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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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

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple just completely rebuilt Siri AI — here are the 7 biggest upgrades coming to your iPhone
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• I saw the new Siri AI in action — what I like and what needs work

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.

More from Tom's Guide

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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 — all you'll need is an iCloud+ account, which starts at $0.99 per month for 50GB of storage and one camera, $2.99/month for 200GB and up to five cameras, and $9.99/month for 2TB of storage and unlimited cameras. (Apple offers higher-capacity plans, but we'll set them aside for now).

So, if you want AI-assisted search functionality for your smart home cameras and video doorbells, you could get it for as little as $0.99/month. 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.

Even if we were to factor in the unlimited camera angle, you'd still be paying half as much with Apple.

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.

More from Tom's Guide

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• Apple Time Allowance adds more parental controls to its devices in iOS 27 — here's what's new

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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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.”

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple WWDC 2026 Live: New Siri, iOS 27 and all the latest news as it happens
• I thought Siri was finished, but these 5 leaked WWDC 2026 features are its biggest update since 2011
• Apple Glasses will send shockwaves through the eyewear industry — here's how it could disrupt a $200 billion market

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!

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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.

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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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Last week, we first heard about "extensions," an iOS 27 feature that would allow Siri to link up with AI chatbots that aren't ChatGPT — such as Gemini or Claude. This would mean you can communicate with those chatbots via Siri voice commands, rather than using a standalone app. But there may be more to extensions than simply looping in more AI choices.

According to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, iOS 27's extensions feature could come with its own dedicated section of the App Store. As Gurman explains it, this would effectively be an AI App Store for Apple devices, and a dedicated marketplace for all sorts of new AI features.

Gurman points out that this third-party support wouldn't replace the ongoing efforts to upgrade Siri, which is expected to be powered by Gemini. Gurman notes that Apple's home-made AI software is still necessary for new products and marketing, with Siri's ongoing delays affecting the launch of other devices — including the Apple HomePad and smart glasses.

Instead, AI extensions would be complementing Apple's in-house AI development with third-party software. That could help expand Apple Intelligence's offerings far faster than Apple can manage alone. Extra AI features would help sell more iPhones, which are the primary source of Apple's revenue, and avoid enthusiasts leaving for Android.

An actual App Store would also generate more revenue for Apple, thanks to the 30% commission it receives on all sales and in-app transactions.

As Gurman puts it, Apple has effectively conceded in the AI race and doesn't have much of a choice but to employ strategies that have already worked in the past. So rather than directly competing with the likes of OpenAI and Google, it's trying to leverage its platform and loyal user base to remain profitable.

Hopefully, this will mean far fewer delays in the rollout of AI on iPhone and other Apple devices, as well as a lot more choice for users on what platform and features they actually install onto their devices.

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As the 50th anniversary of Apple (April 1) comes near, it’s not surprising to see major figures from the iconic tech company’s past and present make media appearances.

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak (who is cleverly nicknamed “Woz”) is one of those personalities, as he recently popped up on FOX Business' “The Claman Countdown” to chat with show host Liz Claman. During this conversation, Woznaik was asked about his thoughts on AI. And to be quite frank, Wozniak isn’t all that fond of the trending technology and referenced his time spent with AI tools to explain why.

Wozniak hasn’t been converted into an AI believer

When asked about his thoughts on AI being relied on more than ever and seemingly replacing humans’ ability to figure things out for themselves, Wozniak had this to say.

“Well, you become dependent on it. I want to know some human being like myself is thinking, knowing what I might feel, and understanding emotions and all that.” He then alluded to his own AI tests, where he asked it questions and looked for data on how it arrived at that answer. Wozniak noted that those same tools aren’t great at answering questions directly and either produce broad or unnecessary information. "I want such reliable content every time. I am not a fan of AI," Wozniak stated.

During his recent media run, Wozniak also made a stop at CNN and was asked if AI would one day replace humans. He made it clear that he hasn’t seen any evidence pointing to that outcome coming to fruition: “I’ve seen no sign yet that we understand well enough how the brain works to get to that point that it replaces the human; has emotions; cares about things; wants to help others; wants to be a good person. “No, I don’t I don’t see any signs of that yet,” he continued. “You can’t say something can’t happen though and with technology.”

The CNN host also inquired about Wozniak’s experience with actually using AI and provided a similar answer to the one he gave to Fox Business. “I don’t use AI much at all, but I’ve asked it a few questions to test it,” Wozniak asserted. “Now I’ll ask a question where one word is the key item, the direction I want to go, and AI will come back with a whole bunch of clear explanations that are on the subject, but not what I really was interested in.”

The responses he’s gotten back from AI have left Wozniak largely unimpressed, as evidenced by his follow-up statement: “I often read things and they just sound too dry and too perfect, and I want something from a human being, and I’m disappointed a lot.”

The takeaway

Wozniak is definitely the sort of tech industry figure people should pay attention to when he speaks his mind on any industry topic (he is the co-founder of one of the most recognizable tech companies in the world, after all). His views echo the same sentiments most AI skeptics feel about chatbots and believers’ opinions about them eventually getting smart enough to replace human effort and ingenuity.

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Apple is preparing to unveil the long-awaited update to Siri at WWDC in June this year, with plans that include launching it as a standalone app as well as giving it a new design.

People familiar with Apple's plans have been speaking to Mark Gurman over at Bloomberg and suggesting Apple will employ a "chatbot-like experience" for Siri alongside a "fresh look" that will be revealed on June 8.

That fresh look could involve replacing the glowing border effect introduced in iOS 18 with one of a few different options Gurman says are currently being tested. One of which involves putting Siri at the top of the screen and utilizing a Dynamic Island approach with a pill-shaped indicator alongside a glowing Siri icon. When the request is fulfilled, the pill expands into a Liquid Glass panel to display results.

What's more, after struggling to gain a foothold with Apple Intelligence since launching it 2024, Apple wants to coalesce its AI efforts around the new Siri. Therefore, Gurman says Apple will be revealing a new "Ask Siri" feature that will run across Apple's products and turn the assistant into a "systemwide AI agent with deep integration across applications."

