGPT-like interface. And if that's what Apple ultimately unveils, it wouldn't necessarily be a contradiction. Expect the "new Siri" to be integrated throughout the experience of all Apple platforms, but now with the option to visit a native chatbot-style destination on device.

iOS 27 under-the-radar upgrades

While a standalone Siri chatbot is the kind of headlining feature that'll leave us talking after WWDC 2026, I've found it’s often the unflashy or even "underrated" software updates from the keynote announcements that actually improve how we use our Apple devices every day.

Digging into the details of Bloomberg’s iOS 27 report, here are three low-profile rumored features that sound like they could be the best quality-of-life improvements for iPhone users:

• Natural Language Shortcuts: iOS 27 reportedly lets you just type your intended actions with Shortcuts in plain English instead of building coding-style blocks. This would democratize one of the iPhone's best, yet most underutilized productivity features.
• Refined Grammar Tools: Instead of standard autocorrect, Apple is reportedly testing a translucent, slide-up writing assistant menu. According to Mark Gurman, this feature would act like Grammarly, letting you actively review writing fixes on the fly.
• Left-Side Notifications: Incoming notifications will reportedly slide in from the left side to pair with a completely new gesture layout in iOS 27. While it would be huge UI pivot, it would free up the top of the screen for the new Siri features. This is one with potential for mixed user feedback, but maybe it'll be optional?

Will we see Apple's Mac Mini M5?

At this point, we've mostly counted out seeing new hardware during WWDC 2026. But if there's one device Apple would launch, our bets would be on the Mac Mini M5. The latest rumors point to a refresh of Apple's mini PC arriving sometime before the end of this year, and there's certainly a high demand for it.

If you actually try to go buy a current Mac mini right now, you'll see that shipping dates are pushed out by months. What gives? There are actually two things happening in the world of tech that explain why what was once the most affordable Mac (based on starting price) is suddenly the hardest to get:

• The local AI boom: The Mac Mini has become wildly popular for developers running local AI models and agentic tools. Because Apple Silicon uses ultra-fast unified memory, a high-RAM Mac mini is essentially a powerhouse for running heavy AI workloads completely offline.
• Global RAM shortage: Compounding that demand is a brutal global memory shortage. Read our very own Jason England's interview with a RAM analyst to catch up on the crisis and learn when we might see some relief.

That said, we're still not counting on WWDC 2026 being the time for a Mac Mini M5 announcement. While the chip upgrade will be a massive leap for AI performance, until the global supply chain shows signs of stabilization, it's unlikely Apple will rush out this refresh.

I'm actually hoping for visionOS 27 news (for the Glasses)

Yes, Apple is reportedly launching smart glasses in 2027 without a display, but after that the company is expected to go all-in on full AR glasses. At WWDC I hope to learn more about visionOS 27, because any new features could help paint a picture of what the Apple Glasses of tomorrow will be able to do.

Take visionOS 26 that Apple launched last year. When seeing the widgets that basically melt into your wall, my thoughts immediately turned to smart glasses. More of that this year please.

Siri 'extensions' are coming

While Apple is leveraging Google's Gemini models to power Siri, it's important to recognize that Apple's assistant will be its own thing with its own features. However, it sounds like you will be able to access other AI chatbots via so-called Siri extensions.

Back in March, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple plans to open up Siri to other AI assistants in iOS 27. Siri already lets you send queries to ChatGPT, but Gemini and Claude should be added to the mix.

This is Apple's new "Snow Leopard" moment

Reports suggest that iOS 27 and macOS 27 are both focused on stability and refinement, but the work could go deeper than you might have expected. Mark Gurman has likened the upgrades to 2009's Mac OS X Snow Leopard, which made serious improvements to the performance of the OS X Leopard update from two years prior.

The idea behind the updates is to clean up the backend. This includes optimizing the software, removing junk code, and making iOS 27 and macOS 27 lighter and more efficient in the process.

The benefit being that a more efficient operating system should translate to improved machine performance, faster load times, lower power consumption, and possibly even reduced storage requirements. So while the emphasis may not be on new features, that doesn't mean Apple engineers haven't been hard at work.

AI is getting some love this year

The focus may be on refining Apple's operating systems this year, but that doesn't mean there won't be any new features coming to your iPhone. Not only are we expecting to see the new, Gemini-powered Siri, but Apple is also set to make improvements to Apple Intelligence and its suite of AI features.

Rumors and reports suggest that we'll see new and improved AI photo-editing features, custom AI-generated wallpapers, more realistic image generation in Image Playground, improved Genmoji designs, as well as improvements to Visual Intelligence that should make it actually feel intelligent.

New Siri is coming, and it could make or break Apple Intelligence

The most exciting thing about WWDC 2026 is the long-awaited reveal of Siri 2.0. The AI upgrade was originally announced back in 2024, set to arrive as part of iOS 18, but Apple faced a lot of issues trying to get everything to work. In the end, the reports claim that Apple partnered with Google to help get the ball rolling again.

That means the new version of Siri will apparently run on the same models that power Google Gemini. How different it will be from Google's AI isn't clear, but we have heard that Apple is still working hard to emphasize the privacy aspects of its own AI — to help it stand out from the competition.

The pressure is on, too, since this version of Siri is expected to expand across the entire Apple ecosystem. Not only will it be available on iPhones and Macs, it's also expected to power Apple's new smart home hub, AI glasses and a rumored AI pendant.

Customizable Liquid Glass

Liquid Glass may be a slightly controversial addition to iOS, but it isn't going to be ditched anytime soon. In fact, iOS 27 might give you a little more control over the design, with reports suggesting that a system-wide slider is coming as part of the update.

Apparently, this feature was planned for iOS 26, but was scrapped due to technical limitations. The idea is that the slider will give you a lot more control over the Liquid Glass effects, rather than being forced to choose between transparent and opaque options that are currently available.

The camera is getting some love too

iOS 27 should also see Apple catch up to rivals by adding professional camera controls to the official Apple camera app. This means that Apple is expected to open various settings within the camera app that let users customize the way the photo is taken. In much the same way that you can on a lot of standalone cameras, and various third-party camera apps.

Crucially, though, while a lot of professional camera apps cost money, either as a paid download or ongoing subscription, this should be completely free. The specifics of which settings will be adjustable aren't clear, but early reports claim that depth-of-field and exposure will be included.

To top it off, Apple is also supposedly making the camera interface customizable, with new widget placements and the ability to keep certain settings more accessible.

How well do you know Apple?

WWDC is extra special this year, because it also marks Apple's 50th anniversary. A lot can happen in that time, but how much of it do you actually know about? Take our 50th anniversary Apple quiz to find out.

Which phones will support iOS 27?

Every year, we see older iPhones lose out on the next iOS update, and those of you rocking older devices might be concerned about your device missing out.

Last year saw the iPhone Xs and iPhone XR miss out on iOS 26, and if that trend is anything to go by, it means the iPhone 11 family will likely miss out on iOS 27. There's always the chance Apple will keep it around another year, but if any iPhones will be left with iOS 26 it'll be these three.

There's also a chance that the iPhone SE 2020 will lose support, since it runs on the same chipset as the iPhone 11 series. However, since it was released several months later, there's still a chance it will continue into 2027 with full software support. We'll find out for sure when the first iOS 27 beta details are confirmed.

Touch-capable macOS

We're not expecting to see any MacBook announcements at WWDC, but the release of macOS 27 could come with some clues about the upcoming touchscreen MacBook — also known as the MacBook Ultra.

The Ultra won't be arriving until early next year, according to recent reports, but that means macOS 27 already needs to be ready to handle the touchscreen elements.

It's unlikely that Apple will make a big deal about macOS 27's touch capabilities, and we're expecting the entire keynote to pass by without any mention of what's to come. But eagle-eyed viewers may be able to see some hints during the keynote, and following the release of macOS 27 beta.

Dark Mode comes to Siri

There's been a lot of talk about Siri's upcoming AI-powered capabilities, but what you may not have known about is the impending dark mode makeover the AI is about to get. According to reports, Siri 2.0 won't come with a light mode option, and will instead only offer darker colors.

If you've seen the WWDC artwork, like the image above, you may get an idea of what the new dark mode Siri will look like. Mark Gurman claims that the app will feature a dark background with a bight blinking cursor, with a similar color scheme to the logo in question.

Can we expect any hardware reveals?

Apple's revealed many memorable devices over the years with its developers conference and it's possible we may see something at this time. Just a few years ago, the Apple Vision Pro was unveiled to the world at WWDC 2023.

Several rumored hardware devices could be in Apple's future, like the iPhone Fold, MacBook Ultra, and Apple Glasses. Only time will tell if any of them gets teased, but which is your all-tome favorite Apple device?

5 biggest WWDC announcements? Here's Google Gemini's prediction

We already know that Apple's tapping Gemini to power its next version of Siri, which should be one of the highlights of WWDC 2026. The current AI chatbot that's available on phones and desktops certainly can do some amazing things, but we've asked it to predict some of the biggest announcements of WWDC 2026. Here's what it gave us.

• The Siri Super-Overhaul with Gemini: You'll be able to give multi-step, chained commands in a single prompt; there's a standalone Siri App and (finally) on-screen awareness.
• A New "Search or Ask" AI Panel: Swiping down from the top center will launch Search or Ask. From this panel, you can run system shortcuts, search your phone, or hand off complex queries to third-party chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini.
• iOS 27 & macOS 27: A "Snow Leopard" Focus on Stability. Apple's upcoming software updates (iOS 27, macOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27) are expected to act as a "deep clean" with a focus on better battery life and less bugs. Liquid Glass is getting refined, too.
• Customizable Camera App, Better Visual Intelligence: A redesigned Camera app will feature customizable widgets and the power to scan nutrition labels (instantly logging calories/nutrients into the Health app) or read documents to create contact cards.
• Photos Generative AI Tools, Apple Wallet Upgrades: Photos will get advanced generative tools like Extend, Reframe, and Enhance. The Wallet app will introduce built-in bill-splitting and easy digital pass creation.

These all sound like accurate predictions, based on the all the rumors we've been covering, but it'll also be interesting to see what hardware, in any, gets revealed at the event later today.

We're on the ground at Apple Park!

It's a busy morning at Apple Park for WWDC 2026! Our very own Mark Spoonauer and Kate Kozuch are on the ground, ready to report on whatever Apple has in store.

While this year's keynote will likely highlight Apple Intelligence and the new Siri, the event is especially notable for potentially being the last one led by Tim Cook.

Photos app could gain its biggest feature in years —  and it might be thanks to Apple Intelligence

Already, the rumors surround Apple Intelligence hint to a big upgrade coming to the Photos app for iOS 27. We're referring to an AI tool that could transform complex photo edits that normally take some time and dwindle them to a matter of seconds, all by simply telling it what changes you want.

This sounds a lot like Google's Ask Photos feature than debuted with the Pixel 10 lineup last fall, which was then rolled out as a native feature within Google Photos. The images above in the gallery highlight how easy it is to edit photos, like swapping out the shirt you're wearing, changing backgrounds, and eliminating unwanted people from the shot.

Apple's expected to announce big news — here's our predictions

We're still getting through the massive lines that formed at Apple Park ahead of today's WWDC 2026 keynote, where we'll likely get our first look at its biggest software updates. Obviously, things like iOS 27, macOS 27, iPadOS 27, and watchOS 27 should get previewed, but here are our biggest predictions for what else we might see.

Gemini's task automation feature changes everything — Siri needs to catch up

When we tried out Gemini's new task automation feature for the first time, we were blown away by how well it worked. That's because our very own John Velasco used his Galaxy S26 to place an order to Dunkin' using Google Gemini. With just a short voice command asking it to place the order through DoorDash, the AI assistant went ahead and did everything for him.

You won't find this level of intelligence on current iPhones, which is why all eyes are on Apple for WWDC 2026 to see if the new Siri will follow suit and gain similar functionality. The rumors hint at Siri integrating on a deeper level with iOS 27, so hopefully it can perform this level of automation.

We're a little over an hour away from the start of the WWDC 2026 keynote and Apple Park has come to life with the amount of people eager to see what's in store.

Will OpenAI be the biggest loser?

While OpenAI's ChatGPT is integrated into iOS 26, things are looking to change in a big way with iOS 27. That's because of Apple's deal with Google earlier this year to tap Gemini's powerful models and integrate them with the new Siri.

If that's not enough, it's rumored that iOS 27 will offer users more choice on which AI chatbot to use. By transforming Siri into a native chatbot app and opening the OS to multiple third-party models like Claude, Apple is aggressively leveling the playing field and stripping OpenAI of its unique advantage on the iPhone.

Breakfast now, keynote soon

We're less than an hour from the start of the WWDC 2026 keynote, which is reportedly going to be the last one led by Tim Cook. Before that gets here, we're checking out what Apple's offering guests for breakfast. What do you think of this treat?

New Siri could pave the way for an AirPods Ultra reveal

Since rumors about Siri have been ramping up ahead of WWDC 2026, it does make us wonder about when Apple could introduce a new pair of AirPods. Just last month, it was reported that the AirPods Ultra with cameras were 'nearly ready.'

Taking into consideration that Apple could be laying the groundwork for its first true AI wearable at WWDC 2026, where the newly overhauled, Gemini-powered Siri should introduce advanced Visual Intelligence capabilities needed to drive future hardware. This software evolution is perfectly timed, as the long-rumored AirPods Ultra with built-in infrared cameras have officially entered advanced late-stage testing.

iPhone 17 Pro zoom is great, but AI can make it better

Take a look at the clip above that my colleague Mark Spoonauer recorded at Apple Park. Don't get me wrong, the iPhone 17 Pro's zooming capability is great, but it could absolutely be better — especially after what we've seen from the Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Google's flagship uses its AI-powered Pro Res Zoom feature to intelligently enhance long-range shots, a strategy Motorola also just adopted for its new Razr Fold. We're itching to see what other Apple Intelligence features get announced at WWDC 2026 today, and whether the iPhone will finally get a similar AI zoom enhancer.

A smarter Siri on a HomePod does sound intriguing

It's difficult to say if Apple’s long-rumored HomePad smart display could be introduced or teased at WWDC 2026, but revealing it now makes perfect strategic sense, as its core functionality relies entirely on the newly overhauled, Gemini-powered Siri and it revamped smart home platform. Showing off this hub would perfectly demonstrate how Apple plans to bring its fresh Apple Intelligence features out of your pocket and straight into the center of your living room.

Don't forget about the livestream

Yes, you're reading our coverage to get all the latest news from WWDC 2026. But if you want to see it happen as it unfolds, then don't forget the official livestream.

The countdown has begun!

After getting through the long lines at the entrance, our on the ground reporters are finally in their seats to report on all the biggest announcements that unfold at WWDC 2026. What are you most excited for?

How will Apple respond to the Googlebook?

Just last month, the Googlebook was introduced as a premium laptop powered by AI. Clearly it'll be interesting to see how Apple responds to this because the Googlebook is aggressively dismantling the traditional barriers between mobile and desktop.

There's been talk about macOS getting support for touchscreens and the rumored MacBook Ultra could be the one to make it a reality.

Tim Cook takes center stage

Just like that, Tim Cook's on stage at WWDC 2026 for opening remarks. "I'm deeply grateful to have been on this journey with you," explained Cook. This one should be memorable given how rumors hint that it might be the last Apple event he leads.

Craig Federighi highlights three biggest announcements

After Tim Cook's opening remarks, he hands it off to Craig Federighi who's going to talk about platform improvements, Trust and safety, and Apple Intelligence and Siri.

The next macOS is called 'Golden Gate'

Right off the bat, we're getting our first look at the next version of macOS. It's called "Golden Gate," which is taking some of the platforms best features and making them better.

Liquid Glass is getting more customization

Apple's giving users more control of how Liquid Glass looks across devices, with sliders that let you adjust its transparency and arrangement. With macOS, the sidebar gets expanded and regain their color based on which window is active.

App icons gain depth

App icons gets a subtle tweak with Liquid Glass elements, which make icons more layered and gives them depth.

Software tweaks make everything run way faster

Apple's optimizing its software to make them run more efficiently and faster. For example, iPhone apps launch 30% faster than to the improvements with smoother animations. Another improvement is that photos appear up to 70% faster in the Photos app once you've taken them. Finally, you'll also find 80% faster AirDrop speeds,\.

Search gets updated for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS

Search is getting better with iOS, iPad OS, and macOS, as the new search infrastructure analyzes what's on your device and indexes them. With mail, you'll also get relevant results at the top of Search.

AirPods gain custom EQ setting

If you want a particular sound profile with your AirPods, you'll be able to do it soon because Apple's adding custom EQ settings.

Apple introduces new powerful parental controls for healthy child development

Apple's taking time to talk about digital habits, specifically with new child safety features. They want healthy child development by creating a Child Account, which parents can use to enable powerful parental controls.

Powerful parental controls for friends, apps, and Safari

With these new parental controls, they can approve what apps their kids can install. The App store will show age rating, so parents can determine if kids can download them.

There's also an Ask to Browse Website function, which lets parents approve what their children can view. Likewise, there's a parental control where kids can ask permission to add new contact.

'We recommend children under 13 don't use social media'

Apple's Ann Thai continues to go over more parental controls that Apple's been working on, but makes an interesting statement during the presentation. "'We recommend children under 13 don't use social media," said Thai.

Apple Intelligence is taking a big step forward

There's big updates coming to Apple Intelligence that unlocks bold new architecture, a new Siri, and how it will make apps smarter and more useful.

Personal context understanding with Siri

Apple Intelligence acts as a spotlight to know better what you're asking. It'll also employ app actions and have more on-screen awareness.

Siri + Apple Intelligence = Siri AI

The new version Apple's assistant is called Siri AI, which is a way more capable assistant, more conversational, there's also a dedicated Siri app, Visual Intelligence across platforms, and Write with Siri.

Siri AI lives in the Dynamic Island

Siri AI looks like it's living within the Dynamic Island and has a brand new animation. It also can see what you're looking at on your iPhone and answer questions, which is a lot like what Google Gemini does already. Finally, it can populate recent photos you've taken and it's also smart enough to distinguish people in them — so that they can be categorized in an album.

Siri is more conversational

With Siri AI, it's available system wide and tailored from each platform. With iOS 27, it lives in the Dynamic Island and can also be initiated by long pressing the power button. The demo of Siri AI in iOS 27 shows how it can search across your phone to find small details, like a recipe for cookies that someone sent you. It also appears to run in its own app.

Siri on macOS

It's integrated in Spotlight with macOS and it runs within its own window in the interface. You can also do things like select multiple files and have Siri AI perform actions on them. Just like Siri AI on iOS, it can search through messages to perform additional actions, like using Siri AI to search for an email and respond to it.

Dedicated Siri app across platforms

The dedicated Siri app across all platforms and conversations are synced privately on iCloud, so it works across all platforms. It'll also be available on watchOS and visionOS

Visual Intelligence is coming to macOS

Visual Intelligence can now be accessible on macOS to search stuff and perform actions with whatever you're doing.

Apple Intelligence adds more features to Safari

Apple Intelligence will be able to organize your Safari tabs based on topics. You'll be able to stay updated by monitoring pages with a feature called Notify Me. For example, it can tell you if a product changes in price. With Describe an Extension, you can create a button to your toolbar.

Messages and Phone apps gain Apple Intelligence features

Apple Intelligence is aware with your conversations and even make suggestion directly in Messages. If someone mentions a get together, it'll suggest making a calendar event for it.

Apple Intelligence makes security cameras more reliable

Apple's Home app is becoming more reliable thanks to Apple Intelligence features. For example, it'll give you specific notifications with what security cameras capture. It

Apple Intelligence makes creating shortcuts a breeze

The Shortcuts app can be intimidating to create custom shortcuts, but now you can use Apple Intelligence to do it for you with a feature called "describe a shortcut." You can just type what you want and it'll do the rest.

More generative features with Image Playground

Apple Intelligence is boosting Image Playground with powerful photo editing tools you can simply type. It's very similar to Ask Photos. Apple showed how you can add candles to a cake by simply describing your edits.

Photos app gain big generative AI features

Apple is injecting more Apple Intelligence tools with the Photos app. They include the following:

Clean Up: Remove objects with better results

Extend: You can extend a photo with generative elements

Spatial Reframing: It combines clean up and extend with a feature called Spatial Reframing that analyzes a photo and can change the perspective.

The most impressive of the bunch is Spatial Reframing because it allows you to shoot a photo and worry about the framing later.

Shortcuts made easy

Here's the demo of Apple showing off the new Shortcuts app powered by Siri and Apple Intelligence to create custom shortcuts. You can just send a prompt on what you want and it'll take care of the rest.