According to Gurman's sources, Siri will be able to control features inside iPhones and Macs alike and action requests through access to users' personal data contained inside calendar and messaging apps. Once implemented, users will see an "Ask Siri" toggle appear in menus across the app ecosystem where they can ask the AI for more context about whatever is on-screen. For example, they could highlight text in an email or message and ask Siri to perform an action with it, like adding to a calendar event or searching for more context.

Finally, with a more conversational approach — whether by voice or text — Apple is hoping Siri will start to match what can be offered by Google's Gemini or OpenAI's ChatGPT.

The Siri app

Although the Siri app is currently being developed and could be teased at WWDC 2026 this year, Gurman stops short of giving a fixed release date. He suggests it will come to the iPhone, iPad and Mac "later this year."

"The app’s main interface will display prior conversations in either a list or a grid of rounded rectangles with text previews. Users can pin favorite chats, save older conversations, search across interactions and start new chats via a prominent plus button," Gurman wrote.

It seems to me like a supercharged version of Apple's Messages app and there will reportedly be the option to upload attachments as well as toggle between voice and text input.

When could it be ready?

Apple, unfortunately, doesn't have the best track record when it comes to delivering on its AI promises. This long-awaited Siri 2.0 was first announced two years ago with a promise it would arrive in spring 2025. That ended up getting delayed until spring 2026, with many involved now believing it won't materialize until the fall.

It's likely we could see a lot of announcements and feature teases of what's to come with Siri during the summer at WWDC, but the final product doesn't arrive until iOS 27 in the fall.

Is Apple too late to the game? Or will the company's gigantic install base mean that Siri's next generation — when it finally does arrive — will displace the likes of Gemini, Claude and ChatGPT for Apple users? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Apple’s AI-upgraded Siri 2.0 assistant might be seeing some release issues, but Apple still plans to release it this year.

In a comment made to CNBC, Apple stated that it’s still on track to release Siri 2.0 in 2026, but it wasn’t forthcoming with a specific date. However, while prior rumors had stated that the update could launch as part of iOS 26.4, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman revealed yesterday that the company was unlikely to have the updated assistant ready in time.

All of this follows what could best be called an utter nightmare of a rollout for Apple Intelligence. Apple first announced the new Siri at WWDC 2024, alongside features like Writing Tools and Genmoji. Unfortunately, the Siri update has seen frequent delays in many of the promised features, including the ability to recall personal data and even log in to apps for you. However, certain aspects were included in iOS 26, including improved Visual Intelligence and Live Translation.

Why has Siri’s release been so difficult?

Apple’s issues with Siri 2.0 and Apple Intelligence are multifaceted. But it all boils down to Apple’s late adoption of generative AI compared to the competition, which has led to relatively slow progress.

This is an issue because, in the current smartphone market, a key advertising strategy is to promote AI features over improved hardware. As such, Apple has seemingly had no choice but to announce features before they’re ready, which can be seen as an adaptation to the latest tech trend.

Another issue facing Apple is its commitment to on-device processing to help maintain user privacy. On the surface, this makes a lot of sense, especially as the result should be faster than relying on external servers alone while also protecting user data.

So, with all that in mind, when can we likely expect Siri 2.0 to make an appearance? At this point, it’s hard to say, but a reasonable assumption would be the release of iOS 27, which is expected to be announced in the Summer. However, the release of Siri 2.0 might be held until the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro, which is expected for September of this year.

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It sounds like Siri 2.0's debut could be only a couple of weeks away from launching in an upcoming iOS update, although most users will be waiting longer to try the features.

Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, a man with established inside knowledge of Apple's activities, claims in his latest newsletter that the revamped version of Apple's familiar digital assistant will debut in iOS 26.4, as previously rumored. More specifically, it will be made available in the developer beta build, which will arrive on February 23rd.

This update is expected to contain long-promised features for Siri, such as it being able to access and control key apps like your messages, calendar appointments and photos, and respond to context-sensitive queries about the contents of those apps. However, Gurman explains that the rumored chatbot functionality coming to Siri won't arrive until the next full iPhone update — iOS 27 — according to other leaks.

As this February release is a developer beta, this isn't going to appear on your iPhone unless you've specifically signed up for these updates. And to be frank, we don't recommend doing so unless you're aware of the risks that potentially buggy software could have on the only smartphone you own.

Fortunately, we at TG are brave (or perhaps foolish), and will be installing the iOS 26.4 beta to test the new Siri, and we will share our results and experiences with you so you don't have to put your own device at risk.

While it's not clear when the stable version of iOS 26.4 will launch, giving all users with compatible iPhones access to the new features. However, we can assume from Apple's usual iOS release patterns that the update will be ready by late March or April.

Big promises — finally fulfilled?

Apple put a lot of emphasis on how smart Siri would be thanks to the addition of Apple Intelligence back at its 2024 WWDC conference. But despite advertising these capabilities during the WWDC presentation, and then again in a commercial starring Bella Ramsey from "The Last of Us," these features haven't yet made it onto any iPhone out in the real world.

This has been quite a blow for Apple, as over in the Android world, Google and Gemini have been receiving continuous updates and fresh features for awhile now. At the same time, third-party apps like ChatGPT have also shown users how far behind Apple's in-house tech is.

Fortunately, with Apple now adopting a Gemini AI model as the basis for Siri, its on-device AI powers should soon be on par with the competition. And while it's perhaps embarrassing for Apple's own AI team to have to rely on Google to help them out, this will hopefully be the best possible option for iPhone users around the world.

So, let us know if you'll be downloading the new beta, and then mark your calendar for February 23rd — either so you can get installing yourself, or so you can return to TG to hear about what we've found.

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Browsing and searching for new things has changed ever since AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Google Gemini came around. Now, whenever I have a question or am unsure about something, the first thing I do is open the ChatGPT app on my iPhone (even though it can still make mistakes).

I usually rely on these AI chatbots for quick, everyday queries, like how to make matcha tea at home or understanding the symbols on my dishwasher. In fact, I've even started using AI Mode in Google Search more often, since it gives me the reliability of Google Search with the conversational comfort of an AI chatbot.

That said, one of my biggest issues with these apps is that they store your chat history and are not exactly privacy-friendly to begin with. Even though both ChatGPT and Gemini let you start temporary chats, doing that every single time still feels like too much friction for something I want to use quickly.

I recently found a hidden iPhone shortcut that gives me the same chatbot-like experience with a single tap, without relying on the ChatGPT or Gemini apps. It has quietly replaced both on my iPhone, and here's how you can set it up on your iPhone as well.

Why I prefer Chat with Apple Intelligence shortcut and not ChatGPT or Gemini

There's no argument that ChatGPT and Google Gemini apps are bad. In fact, they're packed with features, letting you do things like generate images, or directly reference workspace apps in Gemini's case.

But for my specific use case, which is mostly asking random questions throughout the day whenever I need to look something up, the Chat with Apple Intelligence shortcut I've been using has been just as good.

You can ask it the same kinds of questions you'd ask other chatbot apps, and you still get useful extras like follow-up questions, meaning it retains the context of an ongoing session. You can also attach files and photos, so referencing screenshots or documents works just as well here.

The best part, though, is how quickly it gets me going. I don't have to wait for an app to load. I just tap the shortcut, and it's ready instantly, letting me ask a question or start chatting right away.

There are a few other benefits, too. You can easily copy text from the answers, which is handy if you're refining messages or emails. And the biggest win for me is privacy: it doesn't retain your chats. Once you close the shortcut, that conversation is gone forever. There's no history, no archive, nothing stored, which is perfect for quick, occasional lookups during the day.

I've used it to get caption ideas for my Instagram stories and even to summarize an email from a screenshot, and it handled both really well. More importantly, it did so quickly, without any long loading time, which is exactly what I want from a tool like this.

How to get this shortcut on your iPhone

If you want to give the Chat with Apple Intelligence shortcut a try, you can set it up on your iPhone in just a few steps. Here’s how to add it to your Home Screen for quick access:

The first time you run the shortcut, iOS will ask for a few permissions, such as access to the clipboard. If you attach photos later, you may also need to allow access to your Photos library. Once that's done, you're good to go.

There are a few disadvantages that you should be aware of

I'll be honest: I've been using this shortcut for the past two weeks, and overall, it's been a great experience. It has genuinely proven useful for my (dumb) everyday questions, but there are still a few disadvantages you should be aware of:

• No chat history: While it's great that the shortcut doesn't retain your chat history or files, it can also be a bit annoying. If you exit a chat midway, you'll have to provide the context all over again since the Shortcut does not retain any history. That's something you usually don't have to deal with in other AI chatbot apps.
• Information isn't up to date: This is easily the biggest drawback. The shortcut's knowledge cutoff goes back to October 2023, which may not work for everyone. If you're asking about current events or recent news, there's a good chance that the shortcut won't be able to give you an accurate answer.

I can't wait for Gemini integration with Apple Intelligence

That said, I'm not too concerned about the information cutoff right now, because I think this shortcut will only get better over the coming months. Apple has already announced that it is working with Google to use Gemini for the next generation of Apple Foundation Models, which will help power future Apple Intelligence features.

This means, if and when that happens, this shortcut could give you more up-to-date answers while still keeping things private, without sharing your chats directly with Gemini.

There's still some time before we get there (and before the new, more personalized Siri arrives), but until then, I think the shortcut works just fine for what it is.

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The smarter Siri 2.0 we've been waiting to try on our iPhones for almost two years may finally appear next month, says Mark Gurman's latest Power On newsletter at Bloomberg. But even greater changes could be in store for Apple's summer developer conference.

Gurman was writing about the Apple and Google AI deal months ahead of the official announcement. So when he says "[Apple] has been planning an announcement of the new Siri in the second half of February, when it will give demonstrations of the functionality," we have little reason to doubt him.

Specifically, Gurman says the new Siri will come in iOS 26.4, which should arrive as a beta in February and then launch formally by early April at the latest.

It will be this version of the iPhone's software that will finally give us the AI features first promised at WWDC in 2024 when Apple Intelligence was introduced to the world.

This includes powers like Personal Context to keep track of your previous conversations, on-screen awareness and the ability to take action in apps on your behalf. All of these were demoed two summers ago, but have yet to make it to any beta version of iOS, let alone a stable version.

Siri 3.0 could come a lot quicker than Siri 2.0

Gurman's account is a fun narrative of corporate negotiations and why Google (initially set aside as a potential partner) ended up being Apple's ultimate choice instead of the more 'obvious' choices of OpenAI or Anthropic. But it also tells us about what to expect from the next step forward to Siri, which should be coming this summer.

We can apparently expect another overhaul to Apple's digital assistant to come with iOS 27, macOS 27 and the rest of Apple's next generation of operating systems.

In addition to being smarter than ever, this Siri will allegedly take cues from ChatGPT and Gemini to offer chatbot-style interaction and abilities, like answering questions in a conversational fashion or proactively suggesting actions to take in linked apps, according to one rumor.

These new capabilities will come as a result of Apple moving the underlying processes to Google's infrastructure, to help with the speed and precision of responses.

This makes sense, but the big question would be what impact this shift would have on Apple's Private Cloud Compute, its guarantee that your AI-powered prompts and results aren't visible to the company.

We don't know if Apple will make a big deal out of the iOS 16.4 update with a formal launch, or if the new Siri will debut with barely a whisper. But it seems we don't have long to find out if these rumors are true, and if the new features are worth the wait.

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A new report has detailed some of the new features that Apple’s partnership with Google could bring to Siri, which could help the iPhone and other devices catch up with other AI assistants.

Apple first announced that it would use Gemini to help power a more personalized Siri earlier this week, mentioning how it would improve the feature to meet current standards. Following that story, The Information recently offered further details on several new features that could launch as part of the more powerful Siri.

The report, citing a person who has allegedly been involved with the project, states that the new Siri will be able to answer queries more conversationally, while also improving responses related to world knowledge or factual questions, such as the population of a country.

The integration will also apparently allow Siri to tell more stories, offer emotional support with conversational answers, and assist with tasks. This includes offering prompts when you need to leave for the airport or create documents in the Notes app, such as cooking recipes.

The Information also details that further Siri capabilities will be announced at the next WWDC event, which is likely planned for June. These new features include the assistant retaining knowledge of past conversations and offering proactive suggestions based on information from other apps on your device, including the calendar app.