When can you expect the new software?

Apple is releasing the developers beta right now, followed by a public beta release in July. Final releases of all the software will come in the fall.

Tim Cook signing off

And that's a wrap! Tim Cook spent the last few moments of the WWDC 2026 keynote acknowledging how it's been a privilege to lead Apple. "I truly believe that the best is still ahead, and Apple is creating the best products in the world to deliver experiences that enrich people's lives."

A more efficient (and smoother) iOS 27 experience

Apple finally introduced iOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote event. This year's iPhone software update didn't focus much on new features, but instead, shows off how the platform is getting more efficient thanks to Apple's optimizations. From smoother animations to faster startup speeds, iOS 27 will feel way more responsive.

There are other updates, too, like the ability to customize the look of Liquid Glass. And of course, the biggest additions pertain to Siri AI and more Apple Intelligence features.

Q&A time with Craig Federighi

We're in a Q&A session with Craig Federighi right now, so stay tuned for his answers!

Liquid Glass updates

Apple has made adjustments to how Liquid Glass looks and functions. This has been done to address some of the concerns users have had with the UI since last year.

For example, Sidebars now extend to the edge of a window. The icons keep their color instead of becoming opaque. All first-party icons will also have a more consistent look across all platforms.

IDC analysts weigh in

We reached out to IDC to hear what their expert analysts had to say. Here is a quote from Tom Mainelli, Group Vice President:

"If today's announcements ship as promised, Apple will have largely delivered on commitments made two years ago at WWDC. Yes, the company has been criticized for 'falling behind in AI.' But what struck me is how focused Apple remains on shipping features it believes consumers will actually value, rather than chasing trends like agentic AI. With deep knowledge of its customers, it appears positioned to deliver powerful experiences to those who want them, and easy opt-outs for those who don't."

Reframing tool just stole the show at WWDC

Reframe is a feature that does exactly what it sounds like. The idea is that you can take an existing photo and shift the perspective to create something (almost) totally new. It sounds like the kind of thing Apple would restrict to spatial photos, which are only visible on the Vision Pro headset, but that's not the case.

Referred to as Spatial Reframing, Apple says this feature can be applied to all pictures Apple Photos can access — even those taken by a different camera.

Will your iPhone get iOS 27?

Apple officially drew the compatibility line at WWDC 2026, revealing that iOS 27 will support devices dating back to the iPhone 12 series while finally cutting off the iPhone 11 and the 2020 iPhone SE.

However, there's a major catch regarding Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features. You'll need to have a relatively newer model, like the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, to access them. You can find the full list of supported devices here.

watchOS 27 support only a handful of new models

Apple didn't spend as much time on watchOS 27, probably due to the how it shares many of the same new features as the other software platforms — like Siri AI. However, there are still noteworthy updates that come along with it.

For example, watchOS 27 introduces a Dynamic App Grid that surfaces your most recently used apps, alongside cards, and ID integration natively inside the Smart Stack. However, the software's advanced intelligence features come at a heavy cost, as Apple aggressively drops compatibility to the latest 5 Apple Watch models.

Is Reframe the coolest new Apple Intelligence feature?

There were a slew of new Apple Intelligence features revealed at WWDC 2026, but what's arguably the coolest one has to be Reframe. Just check out Apple's demo of the feature in action to change the perspective of a 2D photo.

What did visionOS 27 get?

While we were hoping Apple might tease visionOS updates for smart glasses, owners of the Vision Pro are getting some updates with visionOS 27.

Largely, they revolve around the Siri AI update that's launching across Apple's platforms. This includes a new 3D visualization of Siri that you can talk to just by looking at.

Beyond that, Control Center is getting a redesign, and new curvature windows are coming.

Federighi: "We see Siri not as a separate chatbot, but rather as an integral but conversational tool."

After the main WWDC 2026 keynote speech, Apple's Craig Federighi held a Q&A about the new Siri AI.

"It's deeply integrated into your experience, understanding what's on screen...And so while the experiences are conversational, they are really an extension of your system experience, deeply integrated into your flow."

For more check out what Federighi told Tom's Guide Editor in Chief Mark Spoonauer during the session.

Not all AI-capable iPhones will get every new feature

Here's what's coming to watchOS 27

Like the other operating systems, watchOS 27 is getting major Siri integration powered by Apple Intelligence.

However, as mentioned, only five Apple Watch models will support the updated OS.

Here's what's coming to watchOS 27.

What's up with Siri AI?

Here's Tom's Guide Editor-in-Chief sharing some information about Siri AI based on what we know so far and our Q&A with Apple's Craig Federighi.

iOS 27 just fixed a big passwords problem

Now here's a practical new features of Apple Intelligence in iOS 27. If your passwords have been compromised, the Passwords app can now automatically fix these for users with a tap. The app "securely navigates through websites to sign in and upgrade their accounts to strong passwords." Apple didn't use the phrase "agentic AI," but this sounds a lot like it.

Custom EQ (finally) comes to AirPods

One of our most popular TikToks from WWDC so far is the one Apple revealing a custom equalizer for the AirPods in iOS 27. This is not a drill. Yes, you'll be able to tweak the lows, mids and highs from your iPhone. One of the first comments? "Only took FIVE years." Hey, we'll take it.

Apple's new betas are available right now

If you're eager to try Apple's newest software and don't want to wait until the official release later this year, you can always download the beta version.

Betas are set to be available for just about every product Apple makes, from iPhones to Vision Pro and even Apple TV. However, only the developer betas are available right now — and they require an Apple developer account to download. The public betas won't be arriving until sometime next month, which means many of you will have to wait.

Luckily, if you head over to the Apple beta website, you can sign up to join the beta program ahead of the public beta's release. That means you'll be ready to go and will be able to download your betas of choice as soon as they're ready.

The Reframe tool is phenomenal

One of the standout features from the WWDC 2026 keynote is Apple's new Reframe tool. This is one of three AI photo editing features Apple is including with iOS 27, and it's all focused on changing the perspective of your existing photos.

That's right, you can take a photo on any camera you like, and Apple Intelligence will be able to shift the composition to make it look like it was taken from a totally different angle.

Tom's Guide Phones Editor John Velasco already tested this after installing the iOS 27 beta and found the feature worked exactly as Apple said it would — producing some unbelievably good edited shots. And this is a feature that's currently only available on iPhone, which finally means Apple is getting ahead of its AI-centric Android rivals

Want to install the iOS 27 beta? Here's how

If you have an Apple developer account, you can install the first iOS 27 beta right now. We have a full guide on what you need to do to download the iOS 27 beta, and how to register as a developer if you haven't done so already.

Just remember that a bunch of Apple's best new AI features will only be available on iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone Air. All other iPhones will miss out on some things.

Stronger parental controls are coming

One of the big announcements during WWDC is that Apple is adding more robust parental controls to iOS 27 and macOS 27, to help parents better control what their kids can and can't do on their phones.

This includes offering new child accounts, that imposes age restrictions and greater parental controls over content that can be accessed. There are also screen time schedules to ensure your kids aren't just using their phones all day and night.

Apple's expanding its questionable content filters in Messages and FaceTime, too. The new filters include gore and violent content, in addition to nudity

Your device may not get the best Apple Intelligence features

As impressive as all of the new AI features Apple announced at WWDC 2026, they won't be available for everyone. In fact, only a handful of device will actually gain access to every single new Apple Intelligence upgrade. They are:

• iPhone 17 Pro
• iPhone 17 Pro Max
• iPhone Air
• iPad models with M4 and later and at least 12GB of unified memory
• Mac models with M3 and later and at least 12GB of unified memory
• Apple Vision Pro (M5)

Apple hasn't specified exactly which features will be exclusive to these newer devices. However Craig Federighi, Apple's SVP of software engineering, confirmed that "expressive voices and more advanced dictation" will be exclusive to the aforementioned devices.

No doubt we'll find out more as the iOS 27, macOS 27 and iPadOS 27 betas roll out to larger groups of people.

Here's how to check out the macOS 27 beta

macOS 27, also known as Golden Gate, is also available in beta form, provided you have an Apple developer account.

The update is mostly about improving performance, but you can still enjoy some new Apple Intelligence features if your Mac is new enough. If you want to check out what's changed, and experience the pre-release software for yourself, be sure to check out our guide on how to install macOS 27 developer beta.

Apple Intelligence comes to security cameras

WWDC 2026 wasn't just about new software for phones and Macs. The keynote also confirmed that Apple is making a greater push into the smart home market, with something it's calling Apple Home Secure Video.

This feature is set to link Apple Intelligence with security cameras, offering detailed descriptions about everything that's happening in all the videos stored on your iCloud. Apple's adding natural language search that makes it a lot easier to search for specific events and the option to store 4K videos.

The caveat is that this will eat into your available iCloud storage, and there aren't nearly as many HomeKit-compatible cameras compared to rivals like Ring and Nest — both of which offer similar features if you pay for the right kind of subscription.

But considering Apple's version is free with an iCloud Plus subscription, it definitely has an edge over rival cameras.

Which Apple Watches will run watchOS 27?

New software inevitably means that some older devices will be left behind, and that's especially true of watchOS 27. While watchOS 26 was available on Apple Watch series 6 and newer, the next version is only available on Apple Watch 9 and newer.

Here's a full list of supported devices

• Apple Watch Series 9
• Apple Watch Series 10
• Apple Watch Series 11
• Apple Watch SE 3
• Apple Watch Ultra 2
• Apple Watch Ultra 3

That is bad news for anyone with a slightly older Apple Watch because they're stuck with watchOS 26 forevermore. That includes Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch SE (2022) and Apple Watch series 6 through 8

We're already seeing iPhone Ultra clues ion iOS 27

We weren't expecting to see any new hardware at WWDC 2026, but that doesn't mean the upcoming iPhone Ultra hasn't made its presence known. Software sleuths have already discovered clues about the foldable's existence in the code for iOS 27 beta.

Various code strings include references to "foldstate," "angledegrees" and "DeviceDisplayCount." Those are only relevant for foldable phones, on account of them having multiple displays and a folding hinge running down their back. If we didn't already know the iPhone Ultra was on the way, this would have confirmed it.

Apple has also been talking to developers about concepts to help apps adapt to different screen sizes and aspect ratios. While this would also apply to existing Apple products, like phones and tablets, it's going to be an integral part of running native apps on the iPhone Ultra's shorter and wider screens.

Which iPhones can run iOS 27?