It’s also noted that the latest prototype of the more personalized Siri does not contain any Google or Gemini branding. Apple will reportedly be able to fine-tune Gemini’s model to help ensure that Siri works in a way that Apple prefers, rather than resorting to Google’s base style. On top of that, to maintain Apple’s privacy pledge, the Gemini AI will run directly on Apple devices and iCloud service, rather than on Google’s servers.

Why is Apple using Gemini?

This isn’t the first time that we’ve seen Apple make use of a competitor's model within its own product. For instance, ChatGPT has been integrated into Apple Intelligence from the start help improve the overall service, such as in Visual Intelligence to allow users to ask the chatbot questions about what they see on the screen. However, this is very different from basing Siri itself on a service from a rival company.

Apple reportedly evaluated multiple options for the advanced Siri, eventually determining that Gemini’s AI models and cloud infrastructure offer the strongest base to enhance its own Apple Foundation models. This should allow Apple to catch up with its rivals Google and OpenAI, by customizing an existing setup, rather than having to wait years to close the gap through developing its own.

Overall, the future currently looks bright for Siri and the future of Apple Intelligence, especially when competing with other assistants available on phones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 10 Pro XL. We will make sure to keep you updated on any changes and when the new additions are finally released.

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Apple has confirmed a major shift in its AI strategy: Google’s Gemini models will help power the next generation of Siri and Apple Intelligence features, expected to roll out later this year.

The move is part of a multi-year partnership between two longtime rivals, and it signals something Apple rarely admits — that it needs outside help to compete in the fast-moving AI race.

Here’s what it means for iPhone users and whether this is a smart course correction or a risky bet.

What’s actually happening?

Apple has chosen Google’s Gemini AI models and cloud infrastructure as a foundation for its new Siri experience. Apple says it evaluated multiple options and determined that Gemini offered the strongest base to enhance its own Apple Foundation Models.

This comes about a year after Apple integrated ChatGPT into Siri for assistance. However, unlike including limited OpenAI support, this partnership represents a deeper reliance on an external AI provider, marking a rare moment where Apple isn’t building a core experience entirely in-house.

What iPhone users will notice

According to Apple and Google, the Gemini-powered Siri upgrade should bring:

• Smarter conversations, with better natural language understanding and context awareness
• Improved personalization, allowing Siri to respond more intelligently based on your habits and usage
• Privacy safeguards, with Apple emphasizing on-device processing and its Private Cloud Compute system so user data isn’t simply handed to Google
• These changes are expected to arrive through iOS updates later in 2026.

The upside: Siri finally catches up

Siri has long lagged behind rivals like Google and OpenAI. By tapping Gemini — one of the most advanced AI models available — Apple can accelerate its roadmap instead of waiting years to close the gap.

That matters because AI assistants are no longer optional features. Users now expect tools that can reason, follow multi-step conversations and proactively help — areas where Siri has historically struggled. Gemini gives Apple a faster way into that future.

The risk: control and dependence

There’s a trade-off. Apple is famous for controlling its technology stack, but outsourcing Siri’s intelligence to Google breaks that tradition, and it comes with real risks:

• Apple gives up some autonomy in one of the most important tech battles of the decade
• If Google’s Gemini improves faster than Apple can customize it, Apple could become dependent on its rival
• Android phones already use Gemini-powered features, which limits Apple’s ability to differentiate

In short, this move may fix Siri — but it also raises questions about whether Apple truly owns its AI future.

That concern may be overstated. According to tech analyst Carolina Milanesi, Apple’s decision to rely on Google’s Gemini as a foundational model doesn’t mean the company is giving up control of Siri or falling behind in AI. Instead, it reflects a strategic choice about where Apple adds value.

“Google’s Gemini serves as the foundational model behind the new Siri, but Apple can still deliver a differentiated experience based on how it applies that technology across its ecosystem,” Milanesi said. “Apple has access to data Google doesn’t, and Siri will power many out-of-the-box experiences on device and through Apple’s private cloud.”

Milanesi added that the move doesn’t signal an inability to compete, but rather a recognition that Apple doesn’t need to build everything from scratch. “This deal doesn’t suggest Apple can’t keep up,” she said. “Apple isn’t a cloud or AI company in the same way Google, Microsoft, or AWS are, so it’s leaning into what it does best.”

And for consumers, that distinction still matters. “When it comes to Pixel versus iPhone, the ecosystem remains a key factor in how people choose a phone.”

Does this make every phone a “Gemini phone”?

In a way, yes. With Android devices and now iPhones tapping Gemini for core AI experiences, Google’s models are becoming a default layer across smartphones. That’s a massive distribution win for Google and helps explain why investors are betting heavily on Gemini as the backbone of consumer AI.

Bottom line

Is this Apple’s AI breakthrough — or a strategic retreat? It’s both.

Apple is being pragmatic, acknowledging it can’t build best-in-class generative AI fast enough on its own. Partnering with Google lets it deliver a better Siri now, not years from now.

But it’s also a rare concession. Apple is trusting a former competitor with a critical piece of its future, signaling a shift away from the tightly controlled ecosystem it’s known for.

For users, the short-term outcome is simple: Siri should finally get much better. For Apple, this may signal a shift toward a more collaborative, less insular approach to AI.

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Apple is riding pretty high as 2025 comes to a close. The new iPhone 17 lineup has been a huge hit so far — with the exception of the iPhone Air — as CEO Tim Cook has described iPhone demand as “off the chart.” Apple is so confident that it’s forecasting its best December quarter ever, too.

There’s plenty of other reasons to be optimistic, including the continued strength of Apple silicon with the M5 chip, the superb new AirPods Pro 3 and a recent all-time record for services revenue.

But there’s also signs of trouble at Apple, including a raft of recent high-profile departures and retirements. John Giannandrea, Apple’s former head of Apple Intelligence, stepped down in December following a much-publicized delay to the new Siri — not to mention Apple losing ground to OpenAI and Google Gemini.

Meta recently scooped up Alan Dye, Apple’s former head of user interface design, as Mark Zuckerberg looks to extend his company’s lead in smart glasses at a time when Apple is still struggling to sell the pricey Vision Pro. Google is about to unleash its Android XR glasses as well.

"I don't think 2026 is a make-or-break year for Apple, but I do think it’s going to be a more challenging year than 2025,” said Carolina Milanesi, president and principal analyst at Creative Strategies. “There's going to be challenges if they don't deliver on the AI promise.”

So what’s in store for Apple in 2026? Based on the rumored product pipeline and my conversations with analysts and Apple watchers, this is a pivotal moment for one of the world’s biggest brands. Here’s what to expect.

The iPhone Fold: Best-selling foldable ever?

Apple is famous for being late to enter new categories, including smartphones. But a 2026 arrival for an Apple foldable device is really, really late.

As Samsung preps the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Apple is reportedly gearing up to launch its very first foldable phone in the iPhone Fold. Nevertheless, the analyst firm IDC says Apple will grab more than 20% market share in the coming year and more than a third of the revenue.

“I would not be surprised at all if the iPhone Fold instantly became the best selling folding phone of all time,” said Jason Snell, editor of the Apple-centric website Six Colors and former editorial director of Macworld. His reasoning? Simple. “Because it’s an iPhone.”

While many shoppers have likely been intrigued by the best foldable phones up until now, iPhone fans have mostly sat on the sidelines because they’re not willing to switch operating systems or move out of the Apple ecosystem.

At the same time, the iPhone Fold is said to have some advantages over the competition, including a truly crease-free display and large library of apps that are optimized for a tablet-size screen. There are millions of iPad apps that will simply just work on day one, as the iPhone Fold will ostensibly be an iPad mini in your pocket.

The iPhone Fold is tipped to feature a 5.5-inch screen on the outside and a 7.8-inch panel on the inside along with a pretty big 5,400 mAh battery. And it should be quite thin, as analysts are likening the phone to two iPhone Airs attached by a hinge.

And the price? The rumor is a gulp-inducing $2,400, which would be $400 more than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7. But don’t underestimate the appetite of high-end iPhone shoppers looking to stand out from the crowd.

“Ever since the iPhone X came out for $1,000, Apple has been engaged in this ongoing experiment to find what's the upper limit that people are willing to pay for an iPhone,” Snell said. “And looking at their product line and looking at their iPhone revenue, I would say they haven't found it.”

A super cheap MacBook

From the time Apple retired the 12-inch MacBook in 2019, industry watchers have been waiting for Apple to sell a super affordable MacBook to take on lower-cost Windows 11 laptops and premium Chromebooks. And we could finally get it in 2026.

Rumor has it that Apple is working on a cheap MacBook that could cost as little as $599 or $699, with the machine powered by an A series chip. Apple technically already has a laptop in this price range with the MacBook M1 still selling at Walmart for $599, but this would be a brand new design.

The target audience would be buyers who mostly want to surf the web, check email and watch videos.

The system will reportedly feature a 13-inch display, an A18 Pro chip (the same one featured in the iPhone 16 Pro models), and very long battery life. And at a time PC makers are facing a RAM shortage, Apple could have a built-in advantage versus the competition.

“I think we're going to get some very inexpensive MacBooks this year, because Apple is able to press its silicon advantage and there's sort of a curve ball being thrown by the wild swings in prices for memory,” said Avi Greengart, founder and lead analyst for Techsponential. “Apple has such volume, and because they build the memory into their package, rather than added on separately, Apple may end up with a double pricing advantage.”

Meet the HomePod Touch (or HomePad)

No one is really clear on the name of this product yet, but Apple is expected to launch a new smart home device that could be dubbed the HomePod Touch or HomePad. And it could arrive in the spring to coincide with the launch of the revamped Siri.

The device will reportedly feature a 7-inch touch screen and run Apple’s brand-new homeOS software. It would have pre-installed apps like Safari, Apple Music, Notes, Calendar, Photos and Reminder. And widgets will reportedly be a central feature. Think a beefed-up version of the iPhone’s StandBy Mode.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that the HomePod Touch could cost around $350 and come in two versions, one with a speaker base and another that could attach to walls.

Apple would directly compete against the likes of Amazon and its line of Echo Show products and the Google Nest Hub Max. But how would Apple stand out? For one, the company’s reputation for security and privacy.

“There’s no other brand that is more trusted by consumers than Apple,” Milanesi said.

Then there’s the perception that today’s smart home displays in the home just aren’t that smart. You may have an Alexa or Gemini-powered device in your abode, but how often do you use it and is it enjoyable? I happen to have the latest Echo Show 21 with Alexa+ inside, and I tend not to use it for anything other than turning on Christmas lights and asking about the weather.

“I feel like nobody's really cracked it,” Snell said. “Alexa and the Google Assistant stuff in the home are not that great. So Apple has opportunities there.”

But much of this will boil down to how smart the new Siri is and whether people will want to talk to it.

Crashing the smart glasses party

While the Apple Vision Pro is technically impressive, there’s no question that Apple’s $3,500 spatial computer has been a commercial flop. The headset is just too heavy and expensive for the masses, and there’s not enough killer apps to make regular use worthwhile. The new Vision Pro M5 merely added a faster chip and comfier strap.

Meanwhile, Meta has a sizable lead with its smart glasses push. The company has already sold more than 2 million units, as sales tripled (300% growth) in the first half of 2025. Meta shows no signs of slowing down, launching a new Ray-Ban Meta gen 2 with a sharper camera, longer battery life and improved multimodal Meta AI.

“Clearly they missed the boat, right?” Snell asked. “Apple decided they were going to build Vision Products top-down instead of bottom-up. I think they probably poo-pooed the idea of doing AirPods as glasses. It's a shame, right? Because they have all the pieces to build that product, and they just didn't build it. So I imagine that in 2026 we'll see that product.”

Apple is rumored to be launching AI glasses toward the end of 2026, though that release could slip to 2027. The glasses will reportedly be AI-centric (so heavily dependent on the new Siri) and offer built-in speakers and cameras, but not a display — at least at first.

“What these products do is heavily voice, camera and AI centric, and it would not be impossible for Apple to launch a pair of glasses that just do those things,” Greengart said. “They would basically be AirPods plus a camera that you wear on your face. There's no reason they couldn't do that.”