While a bunch of older Apple Watch models are being cut off from watchOS 27, the same isn't true for iPhones. In fact, all iPhones capable of running iOS 26 will be able to run iOS 27 as well. This means that no new iPhones will be cut off from the upgrade.

The full list includes:

• iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17e
• iPhone Air
• iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16e
• iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, Phone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (2020 and 2022 models)

However, not every iPhone will be eligible for all the new Apple Intelligence features. Only iPhone 15 Pro and newer can run Apple Intelligence, which has been the case for two years, but some of the new features will be exclusive to iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone Air.

It's not clear which features will be exclusive to the newer features, or why, but just remember that having a slightly older device means you will miss out on something.

This is one of the coolest Apple Intelligence features in iOS 27

Do you see that above? It's the new Reframe tool in the iOS 27 Photos app, which lets you completely shift the perspective of a shot after the fact. After installing the iOS 27 developer beta, we put it to the test to see how it performs — and believe us, it's impressive. It's a uniquely Apple feature, as no equivalent tool is currently available on any other phone.

Siri AI is going to transform the way you use your iPhone

Everyone was eager to see what Apple would call the new Siri at its WWDC 2026 keynote, but the aptly named Siri AI will transform the way people use their iPhones. That's because it isn't just an iterative upgrade, it's an evolutionary leap that's deeply integrated with the next generation of Apple Intelligence to finally transform Siri from a basic voice-command tool into a true, context-aware AI chatbot.

We just saw Siri AI in action with iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS

It's one thing to watch demos of it during a livestream, but seeing Siri AI in action in real-time is something else. We just got our first hands-on look at Siri AI running on an iPhone, iPad, and Mac — and this revamped assistant is finally smart enough to end those jokes about the old Siri being dumb.

What's really neat is how it effortlessly digs up personal recommendations from past text messages and instantly looks through on-screen text to build multi-step calendar events. However, it's worth noting that [omitted] these capabilities are currently siloed within Apple’s native apps, like Mail and Messages, leaving third-party integration like Gmail up in the air.

Want to try out the iPadOS 27 beta? Here's how

Following yesterday’s WWDC 2026 keynote, Apple immediately released the first developer betas, including iPadOS 27. There are some visual changes to the iPad's software, like a refined Liquid Glass interface. While Siri AI was heavily teased, there appears to be a waitlist to try it out.

Nevertheless, you can check out everything else that's new with iPadOS 27 by downloading the developers beta, but know that this early software is bound to have performance bugs and heavy battery drain. That's why it's highly recommended that you back up your data completely before installing it.

Parents will have way more power at what their kids do on their iPhone

Taking a good chunk of its keynote, Apple introduced a major overhaul to its child safety controls with a suite of new parental control features coming to iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27.

Called Time Allowance, the new system allows parents to set highly customized app category restrictions and schedules. In addition, there will be a new "Ask to Browse" feature that lets kids request website approvals directly through Messages. Also worth noting is tha Apple's also opening up its developer APIs to bring these guardrails to third-party apps.

Create your own Wallet passes in iOS 27

Among the massive wave of updates hitting iOS 27, the Apple Wallet app is getting a powerful, utility-focused overhaul headlined a new Visual Intelligence capability to introduce a way to create custom passes in the Wallet app that lets you scan barcodes or QR codes on physical membership cards, event tickets, or rewards passes and transform them into fully customized, digital wallet duplicates.

'I've never seen so many iPhone before!'

You didn't see it during the WWDC 2026 livestream because it happened in person prior to the main broadcast, but Apple CEO Tim Cook kicked off the event directly in front of the crowd at Apple Park.

Not only did he seem humbled by the applause and adulation as he walked up to the stage, but he even joked about the sea of devices facing him. "I've never seen so many iPhones before!" Cook joked.

These Apple Watches don't make the cut to support Siri AI

Just like its other platforms, watchOS 27 is getting the same Siri AI overhaul, bringing context-aware, multi-turn conversations and a standalone Siri app to the smaller screen.

However, the massive catch is that Apple has aggressively tightened its compatibility requirements, completely dropping support for six older Apple Watches that are currently in active use. In order to experience the upgraded voice assistant and the new Dynamic App Grid this fall, you'll need to own an Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, Ultra 2, Ultra 3, or the new SE 3.

Yes, the AirPods finally gain a long-sought-after feature

AirPods users, listen up! If you're tired of the exact same sound profile day in and day out, you're in luck. During its WWDC 2026 keynote, Apple revealed that its wireless earbuds are finally getting a customizable EQ setting, letting you tune the audio exactly the way you want.

Security cameras just got an Apple Intelligence boost

One you may have missed is during WWDC 2026 is a new Apple Intelligence feature that could make the rumored Apple Home lineup more appealing.

My colleague Mike Prospero broke down how the new AI-powered video descriptions will be available for all of your stored security videos. And it comes at a nice price than Google Home Premium and Ring Pro.

Is Siri AI too late?

Siri 2.0 was announced in 2024 but only seems to be coming to fruition now with Apple's new Siri AI coming in iOS 27.

However, Tom's Guide AI editor Amanda Caswell wonders if perhaps the new Siri is too late after ChatGPT and other AI services blew past Apple in the last two years.

WWDC 2026 is upon us, which means we’re about to learn all the upgrades coming to various Apple operating systems. Naturally, one of these will be iPadOS 27. If rumors are correct, we won’t get major iPad-specific upgrades as we saw with iPadOS 26. However, there should be plenty for iPad users to get excited about.

The biggest upgrade should be for Siri and Apple Intelligence, which is also expected for iOS 27 and macOS 27. Apple has lagged in the current AI race, but with Google Gemini powering Siri and Apple Intelligence, Cupertino might finally catch up. We also expect some enhancements to core apps, along with some performance updates.

We’ll officially learn what Apple has been cooking when WWDC kicks off on June 8. For now, here are the three biggest iPadOS 27 announcements we expect.

Siri and Apple Intelligence overhaul

Similar to iOS 27 and macOS 27, iPadOS 27 should see an Apple Intelligence overhaul, specifically targeting Siri.

One of the biggest rumored upgrades is Apple turning Siri into a full-fledged chatbot capable of complex, multi-turn dialogue. This will be possible thanks to Apple’s partnership with Google, which will use Google’s Gemini model to power Apple Intelligence. Expect advanced text- and image-generation features.

We should also see on-screen awareness, which will allow Siri to understand what is happening on your iPad screen. For example, if you’re looking at a document or photo, you can ask Siri to edit it or send it to a specific contact without manually dragging and dropping.

Similarly, Siri should also gain the ability to execute multi-step actions across different apps, such as cross-referencing information in Calendar and drafting an email response in Mail.

Core app enhancements

As with iOS 27, expect some core app upgrades. One such app is Photos, which is expected to receive a major Apple Intelligence boost. A new Extend tool will use generative AI to fill in background scenery beyond a photo's original crop. Meanwhile, a Reframe tool will let you manipulate the perspective of spatial photos.

Apple is also reportedly adjusting system-wide app layouts to better leverage the iPad’s large display. To that end, apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and Apple TV will see their navigation sidebars and tab bars consolidated, merging the search function right into the main navigation interface.

Performance and stability

Since iPadOS 27 is more of an iterative update than a substantial one like iPadOS 26, Apple’s engineers have focused most of their efforts on under-the-hood optimization.

For example, the team is reportedly removing outdated code, squashing long-standing bugs, and improving battery life efficiency and system responsiveness.

Liquid Glass was the major UI overhaul last year, and it’s expected to stick around. However, Apple is reportedly expanding its custom layout tools. This includes a system-wide opacity slider that lets you precisely adjust the appearance of interface elements to your liking.

iPadOS 27: Outlook

Even if iPadOS 27 isn’t as monumental as iPadOS 26, features like a smarter Siri, easier search, and a more stable operating system should make using iPads smoother.

Naturally, this is all based on rumors and reports, so we’ll have to wait until WWDC kicks off on Monday, June 8, to see what Apple has in store for us. Stay tuned!

More from Tom's Guide

• How to watch the Apple WWDC 2026 keynote live
• Apple WWDC 2026 event — 9 biggest announcements we expect
• Here's what I'm excited for from WWDC 2026

Ever since the iPhone 17 launched last fall, I’ve been eager to see how Apple Intelligence would define the company’s hardware. Unfortunately, new AI features were minimal at best throughout the life cycle of iOS 26.

Now that WWDC 2026 is upon us, Apple has a massive opportunity to redeem itself by introducing more robust Apple Intelligence features into the fold. Leaks have been rampant over the last month leading up to the keynote event on June 8. Most notably, we’re likely to hear about a completely overhauled Siri powered by Google Gemini.

While Apple Intelligence should have a major presence within Siri — like deeper system-wide task automation — I’ll be sharing the specific rumored AI tools outside of Siri that genuinely have me excited. Here’s what they are.

Adding new elements with an Extend tool

I’m big on AI tools for photo editing, especially how they save me time from manual edits. That’s why I’m stoked about iOS 27 getting an editing tool that’s been long available with rivals Google and Samsung.

I’m referring to the rumored Extend feature that would tap Apple Intelligence to generate additional image content beyond the original photo. For me, this would be handy if I’m capturing photos in landscape — but later on need them to be in portrait to share on social media.

By using this Extend feature, it would essentially use generative AI to extend the horizontal photo so that it becomes a vertical one. You can see from the gallery above about another similar AI tool that does exactly this and how effective it is at extending the scene.

Reframing spatial photos

Another rumored Apple Intelligence feature coming to iOS 27 is a Reframe tool. Initially, I thought it would be for static photos, but the latest rumors indicate it’s going to be primarily for spatial photos.

Similar to the Extend tool, Reframe would allow users to change the perspective of an image. Rather than showing something from the front, you could reframe the view so that it’s slightly off to the side. Think of it like snapping a portrait of your pet, only to realize later that you needed a perspective that was a bit off-center.

Custom AI generated wallpapers

One thing I love about some of the best Android phones is that they share the same AI wallpaper tool — and it looks like iOS 27 is going to gain a similar feature. Unlike the implementations I’ve used on phones like the Pixel 10 Pro XL, which generate images based on pre-selected keywords and scenes, Apple’s version would allow you to create wallpapers from scratch simply by describing what you want.

More realistic creations with Image Playground

When I put Apple’s Image Playground to the test against rivals like Google’s Pixel Studio, I found its creations to be pretty underwhelming. That’s because they often come out looking far too cartoony for my taste.

With iOS 27, Apple is rumored to be improving Image Playground by not only updating the interface, but also making the generated images significantly more lifelike. That’s a comforting prospect because, as you can see in the photo above, there is currently a massive disparity between the iPhone and the Pixel.

More realistic looking Genmojis

Apple’s Genmoji feature is also slated for a welcome upgrade with iOS 27. Apple is reportedly planning a new Suggested Genmoji option that automatically creates custom graphics by pulling context directly from your personal photos and commonly typed phrases.

This ties right back into the underlying improvements Apple is making to its image generation models. Just like the updates coming to Image Playground, these tweaks are designed to seriously level up the overall quality and make your custom emojis look a whole lot more realistic and less cartoony.

Organized tabs in Safari

One particular Apple Intelligence feature coming to Safari is the ability to better tidy up all of your open tabs with a tool called “Organize Tabs.” This would automatically sort them into respective topics like shopping, sports, entertainment, and more. It sounds like a fantastic way of cleaning them up when you forget to close tabs out, only to realize a week later that you’re sitting on closer to 100.

Clean Up tool update

Finally, there’s an update expected for Apple’s Clean Up tool, which was one of the first Apple Intelligence features to launch. Even though it’s proven intuitive to use, rivals have surpassed it in performance — as seen when Apple's tool came in last during my three-way matchup against Google and Samsung. This new update should hopefully make the object-eraser experience a whole lot more reliable.

More From Tom's Guide

• This underrated Motorola Razr Fold feature makes me more productive — Google, Apple, and Samsung should take notice
• I put the iPhone Air vs. iPhone 17e through a 10-round photo shootout — here's the winner
• 9 phones with the longest software support — Samsung, iPhone, Pixel and more

With WWDC 2026 kicking off on June 8, we’ll soon learn about all the latest updates coming to macOS 27. According to rumors, the Mac-based operating system should receive iterative updates rather than substantial ones. That doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to look forward to, however.

The biggest thing happening for operating systems like iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 is an upgrade for Apple Intelligence and Siri. Apple launched its AI back in 2024, but it’s lagged behind competitors. Ironically enough, Apple Intelligence should now be more useful since Google Gemini will power it.

The other big thing is the end of support for Intel-based Macs. We knew this was coming since last year, but it’s now happening. Other than that, we expect fixes for Liquid Glass so it works better on Macs, built-in app updates, and perhaps a glimpse (or full reveal) of the first touch-screen MacBook.

Here are some of the macOS announcements we expect to see at WWDC 2026.

End of the Intel era

Apple already announced that macOS 26 would be the last macOS for Intel Macs, so this one doesn’t come as a big surprise. Still, if you’re rocking an older Intel Mac, you won’t be able to run the new operating system. That said, you won’t be completely left adrift.

Apple has confirmed that macOS 26 will continue receiving critical security updates for about the next three years. If you’re not ready to upgrade yet, this is certainly good news. Just keep in mind that while you are getting security updates, you won’t get the fancy new features coming to macOS 27.

Here are the Intel-based Macs that can run macOS 26 but won’t support macOS 27:

• MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020)
• MacBook Pro 16-inch (2019)
• iMac 27-inch (2020)
• Mac Pro (2019)

A smarter Siri (for real this time)

Powered by Google Gemini, the new AI-infused Siri will reportedly be a proper AI chatbot. That means it should include features such as contextual awareness, conversational capabilities, improved natural-language support, and more. Expect Google’s multimodal capabilities and agentic AI to come to Siri as well. In short, Siri should behave much more like ChatGPT or Claude.

Apple will reportedly let you integrate third-party models (such as Claude or ChatGPT) into Siri via a new “Extensions” marketplace in the App Store. You might be able to choose distinct voices for these third-party AI responses so you know which one is answering.

Agentic AI is the latest buzz term, and Siri may have deeper system-level context to execute multi-step tasks across apps. For example, you can ask it to find a PDF invoice in one of your emails and add its contents to your Numbers budget spreadsheet. This would make Siri a true assistant.

Liquid Glass fixes

Liquid Glass was the major design overhaul introduced last year, but some users weren’t exactly happy with it, as it drew criticism for its lack of contrast, harsh transparency, and poor sidebar readability.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, macOS 27 will have a visual tune-up to address these complaints. If true, we could see the sleek, polished look that Apple’s design team originally intended. There are also reports of a Mac-adapted version of the iPhone’s Dynamic Island coming to the menu bar.

Built-in app upgrades

A feature that’s also expected for iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 will bring three AI-powered tools to Photos. This includes Extend, Enhance, and Reframe. The first two are self-explanatory, while Reframe is designed to change the perspective in spatial photos seen in 3D.

For fans of the Safari browser, a new AI feature is rumored to automatically categorize and organize browser tabs into clean, contextual groups. If you frequently have dozens of tabs open, this should be a major win.

Since macOS 27 isn’t a huge overhaul from last year, the team has reportedly focused on fixing bugs and improving performance. As with OS X Snow Leopard, a chunk of code is being optimized for raw efficiency, stability, and better battery life. The latter would be especially interesting given that MacBooks with M-series chips already have epic battery life.

Preparing for touchscreen Macs

WWDC usually focuses on software, but we have seen hardware announcements, such as the M2 MacBook Air at WWDC 2022. Rumors suggest that Apple is working on the first touchscreen MacBook, so it’s possible it could debut at WWDC 2026 — or at least be teased.

To take advantage of a touchscreen, macOS 27 will reportedly have a dynamic user interface that adjusts on the fly. For instance, if you click on an item with the mouse cursor, the UI remains compact. If you tap the screen, menus and controls will automatically expand to be touch-friendly. It should also incorporate iPad-style gestures like fast scrolling and pinch-to-zoom.

Of all the rumors we’ve heard, this one is arguably the most exciting and would bring something substantially new to Macs. I’m curious to see if these touch features will be exclusive to the rumored MacBook Ultra.

macOS 27: Outlook

If rumors are correct, then we shouldn’t see a massive overhaul of macOS 27. That said, an improved Siri could actually be a game-changer if it’s as helpful as intended. The same is true if MacBooks with touchscreens get announced.

Nothing is set in stone, so let’s look forward to WWDC giving us some concrete answers. June 8 is almost here, so it won’t be long. We’ll be live on the ground covering the event as it happens, so keep it locked here for the latest!

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WWDC 2026 is less than two weeks away and we’ll likely get our first look at iOS 27. There’s clearly a sense of urgency with this reveal, as Apple intends to make AI a serious focus at its developers conference — especially since new Apple Intelligence features were practically non-existent with the iOS 26 rollout last fall.

If there’s one company that has proven to me the value of AI, it’s none other than Google with its lineup of Pixel phones. Even now, I still say that its latest Pixel models are some of the best phones powered by AI. In fact, I’ve spent a great deal of time testing them out to uncover whether they’re practical or merely gimmicky.

With iOS 27 on the horizon, Apple can’t afford to come up short. Here are the biggest Google Pixel AI features I hope Apple adapts in some capacity with iOS 27 — and eventually, help power the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max later this fall.

Call Screen

I’ve already compared in detail the superior performance of Google’s Call Screen feature, which uses AI to take phone calls on my behalf when I’m too busy or don’t want to be bothered. It’s more than just a service that transcribes messages in real time — it functions like a real human assistant.

When iOS 26 launched, Apple introduced its own version of call screening that attempts to filter calls before they’re relayed to me, but it lacks the intelligence to generate proactive responses for me to choose from. I’m talking about the ability to actually comprehend the message and suggest contextual replies. The example I constantly refer back to is how Apple's current feature merely prompts the caller to leave a more detailed message.

With the Pixel’s Call Screen feature, though, the AI goes way beyond that to recommend smart, situational actions — like asking a delivery driver to leave a package, telling a friend I’m running late, or even coordinating a rescheduled doctor’s appointment.

Rumors hint at a new, smarter version of Siri, so I hope this always-on AI agent can act as the reliable gatekeeper I can trust to handle phone calls on my behalf.

Pro Res Zoom

There's a good reason phone makers are introducing fewer hardware upgrades with each new generation. Instead, they’re leaning on AI to bridge the performance gap — and nothing proves that to me more than the Pixel 10 Pro’s Pro Res Zoom feature.

In my 200-photo face-off between the Pixel 10 Pro XL and iPhone 17 Pro Max, I showed the immediate impact Pro Res Zoom has on shots captured beyond 30x. The AI analyzes the entire frame, draws out clarity with the help of generative AI, and ultimately injects crisp detail into what would normally be a blurry mess.

The difference is staggering. If Apple intends to keep pace with the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, it desperately needs to adapt this feature in iOS 27 to level the playing field. Beyond that, I’d love to see Apple lean on generative AI for other image enhancements — like having the native ability to add detail and clarity to photos that are cropped down long after they're taken.

Gemini’s task automation

Although it debuted first on the Galaxy S26, Gemini’s task automation feature rapidly rolled out to the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and 10 Pro XL. This capability finally lets Gemini perform complex, multi-step actions completely on its own. It’s advanced to the point where I actually tasked the AI agent with ordering me a coffee from Dunkin’ via DoorDash — and it handled the process seamlessly, without my intervention.

Apple has nothing remotely close to this in iOS 26, but this dream is likely to become a reality based on recent screenshot renders of the overhauled Siri debuting with iOS 27. While I’m confident that Apple's new assistant will handle native phone tasks with ease, the real test will be seeing how deeply it integrates across the entire platform — especially with third-party apps.

Voice Translate

One of the more specialized Google AI features I’ve tested is Voice Translate, which is exclusive to the Pixel 10 lineup. It uses generative AI to translate live phone calls into another language, but the real magic is that it clones your actual voice — complete with a natural-sounding accent in the target language.

During a test call with a German speaker, my voice on his end actually sounded like me speaking fluent German. What makes it even more convincing is how the AI understands vocal inflections, making the conversation feel vastly more genuine than a standard translation app.

Apple currently offers Live Translation in iOS 26, but it’s a straightforward, text-to-speech service that relies on a generic, robotic voice. It feels incredibly artificial, which is exactly why Google’s hyper-realistic implementation stands out.

Ask Photos

And finally, there’s one of the most powerful generative photo editing tools I’ve tested to date: Ask Photos. Initially exclusive to the Pixel 10 lineup, it has since been integrated as a core feature within Google Photos. This incredible tool allows me to perform complex image manipulations that would normally take ages in desktop software, executing them in seconds through simple text prompts.