The problem for Apple is that Meta and Google are already racing ahead with smart glasses that have built-in displays. While pricey, the $799 Meta Ray-Ban Display shows enormous potential for the category with the way they can display helpful info in your field of view, whether it’s turn-by-turn directions, a viewfinder for photos or a recipe you want to follow along with. The wrist-worn neural band also makes it fairly easy to navigate the interface, though that’s yet another device you need to charge.

And Google is going to launch Android XR glasses with partners like Samsung and Warby Parker in 2026. I’ve already demoed them and came away very impressed with the Gemini integration. You can do everything from ask what you can make from ingredients in front of you to altering photos with generative AI before you even take them.

“The use cases are there, even without the world’s best AI,” Greengart said. “But if you layer on serious AI capabilities that then tie into your Android phone, that’s pretty powerful. So Apple is going to need to match that in order to have a competitive product.”

The new Siri — or bust

If you’re sensing a theme, you’re right. In order for some of these critical new products to succeed — especially the HomePod with display and smart glasses — Apple has to nail the launch of the new Siri.

Apple actually promised a much smarter Siri way back in 2024 with the launch of the iPhone 16 lineup. And while Apple delivered on some improvements, like a more conversational assistant, the biggest upgrades never materialized. These include on-screen awareness for content, better personal context understanding (“when is my Mom’s flight landing?”) and performing in-app actions via voice.

The fully new and improved Siri is now expected to launch in spring of 2026, and there’s a lot riding on it, even if AI isn’t a primary driver for selling devices yet.

“Apple has to deliver,” Milanesi said. She’s more worried about Gemini than ChatGPT as a direct competitor to Apple because the former has gotten “really good” and ties in with core applications that iPhone owners use regularly, like Google Maps and Gmail.

There are also reports that Apple may partner with Gemini to accelerate its own AI, but nothing has been announced.

Techsponential’s Greengart doesn’t see Google as an immediate threat, but it could become a bigger one if Apple somehow misses with the new Siri.

“The Android ecosystem has an opportunity to whittle away at the iOS base slowly at first, if Apple is not able to respond,” Greegnart said. “The lock-in of the Apple ecosystem is real. But if AI becomes a part of your life in a way that you start wanting to use things from Google or OpenAI or Anthropic or someone else, and Apple doesn't have that same level of copilot, that may be a problem for Apple.”

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Even though 2025 might be remembered most for all the ultra-thin phones that came out, like the iPhone Air and Galaxy S25 Edge, I still think that it was a bigger year for artificial intelligence. Last year started this revolution, but after testing out all the best phones this year, I’m convinced that new AI features continue to play a more crucial role.

I’m not talking about the gimmicky stuff either, like all the variations of writing tools and live translation features. The AI features that really impressed me most are the ones that have practical applications on what I do daily.

From photo editing features that save me time, to straight up helpful researching, these are all the best AI features I’ve tested this year.

Ask Photos

• What it does: Performs complex photo edits through voice prompts or text descriptions.
• Supported devices: any phone running Google Photos

Nothing tops my list other than Ask Photos. It’s my favorite AI feature in 2025, namely for the fact that it combines generative AI and photo editing into one. Launched as a Pixel 10 exclusive at first, Google eventually rolled this out as a native feature in Google Photos — so you can access it regardless if you’re using an iPhone or Android device.

What makes Ask Photo the most compelling AI feature I’ve tested this year is frankly how intuitive it is and how well it works. It performs complex photo edits that would take me several minutes (or hours), and does them with great results in seconds.

From simple edits like brightening up faces or adjusting the color temperature of the entire shot, to more complex things such as removing backgrounds and swapping them with something else, it’s unbelievable that Ask Photos does it so well with nothing more than voice prompts or text descriptions. It works so well that it’s able to change my shirt into a blazer, which would be nearly impossible for me to do on my own.

Gemini Live

• What it does: Allows Gemini to tap into your camera to perform research, guidance, and answer questions.
• Supported devices: any phone running Gemini app

This next one technically works on any phone, but it does require a Gemini AI Pro subscription to unlock all of its features. Multimodal Gemini Live is the second most used AI feature I use, which is accessible through any phone that runs the Gemini app.

Gemini Live lets me verbally ask questions, but the multimodal component that’s really impressive is when it taps into my phone’s camera. That’s because it lets Gemini see what I see, then ask it any questions I have about it. Over the summer when the second floor of my home lost power, multimodal Gemini Live looked at my circuit breaker and determined one of them was tripped.

Not only did it detect the exact one, but it even guided me on how to reset the breaker. If I were to get an electrician to come out and check, it would have cost me easily a couple hundred dollars. Since then, I’ve gone on to use multimodal Gemini Live on the best foldable phones like the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 — sort of like Samantha in the movie “Her.”

Pro Res Zoom

• What it does: Enhances photos captured at 30x and beyond by adding more detail and texture.
• Supported devices: Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL

If there’s one thing that Pro Res Zoom has proven to me, it has to be that AI can really make up for the lack of more optical zoom in telephoto cameras. Ever since Samsung ditched the 10x optical zoom camera, it feels like everyone is happy to be stuck at 5x — but this is what makes Pro Res Zoom special.

First of all, it’s exclusively available to the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL. Secondly, this AI-powered feature activates only when photos are captured at 30x and beyond. What happens in the background is that Pro Res Zoom is analyzing the shot and enhancing them with the help of AI.

This allows it to draw out more detail, with outstanding results like the before and after shots I’ve captured above. Considering how it can produce realistic results, I don't mind telephoto cameras topping out at 5x optical zoom.

Veo 3

• What it does: Create custom videos through text prompts, or turn existing photos into video.
• Supported devices: Any phone running Gemini app.

Part of the Gemini suite of tools is Google’s updated AI video generation, Veo 3, which can do a number of things. It’s one of the many other tools you can access through the Gemini app, but a subscription gives you higher access to it.

Veo 3 doesn’t just let me create realistic videos from scratch through text descriptions, but it can also take existing photos I’ve captured and transform them into video. I really love taking some of my old family photos, like my father when he was younger, and animating them in such a way with Veo 3 to appear like a video of him was actually recorded.