Whether I’m swapping out a distracting background or completely changing my outfit to something else, the creative freedom and time savings are incredible. Just look at the before and after images had Ask Photos edit for me above.

Apple currently offers nothing like it, so I’m eager to see if iOS 27 copies it directly or if Apple injects its own unique spin to make the iPhone's implementation stand out. Either way, iOS 27 is in desperate need of a versatile, text-to-edit photo engine that goes far beyond the basic capabilities of Apple's existing Clean Up tool.

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Apple has announced a suite of new accessibility features that are powered by Apple Intelligence. These tools include VoiceOver, Voice Control, Magnifier and an Accessibility Reader that work with your iPhone.

Additionally, the company announced new eye controls for wheel chair users who have an Apple Vision Pro. Plus, the accessibility designed Hikawa Grip & Stand for iPhone comes in three new colors.

All of the features are "coming later this year." The announcement didn't specify when each individual feature will actually be available.

"With these updates, we’re bringing new, intuitive options for input, exploration, and personalization — designed to protect users’ privacy at every step," Sarah Herrlinger, Apple's senior director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives, said in the announcement.

Here's what they are and how they work.

VoiceOver and Magnifier

VoiceOver and Magnifier is meant for users who are blind or have low vision. They can describe onscreen information or your surroundings using Apple Intelligence.

In VoiceOver, the Image Explorer uses AI to give detailed descriptions of images in your phone. Examples include photographs, scanned bills, personal records and other visuals.

Apple is also updating Live Recognition, which can use your camera to get a response about whats in the viewfinder. You can also ask follow-up questions to get more information.

Magnifier is a high-contrast interface that also utilizes the Action button to ask questions and receive answers. You can control the app with spoken requests like "turn on flashlight" and "zoom in."

Voice Control updates

Voice Control is getting a natural language update that lets you navigate your iPhone or iPad entirely by voice. It's supposed to let you describe onscreen buttons and controls with conversational language instead of memorizing exact labels or numbers.

You can say commands like "say what you see" or "tap the purple folder" to control your device. It's meant to make it easier to use your iPhone or get around barriers like improperly labeled elements.

Accessibility reader and subtitles

Accessibility reader is meant for a range of visual impairments from dyslexia to low vision.

According to Apple, Accessibility Reader can handle complex source material like scientific articles. It can provide on-demand summaries, built-in translation and custom formatting, font and colors to help you read better.

Additionally, Apple devices, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Vision Pro, are getting a new subtitle generation feature for uncaptioned videos. Apple Intelligence will recognize speech and generate subtitles for even videos sent from family and friends in messages.

Vision Pro wheelchair control

Designed for users of power wheelchairs, Apple has a new precision-eyetracking system for the Vision Pro that enables people to use their eyes to control the chairs. It's helpful for people who can't easily use a joystick and need an alternative drive system.

Apple says the system works in a variety of lighting conditions and doesn't require frequent recalibration.

“The option to control my power wheelchair on my own is gold to me,” said Pat Dolan, founder of GeoALS and a member of Team Gleason’s patient advisory board, who has lived with ALS for 10 years. “With this new feature, Apple is developing life-enhancing technology for the people who need it most.”

Other accessibility features

Apple has a variety other accessibility features that you may find helpful.

• Vehicle motion cues: reduce motion sickness for people using Vision Pros as a passenger in cars.
• Touch accommodations: New personalized setups in iOS and iPadOS
• Made for iPhone hearing aids: more reliable pairing between Apple devices
• Larger text: tvOS is getting larger text options for low vision users
• Name recognition: Can notify deaf or hard-of-hearing people if someone says their name nearby.
• Connect the Sony Access game controller to iOS, iPadOS, or macOS devices. You can configure the thumbstick, nine built-in buttons, and four external buttons or speciality switches to personalize layouts.

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For nearly two decades, the iPhone experience has revolved around apps. The advertisements declaring "there's an app for that" are still a core memory for me as a new iPhone user years ago.

According to a new report from The Information though, Apple is quietly exploring ways to bring AI agents into the App Store, and this could signal the biggest shift to the iPhone ecosystem since the App Store launched back in 2008.

At first glance, even I did a double take at what seems like a very technical idea of “AI agents” coming to the App Store. But the idea is simple that Apple might be preparing for a future where rather than opening apps, AI does it for you.

AGI inside the app store

According to the report, Apple has discussed how autonomous AI software could operate inside its ecosystem, potentially allowing AI-powered services to complete tasks across apps and services on behalf of users.

That changes everything about how the iPhone currently works. Today, our apps are destinations. You physically need to tap an icon, open an interface and complete a task manually.

But the new idea is one of AI agents theoretically doing the work for you such as coordinating your flights, hotel, dinner reservations, calendar and transportation automatically behind the scenes. The user might never even see most of the apps involved.

Offering AI agents creates a massive challenge for Apple because the App Store was built around human interaction. Every part of the ecosystem from app review to permissions to subscriptions assumes a person is actively using software in predictable ways.

What makes AI agents different

AGI means the AI can make decisions, navigate multiple apps and potentially take actions on your behalf. Of course, that raises enormous questions about privacy, security, payments and control; all areas Apple has historically treated as core pillars of the iPhone experience.

Apple appears to be positioning itself to control the distribution layer of AI on mobile devices, which is a strategy that feels very familiar to Apple.

Historically, the company has rarely been first to a category. Instead, Apple tends to dominate by controlling the platform, simplifying the experience and becoming the trusted middleman between developers and consumers.

The App Store itself became one of the most powerful marketplaces in tech history because Apple controlled distribution, payments, discovery and device integration. However, AI agents threaten all of those systems at once.

If autonomous AI becomes the primary way people interact with software, then the company controlling that ecosystem could end up controlling the next era of computing.

A move beyond Siri

Up until now, Apple’s AI strategy looked cautious compared to rivals like OpenAI, Google and Anthropic. But Apple has also spent years building one thing competitors still struggle with, which is deep hardware and operating system integration. So, in an AI-agent future, integration may matter more than chatbot intelligence.

An AI system that can securely access your apps, calendar, messages, subscriptions, payment methods and device settings is arguably more useful than a standalone chatbot window.

This potential move points toward a future where the iPhone evolves from a collection of apps into an intelligent orchestration platform.

The takeaway

It will be very interesting to see how this strategy pans out. While AI agents could make smartphones more useful, they also introduce new risks. An AI system with permission to act across apps could potentially AI could send messages, manage accounts, make purchases and access sensitive data.

Ironically, that level of autonomy clashes with Apple’s traditionally controlled ecosystem philosophy. Beyond figuring out how AI fits into the App Store, the company could be trying to reinvent what the App Store becomes in an AI-integrated era.

Tom’s Guide will be watching this story closely as Apple’s AI strategy continues to evolve.

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WWDC 2026 is getting underway on Monday, June 8 and the annual conference will give the world its first official look at iOS 27 — the new software for iPhones set to arrive with the iPhone 18 later this year.

But while the World Wide Developers’ Conference will be the first official peek at the software, we already have an idea of some of the changes Apple has penciled in. With the iPhone Fold expected to make its long-awaited debut this year, there’s a focus on making the software foldable-friendly, but even those with more traditional handsets should benefit from some of the changes, too.

Here are the nine biggest rumored upgrades coming to your iPhone this fall (or earlier if you’re brave enough to try potentially buggy developer code).

Siri getting smarter

Despite being first out of the gate with digital assistants, Apple’s Siri has struggled to keep up with its traditional rivals of Alexa and Google Assistant, and that gap has grown even larger in the age of generative AI.

That could finally change with iOS 27. The much-delayed Siri 2.0 is set to be a part of it, introducing a “fresh look” and a “chatbot-like experience”.

For the latter, Apple is reportedly testing glowing borders introduced in iOS 18 for when Siri is listening, paired with a Dynamic Island-style indicator that will expand into a Liquid Glass panel when it has an answer.

But the main meat of the upgrade is within Siri’s general intelligence and usefulness. In particular, the upgrade is set to include personalized context (e.g: “what movie did John recommend last week?”), awareness of what’s on screen (e.g: “Siri, send this photo to Sue”) and better app integration (e.g: “Siri, send my journey ETA to Paul”).

Pick your favorite AI model

At the moment, iPhone AI is integrated with ChatGPT due to an exclusive partnership between Apple and OpenAI. But with iOS 27, Apple will reportedly let users jettison ChatGPT if they prefer a different model.

This is set to work via an ‘Extension’ tool that will let iPhone owners install the chatbot of their choice via the App Store.

This will let owners “access generative AI capabilities from installed apps on demand, through Apple Intelligence features such as Siri, Writing Tools, Image Playground and more” reads a message reportedly spotted in test versions.

In other words, if you have always found Claude or Gemini to be more useful for your needs, you’ll soon be able to bake it more deeply into your handset.

Better AI photo editing

With iOS 18, Apple took its first step into AI photo editing with Clean Up. Two years later, the company looks set to expand the feature set with iOS 27.

According to Bloomberg, Apple will be introducing three new AI tools as well as performance improvements to Clean Up.

‘Enhance’ will let users improve color and lighting, while ‘Extend’ will attempt to generate convincing looking additional images beyond the photograph’s original frame. ‘Reframe’, meanwhile, is aimed specifically at spatial photos seen in 3D on Vision Pro, letting users change the perspective from which the photo was taken.

Make your own Apple Wallet passes

Apple Wallet is a handy way of keeping tickets and passes easily accessible for when you need them, saving you the hassle of diving through your emails. But not every pass is compatible, making it an inconsistent solution.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, it will soon become more useful. An option called “Create a Pass” will let users add tickets, memberships and gift cards, each color coded for different pass types. “Users can create a pass from scratch or rely on the iPhone’s camera to take a QR code and turn it into a digital ticket,” Gurman writes.

There are already plenty of third-party tools that do this, of course, but if confirmed, this will certainly be more convenient for iPhone users.

Autocorrect becomes a subeditor

At the moment, autocorrect simply fixes spelling errors (or, occasionally, introduces them when it gets overzealous). With iOS 27, autocorrect could take the next step to become an automated Grammarly-style subeditor, with suggestions of synonyms or alternate words.

That’s according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, again. “It suggests alternative words in addition to word fixes like today’s autocorrect,” he wrote in a follow-up post on X. Though he added that there had been “no final decision on releasing it,” so put this one in the ‘maybe’ pile.

Apple Health enhancements

While Apple has reportedly backtracked some way from its original vision for Health Plus, we are still expecting to see some elements “repurposed and introduced” with iOS 27.

It’s not clear how much of it will survive, but the original plan was for Apple to generate health reports for users based on surveys, health assessments and data taken from the Apple Watch. The idea was that this could then lead to personalized recommendations via Apple Intelligence, supplemented by appropriate videos explaining medical conditions, outlining wellness routines and providing training plan guides.

User-friendly shortcuts

Shortcuts can supercharge your iPhone experience, allowing users to create automated routines for all kinds of things. However, it does require a certain amount of patience and know-how to get good results, so it remains a niche feature.

With iOS 27, Apple is set to add some much-needed user friendliness, once again based on Apple Intelligence. It sounds like you’ll be able to create complex routines based on a simple description of what you’re looking for, saving you the effort of deep diving through submenus.

Safari gets organized

A new AI feature called "organize tabs" is going to debut with iOS 27, but will also work across iPad OS 27, macOS 27 and visionOS 27. It will use AI to automatically group your tabs into different topics across your devices. So if you're routinely leaving tabs open around planning your next trip or things you need to check for work, you'll be able to find them altogether, regardless of whether you're on your iPhone or MacBook.

Bill splitting in Apple Wallet

According to a report from Bloomberg, iOS 27 will add a bill-splitting upgrade to Apple Wallet. Users will be able to photograph a receipt and assign items to different people. The tool will then total all costs per person, including tax and the share of the tip.

With that total, everyone at the table will be able to generate payment requests, and since the system is tied into Apple Cash, it should make actually covering your share of the total relatively easy.

iOS 27: Outlook

For an update that was originally expected to be smaller in scope than iOS 26, it looks like there will be plenty to get our teeth into with the release of iOS 27.

However, the highlights — from Siri 2.0 to the enhanced photo editing options — are all underpinned by Apple Intelligence. So it’s possible that the update may be minor to those with pre-2023 handsets, depending on what is manageable on-device, and what is outsourced to the cloud.

We shall find out soon, with the developer version of iOS 27 likely to be unveiled at WWDC 26 on June 8.

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Apple Intelligence is tipped for big things at WWDC 2026. That’s comforting, given how few AI features accompanied the initial release and subsequent rollout of iOS 26. Instead of narrowing the gap against its rivals, the lackluster offering widened it even further for Apple — but there’s something else I’m even more concerned about.

There is another challenge looming on the horizon that could reach an inflection point, potentially leaving Apple even farther behind the pack as mobile and computing platforms continue to blend. I’m referring to iPhone desktop mode: a feature long rumored to be in development that has yet to materialize in any form.

You might think it would be just another supplemental experience that we could see with iOS 27, but I believe it would have a much greater impact. It is the one thing Apple simply can't afford to ignore at WWDC 2026.

Samsung, Motorola, and Google are all on board

Apple is at a distinct disadvantage because its main rivals all offer some version of a desktop mode. Samsung DeX is, without question, the most robust — and as I’ve shown with the Galaxy S26, continues to evolve by bridging the gap between mobile and computing platforms. When I’m in a pinch, I can rely on DeX to keep me productive at work.

Although its version first started as a developer-only feature, the Pixel’s desktop mode is also showing great potential. I’ve used flagship models like the Pixel 10 Pro XL, but it’s even more satisfying to see that a budget-friendly option like the Pixel 10a has access to it as well. This puts significant pressure on Apple to ensure its iPhone desktop mode is available on entry-level devices like the iPhone 17e.

Finally, Motorola is in the conversation with its Smart Connect feature — a rich desktop experience available on its Razr 2025 lineup. While it only worked wirelessly when I tested the Razr Ultra 2025, the new Razr Fold adds the convenience of a USB-C connection.

Mirroring can only get you so far

Currently, flagships like the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max only provide a mirrored experience when connected to an external monitor or used via AirPlay. While I can see myself using this for a quick presentation in a pinch, it’s not useful for much else because the interface isn't optimized for larger screens.

Another major drawback to this implementation is that the iPhone screen must remain on the entire time it’s mirroring to a monitor. In contrast, with Samsung DeX, the Pixel’s desktop mode, and Motorola’s Smart Connect, I can keep the phone’s display off to save battery and prevent the device from getting too toasty.

Introducing a robust desktop mode with iOS 27 would put Apple in a much stronger position, especially as the feature rolls out to devices beyond its traditional slate phones. A true desktop mode prioritizes genuine multitasking by allowing multiple apps to run simultaneously in windows — a massive leap over the current experience of simply switching between full-screen apps.

iPhone Fold, MacBooks, and rumored smart glasses could make it a reality

The most compelling reason for Apple to debut an iPhone desktop mode at WWDC 2026 is the potential for seamless integration across its ecosystem. Most notably, the iPhone Fold is tipped for a release later this year — a move that strongly suggests Apple is already developing an enhanced multitasking experience tailored for larger, more versatile displays.

While the Apple Vision Pro may not have become the immediate breakout hit the company anticipated, Apple already has a blueprint for an iPhone desktop mode within visionOS. The company could simply adapt it for this new mobile mode. While the first Apple Glasses slated for early 2027 won't have a display, Apple is reportedly working on a follow-up.

There’s still a lot unknown about Apple’s upcoming smart glasses, but I still see the iPhone continuing to be the premier hub for the company’s entire hardware ecosystem. By unlocking a desktop-class interface, Apple wouldn't just be playing catch-up with Samsung and Motorola — it would be transforming the iPhone from a standalone mobile device into a pocketable workhorse capable of powering the next generation of foldables and AR wearables.

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This week, Apple settled a $250 million class action lawsuit over claims that it misled iPhone owners about the arrival of Apple Intelligence and an overhauled Siri.

Thanks to the settlement, up to 36 million iPhone owners are eligible for a payout of up to $95 per device, a significant amount, especially for serial iPhone purchasers.

Read on to discover if you're eligible and how to claim your portion of the settlement.

Are you eligible?

Per the settlement, it covers about 36 million devices, including most of the best iPhones.

The list includes the entire iPhone 16 lineup (iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, and iPhone 16e), as well as the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. You must have purchased an eligible device in the United States between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025.

"The $250 million non-reversionary common fund that our legal team helped secure will provide class members who timely submit approved claims with a presumptive per-device payment of $25 for each eligible device, which may decrease or increase up to $95 per device, depending on claim volume and other factors," reads the settlement.

However, it's important to note that the presiding judge must still approve the settlement. If everything goes through, eligible owners could receive between $25 and $95, depending on how many people submit a claim.

How to claim the iPhone settlement

When the judge approves a settlement, those involved create an administrator website that outlines what's required and how to submit a claim. More details on submitting claims, such as forms to complete, whether proof of purchase is required, and other critical information, are posted to the website. More than likely, you'll need the device's serial number, Apple Account information, and phone number.

According to the Clarkson Law Firm, which is representing consumers in the case, "In a few weeks, the link to the settlement administrator website will be available."

What that means for you, assuming you're one of the people who purchased an eligible iPhone, is that you can't do anything yet. But you can rest assured that we'll keep you informed regarding the latest iPhone settlement news as it becomes available.

In the meantime, you can sign up for alerts on the case through the Clarkson Law Firm's settlement website.

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With WWDC 2026 set to kick off on June 8, it could be one of the most pivotal moments for Apple for a number of reasons. Software has always been a big focus for the developers conference and it’ll certainly be the case here, especially when it centers around Apple Intelligence.

Despite the launch of the iPhone 17 lineup and iOS 26 last fall, Apple Intelligence didn’t quite get as much attention. But that could change with WWDC 2026, where we could finally get the Gemini-powered Siri that's so eagerly anticipated. And with Tim Cook handing over the reins to John Ternus in September, this could be the last time Cook helms an Apple event.

Although hardware isn’t necessarily a huge priority at WWDC, the software reveals could give us insights to learning more about new devices down the road — like the long rumored iPhone Fold. Here’s everything we expect to see at WWDC 2026.

WWDC 2026 expected announcements

• Previews for the latest iterations s of iOS, macOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS software
• New Gemini-powered Siri assistant
• More Apple Intelligence features
• ‘Charismatic’ smart home OS
• Touchscreen support for macOS

WWDC 2026: When is it?

Apple’s 37th annual Worldwide Developers Conference will run from June 8 to 12, with the keynote taking place on Monday, June 8. While Apple hasn’t officially confirmed the exact start time for the presentation, it typically begins at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. The event will be held at Apple Park in Cupertino, CA.

How to watch WWDC 2026

In addition to the live keynote that should take place on June 8, you’re likely to watch the entire event unfold online as it happens. As in previous years, Apple streamed the presentation through its website, the Apple Developer app, and its YouTube channel.

iOS 27: Gemini-powered Siri is finally coming

Last year’s iOS 26 introduced a fresh aesthetic with the Liquid Glass design language, but iOS 27 is shaping up to be the true coming-out party for Apple Intelligence. Most notably, Apple has already promised that a Gemini-powered Siri will debut this year, giving iPhone users plenty of reason to be excited.

With Google’s help, Siri could finally be turbocharged to offer the same multimodal performance we see in rival chatbots. Many of the best Android phones already have access to Gemini Live, so the real test will be seeing how Apple integrates that power into the Siri experience.

We’ve already seen the Galaxy S26 introduce advanced task automation that allows users to perform complex actions — like placing a Dunkin’ Donuts order through DoorDash via voice — and it’s highly likely Siri will gain a similar capability for the iPhone.

Another intriguing prospect for WWDC 2026 is how iOS 27 might adapt to more expansive displays. This would be the perfect time to tease the long-rumored iPhone Fold. Considering that the software will eventually need to support different form factors, we’re curious to see if Apple introduces new multitasking features to handle that extra screen real estate.

Apple Intelligence

Beyond the new Siri, it’s anyone’s guess as to what other new Apple Intelligence features will accompany iOS 27. Last year’s iOS 26 saw minor additions, like Visual Intelligence integrated with the screenshot function, but Apple can’t afford another thin showing.

The leaks have been light so far, with a report hinting at a big push for more AI-based photo editing tools that would expand on the current Image Playground and Photo Clean Up tools it offers. One of these rumored features would be an extend function that would use generative AI to create additional images beyond the original photo's frame.

However, there's still a lot more that Apple Intelligence need to catch up with the competition. We’ve already compared the iOS 26 Call Screen feature against the Pixel 10 Pro’s version, but Apple still lacks several AI tools that define the competition — like the following below.