Even though it takes several minutes for it to create a video, the end result is unbelievable.

Visual Intelligence

• What it does: Performs searches and other actions with Visual Intelligence through the iPhone screen shot function.
• Supported devices: Any iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence

It was a quiet year for Apple Intelligence, as iOS 26 only introduced one major new feature that I still use consistently now — the updated Visual Intelligence with screenshots. This update makes Visual Intelligence act a lot more like Google’s Circle to Search feature, by allowing Apple Intelligence to see what I’m looking at on my iPhone and make requests such as looking up more information.

For example, I was sent a photo of a toy that one of my nieces wanted for Christmas. I clearly didn’t know what it was, but I performed the screen shot function on my iPhone and then tapped into the new Visual Intelligence feature to ask what it was — and even find prices on eBay for it.

Alternatively, I’ve used it over the late summer to find out more details about the leftover weeds on my lawn and how I could prevent them from coming back in the spring.

Cross App Actions

• What it does: Performs actions across different apps with voice commands.
• Supported devices: Galaxy S25 lineup, Galaxy Z Flip 7, Galaxy Z Fold 7

When the Galaxy S25 launched at the start of the year, it introduced Cross App Actions, a feature that leans on Gemini to perform multi-step commands across different apps. This is all carried out through voice commands, which streamlines processes that are otherwise tedious on their own.

One of the best examples I have about this AI feature was when I was trying to add all of the home games of my favorite triple-A baseball team to my calendar. Instead of looking up all of those dates and then proceeding to add them to my calendar, Cross App Actions does all of that in a matter of seconds.

The only downside about Cross App Actions is that it only supports the native apps on the Galaxy S25 — and it doesn’t have a broad support for third party apps. I’m hoping this will be updated with the forthcoming Galaxy S26 reveal, so that it can even do more complex actions.

AI Portrait Glow

• What it does: Brightens the exposure of faces in photos.
• Supported devices: OnePlus 15 and OnePlus 15R

Finally, the last AI feature I’ve come to use a lot comes to us from one of the least likely phone makers out there — OnePlus. Even though I was wowed most by its epic battery life performance, the OnePlus 15 also got me to use AI Portrait Glow a lot more than I had initially anticipated.

What makes this OnePlus AI feature so useful is how it realistically can change the exposure of my selfies and portrait shots. Sometimes the lighting in the scene is uneven, where I’m underexposed compared to the background, but this fixes it right up.

Through the Photos app, I can use AI Portrait Glow to boost the exposure of my face. I wouldn’t be able to do something like this with a traditional photo editing tool.

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The phone world may have been shy of ground-breaking innovations in 2025, but that doesn't mean there weren't positive steps forward for a device that most of us keep close at hand throughout the day. And for me, the best trend this year has been a stepped-up focus on making your phone more of a productivity tool.

To be sure, there's always been an effort on the part of phone makers to tout their devices as productivity boosters — something you can use to handle your business whether you're waiting in line, commuting somewhere or just hanging out at a cafe. But often, that aspect of a phone's features seems to play second fiddle to how the phone captures photos or handles games.

That didn't feel like the case to me in 2025. When new phones arrived this year — and believe me, there were plenty — productivity features seemed to be at the forefront of what device makers wanted to highlight.

Hardware's role boosting productivity

Certainly, some of that's been amplified by hardware improvements of recent years. The best phones benefit from faster chipsets that can handle tasks with greater efficiency and jump between apps without pause.

More efficient chips and bigger batteries have also boosted just how long phones can last on a charge, meaning you don't have to choose between handling a task right away or putting something off out of fear you'll run out battery before the end of the day.

And while I may be a fan of compact phones, even I have to admit the trend toward larger screens on phones has also been a productivity booster. You're more likely to get work done when you've got a more expansive display that lets you see more of that work. I certainly have appreciated my upgrade to the iPhone 17 and its 6.3-inch screen from the 6.1-inch or smaller panels that I've been using previously.

iPhone upgrades that really matter

Hardware changes aside, though, phone makers are including more productivity-focused software tools on their new releases. And that became very noticeable when you look at some of the phones released by the major players in 2025.

Take the iPhone and this year's iOS 26 release. The Liquid Glass interface overhaul gets the attention — for good and for ill — but Apple included some under-the-radar productivity boosters in a lot of its built-in apps.

Reminders gets a feature that lets you mark some to-dos as urgent, with an alarm going off then they're due. The built-in to-do manager also benefits from an Apple Intelligence-powered feature that recognizes lists of tasks in emails, notes and web articles like recipes and automatically turns them into a suggested list of to-dos.

Apple Intelligence additions were scanty in iOS 26, but the best of the bunch focused on productivity as well. Visual Intelligence gained the ability to work with screenshots, pulling information from your screens that can be turned into things like calendar entries.

Even apps that aren't nominally about productivity picked up new skills that help you get things done. The polls feature in the Messages app cuts down on the back-and-forth debates over where to eat or what movie to see by letting group chat participants vote on the matter. And what's more productive than not wasting time on spam calls and text messages now that iOS 26 lets you better screen for both?

Android gets busy with cross-app actions and more

I'm focusing on the iPhone here, because I spent a lot of time testing Apple's latest software for my iOS 26 review and subsequent how-to pieces. But Android phones got their share of productivity improvements as well.

The best of the bunch can be found in Samsung's latest iteration of Galaxy AI, which now supports cross-app actions. You can ask your Gemini Assistant to handle tasks that cut across multiple apps, saving you a lot of time in the process. I also appreciate that Gemini Live lets the on-device assistant see the same things you are via your phone's camera, so that it can provide you with contextual information or guidance.

Whether it's features like Magic Cue on the Pixel 10, which promises to surface relevant information like travel itineraries or receipts when you need them, or the impressive multitasking capabilities on the OnePlus 15, examples abound of new Android phone features that are designed to help you get more done without ever having to put down your handset.

Who needs smart glasses?

This focus on productivity is encouraging to me, and not just because I rely on my phone to handle so much of my day-to-day business. The better phones get at handling these essential tasks, the less inclined we're going to be to hand them over when some new piece of technology comes along promising untold productivity gains.