• Pro Res Zoom that enhances zoom photos on the Pixel 10 Pro.
• How the Galaxy S26’s Now Nudge proactively makes suggestions based on what you’re doing.
• Replicating your voice for translation in another language with a phone call on the Pixel 10 Pro XL.

More importantly, it’ll be interesting to see how Apple manages its shifting alliances. While it recently integrated OpenAI’s ChatGPT into CarPlay, the bigger story is how Apple is now tapping Google Gemini to save Siri. Seeing how Apple balances its relationship with OpenAI while relying on Google’s infrastructure will be one of the most fascinating storylines of the keynote.

macOS 27

One of the biggest surprises so far this year was the March launch of the MacBook Neo, a move that signaled Apple’s willingness to aggressively expand its hardware lineup. We expect many of the Apple Intelligence enhancements slated for iOS 27 to trickle down to the Mac, but there is one particular nugget we’re watching for during the macOS 27 reveal.

We’re referring to the potential for a touchscreen MacBook Pro. The rumors suggest a debut could happen as early as late 2026 or 2027. If true, macOS 27 would need to introduce radical UI changes to accommodate touch functionality.

iPadOS 27

Considering how closely iOS and macOS are now intertwined, iPadOS 27 should be greeted with the same core software enhancements. This means the update will undoubtedly include the new Gemini-powered Siri and the latest Apple Intelligence tools, but we also expect an expansion of the Continuity features that bridge Apple’s entire device portfolio.

While you can already use an iPad as a second monitor for a Mac via Sidecar, a shift toward software optimized for foldable displays could usher in a new era of cross-device synergy. If Apple teases a foldable interface at WWDC 2026, it would likely coincide with even more powerful Continuity features designed to bridge the ecosystem more seamlessly than ever before.

watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and more

As for the rest of Apple’s software ecosystem, the headline feature for watchOS 27 and tvOS 27 will undoubtedly be the new Siri. This upgraded, Gemini-powered assistant could be leveraged to offer highly personalized experiences across every screen. For the Apple Watch, this could mean better-tailored workout plans based on your recent biometric data. Meanwhile, tvOS 27 could mean smarter content recommendations that finally understand natural, conversational requests.

While leaks for these specific updates have been relatively quiet, the most intriguing rumors point to a brand-new smart home platform internally codenamed "Charismatic." This new homeOS is set to compete directly with Alexa and Google Home.

Reports suggest it will power a long-rumored HomePod featuring a built-in display and camera. This new smart home OS would seemingly work hand-in-hand with tvOS 27 to enable distance-aware features — such as automatically changing Apple TV's layout or surfacing specific content based on who the device senses in the room.

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In a bid to catch up with Android AI features, Apple is reportedly building a suite of photo-editing tools that will debut in iOS 27 later this year. The tools will lean "heavily" on artificial intelligence.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that the company is developing the new tools powered by Apple Intelligence for iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27. The new tools would allow you to "extend, enhance and reframe images" using on-device AI, with processing only taking a few seconds.

Apparently, these new tools are meant to catch up with Google and Samsung offerings. Google already offers Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur and generative image expansion on Pixel devices and some Android ones. In recent years, Samsung has taken to keeping the cameras on the Galaxy phones the same but offering improvements via AI editing and upscaling.

Apple, meanwhile, currently only has one AI-powered tool: Clean Up, which lets you remove objects in photos.

Four AI-based tools

Per Gurman, Apple will add a new "Apple Intelligence Tools" section to the photo editing interface. Some named tools include Enhance, Extend, Reframe and new Clean Up features.

Enhance uses AI to improve color, lighting and the overall image quality. Extend will generate additional images beyond the original photo's frame. This seems similar to the generative photo creator available for Android.

Reframe is meant for spatial photos, the 3D image format meant for the Vision Pro. The tool would let you shift perspective after a photo is taken.

Finally, Clean Up will get improvements since the current version can produce wonky results. As an example, I recently used the tool to remove a dog licking its rear from a photo. The resulting fill was distorted, and it was clear that a dog-shaped something was there before.

Gurman reports that development hasn't been smooth. Apparently, the Extend and Reframe tools don't perform reliably right now. That said, Apple has several months before iOS 27 debuts this fall.

It's not clear if the new tools are using any Gemini models as part of the new Apple and Google AI partnership that should finally introduce Siri 2.0.

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At some point this year we should finally see Apple’s first pair of smart glasses. Yes, after years of rumors and speculation, Tim Cook is expected to show off Apple Glasses as soon as September. They’ll reportedly be powered by Apple silicon and the new-and-improved version of Siri.

But what will these glasses do and how will they stand out against the Meta Ray-Ban glasses and upcoming Android XR glasses from Samsung and others? There’s no better person to ask these pressing questions and more than Mark Gurman, the chief correspondent for Apple at Bloomberg.

Gurman has unearthed all sorts of details about Apple’s glasses, including how the company plans to differentiate its specs in what’s expected to be a very hot market. I sat down with Gurman to talk about the first-gen Apple glasses and what’s on the horizon, as well as other so-called “AI wearables” in the pipeline, including AirPods with cameras and an AI pendant.

Apple Glasses release date: When are they coming?

Before you get too excited about visionOS glasses that shrink the Vision Pro experience into a pair of specs, Apple reportedly plans to go the display-free route at first. But Meta has already sold millions of Ray-Ban Meta glasses without a display, so it seems Apple is going to start there.

“The plan for some time has been to introduce the smart glasses in the September / October timeframe of this year, and then roll them out early in 2027,” Gurman said. “I'd be pretty surprised if they did not introduce them before the end of the year, even if it's going to take several months for them to actually reach customers.”

The reason Gurman would be surprised is that he doesn’t believe that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Fold is going to be enough to excite customers and investors. And then there’s the matter of stealing thunder from the competition.

“If you're Apple, you really want (Apple Glasses) to be introduced before the holiday season, because you don't want one more cycle for Meta to get momentum selling these glasses, especially given they're going to be very giftable,” Gurman shared. “And you want to pull the rug out from under Google and Warby Parker and some of the other brands who are launching their glasses at the end of the year.”

How will Apple Glasses stand out?

On the surface, Apple’s glasses will be similar to Meta’s. You’ll be able to play music, capture photos and videos, listen to notifications, take phone calls and get hands-free help from a voice assistant in Siri.

Apple’s strategy is apparently to focus on tighter integration with the iPhone and offering a higher-end build quality. In fact, Gurman reports that Apple has designed at least four different styles along with several color options, including black, ocean blue and light brown..

The glasses are apparently made using acetate, a premium material that’s more durable and luxurious than the plastic used by others. Then there’s the sheer power of the Apple brand and ecosystem factor.

“The Apple brand is so strong, so keep that as one factor. The other factor is that while the iPhone is compatible with competing wearables, no third-party product is going to play as nicely with the iPhone as smart glasses developed by Apple,” Gurman said.

“And then, of course, on top of that is branding, Apple design, Apple style, the way Apple is going to try to upsell people who buy an iPhone and try to get them to buy smart glasses to work with their iPhone at the time of purchase. They have a lot of ingredients to sell a lot of these smart glasses.”

Apple glasses use cases: What will they actually do?

Apple’s glasses will be designed to be the ultimate accessory to your iPhone. You’ll be able to capture high resolution photos and videos on the go. But things get really interesting when you add Visual Intelligence into the mix.

Gurman has reported on the idea of visual reminders. So, for example, if you’re in the store and the glasses see something on the shelf you had added to your reminders list, you’ll be prodded to add it to your cart.

Getting turn-by-turn directions should be more helpful than constantly staring down at your phone, too, thanks to the built-in cameras.

“One cool potential use case is walking down the street using the built-in speakers in the smart glasses to be told where you're going in turn-by-turn directions and Maps. And rather than just telling you to take a left in 400 feet, it says ‘make a left by the gray hotel.’ So you’re getting more context by using those cameras.

The new Siri… or bust?

Of course, Apple’s glasses won’t be worth whatever premium the company plans on charging if the new Siri isn’t a significant leap forward. Apple has promised a smarter Siri since iOS 18 and the launch of the iPhone 16, but Siri has been famously delayed.

In fact, Apple is reportedly working with Google to infuse Apple’s assistant with Gemini intelligence to help catch up to the competition.

“It's actually wild,” Gurman shared. The new Siri is likely not going to launch until September with iOS 27, which means it's going to launch over two years after it was initially supposed to launch. So definitely not a good look for Apple.”

Based on Gurman’s own reporting, iOS 27 will include a dedicated Siri app and the revamped assistant will operate more like a chatbot like Gemini. Apple is also coming out with a new feature called extensions, which will allow other AI chatbots to work within the Siri interface.

Siri is also the key for getting Apple Glasses to work seamlessly. If the assistant isn’t responsive or smart enough, the “smart” in smart glasses falls way short.

“They need to get this new Siri out the door in order to make these smart glasses functional or usable in any proper way,” Gurman said.

AirPods with cameras…and a new AI pendant

Not everyone is going to want to wear smart glasses, so Apple has two other so-called AI wearables in the works: AirPods with cameras and an AI pendant.

The AirPods with cameras won’t be for taking pictures. They’ll have IR cameras built in to measure your surroundings and better understand the world around you. So you’ll be able to do many of the things Apple Glasses promise, such as getting visual reminders and better context for turn-by-turn directions.

Gurman expects these to launch in the next year or so as a compliment or alternative to Apple Glasses. But what will these things cost?

“It will be a bit more expensive to get the cameras into the AirPods, and there may be some people who don't want AirPods with the cameras built in, Gurman said. “It would make sense to me for these to be another tier on top, maybe something like AirPods Ultra.”

The other AI wearable apparently on the horizon is an AI pendant, which will be equipped with a camera and microphones, making it another “eyes and ears” product in Gurman’s estimation.

“The pendant is designed to be worn as a necklace,” Gurman said. “So there'll be accessories to wear it around your neck. There'll be accessories to pin it on your shirt or jacket”

The pendant will be for people who don't want to wear AirPods or smart glasses, but who still want to benefit from feeding all of that contextual data to your iPhone and to the cloud for Apple intelligence and Siri. And presumably Apple will tout stronger privacy protections than the failed Humane AI Pin.

However, Gurman believes that this device won’t be nearly as successful as the AI AirPods or the smart glasses.

“They have to hit all the major wearable categories. So it seems like they knew they were running behind here, and so they're throwing everything but the kitchen sink at it.”

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