I'm thinking of smart glasses, primarily, which a some people smarter than me (and many tech executives decidedly not smarter than me) think will muscle aside smartphones as the device we rely upon every day. I don't see it happening.

While I'm sure that smart glasses will have their uses, there's something tactile and reassuring about a device that sits in the palm of your hand and handles all your tasks with just a few taps. And with smartphones continuing to expand their capabilities nearly two decades after the category went mainstream, this past year has reminded me that there's still room for phones to grow when it comes to making us more productive.

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The iPhone 17 series is out in the wild and seemingly doing well. But over at Apple, change could be afoot, as new reports have emerged claiming that long-time CEO Tim Cook could step down as soon as next year.

There doesn't appear to be an internal issue with Cook's leadership, as the company has seen record-smashing profits under his tenure. However, according to a report from the Financial Times, the 66-year-old leader of Apple may be considering stepping down from his post atop one of the biggest companies in tech.

At Apple's helm for 14 years, Cook has seen his share of success. The company literally generated trillions of dollars in revenue during his time as CEO. Cook took over after Steve Jobs' passing, and he's maintained the role ever since.

However, with talk of Cook stepping down, rumors of who might step up start flooding the internet. There are big potential names who could take over Apple when the Cook era ends, ranging from hardware leads to marketing heads.

Potential Tim Cook Successors

While Apple has not officially announced a succession plan publicly, that hasn't stopped speculation and rumors from circulating. We've heard rumblings of several notable figures within the company.

One name is Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, whom we spoke with at WWDC. In fact, Federighi was long considered the front-runner to take over, but those plans appear to have changed recently (though with his accomplishments in the software and OS space, he could move to the front again).

Then again, not everyone loves iOS 26 and its Liquid Glass interface.

Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer, was also a potential CEO successor. However, he's retiring from his role, which takes him out of the running. At only three years younger than Cook, he may not have been the best fit if Apple is looking to get another long run out of its next CEO.

However, one name has now moved to the front of the list according to the Financial Times report: John Ternus, Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, who sat down with our own Mark Spoonauer for an interview.

Who is John Ternus, the current front-runner?

John Ternus taking the seat would seem to indicate a hardware and engineering innovation-focused direction for Apple, which would be smart, as many have accused the firm of moving toward more incremental upgrades in recent years.

Additionally, Ternus is the youngest top executive at the company at 50 years old, which could give him a long tenure (assuming things go well under his direction).

Ternus started at Apple 24 years ago and rose through the ranks of the company, entering a leadership position in 2013 and assuming his current senior vice president role in 2022.

He also unveiled the M1 chip, Apple's first in-house silicon in 2020, and the iPhone Air in 2025. Clearly, the company already sees Ternus as well-equipped to get on stage and show off Apple's new products — a pivotal part of being Apple's CEO.

In fact, a 2024 Bloomberg report claimed that Cook said Ternus could “give a good presentation.” The report said he's also "very mild-mannered, never puts anything into an email that is controversial and is a very reticent decision-maker."

Of course, this is all assuming that Cook steps down next year. If he decides to head the company for longer, these plans could shift as other executives move through the ranks and make their mark. It's almost like watching a season of "Succession" from the outside.

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For most of us, the days of upgrading to a new phone every year are long gone. And that makes comparisons like an iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 15 face-off especially valuable. Stacking up the two phones side by side can help you see if the new model offers enough improvements to justify an upgrade or whether you're better off sticking with your current phone.

Certainly, the iPhone 15 has a lot of life left in it, even if it's now more than two years old. The A16 Bionic powering the phone remains a top performer, and the cameras on the iPhone 15 still produce excellent images. With the iOS 26 update installed, the iPhone 15 figures to be a very capable phone for at least another year or two.

But this fall's iPhone 17 release shows just how much can change in two years. Not only is the display bigger than the one on the iPhone 15, you also get a faster refresh rate for the first time on Apple's entry-level flagship. Throw in the usual chipset and camera updates, plus the continued ability to run Apple Intelligence features, and the iPhone 17 feels like a big leap forward from the iPhone of two years ago.

But how big of a leap do you actually get? That's what this iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 15 face-off looks to answer.

iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 15 specs

iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 15 price

Some things haven't changed since 2023. The iPhone 17 starts at $799, the same amount Apple charged for the iPhone 15 back when that phone debuted.

But not all $799 price tags are created equal. With the iPhone 17, you get 256GB capacity, double the storage of the iPhone 15's base model.

Apple used to keep older flagships around at reduced prices for up to two years after their release, but that's not the case with the iPhone 15. With the iPhone 16e now occupying that $599 slot in Apple's lineup, the iPhone 15 disappeared with the release of the iPhone 17 in September.

iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 15 design

In general, the look of the iPhone hasn't changed that much from the iPhone 15 to the iPhone 17, with the same slab design and rounded corners. Flip the phone over and you'll notice that the camera layout has changed — instead of the diagonally aligned main and ultrawide lenses of the iPhone 15, the iPhone 17 stacks its cameras on top of one another. That change, introduced with last year's iPhone 16, allows you to capture spatial photos and videos with the newer phone.

The iPhone 16 introduced two other design changes that continue with the iPhone 17 — a Camera Control button on the right side of the phone and an Action button on the left replacing the Mute switch. The Camera Control button serves as a shortcut for launching the iPhone's camera, and it can also access the Visual Intelligence feature that turns your camera into a search tool. I think so little of the button, I've disabled Camera Control, so I don't think iPhone 15 owners are missing out here.

The Action button is a different story. You can press it to silence your phone, or you can set the button to trigger a specific shortcut, from turning on the flashlight to launching the iPhone's Focus mode feature to minimize distractions. It's a nice addition for personalizing your iPhone for the tasks you turn to the most.

Apple has also made its iPhone more durable over time, with the iPhone 17 using Ceramic Shield 2 to protect the device's display. The new version is 3x more scratch resistant than the original Ceramic Shield found on the iPhone 15.

The iPhone 17 has a larger screen, making the new model fractionally taller than the iPhone 15, though other dimensions are essentially the same. The 6.24-ounce iPhone 17 does outweigh its two-year-old predecessor by 0.22 ounces.

iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 15 display

About that larger screen: the iPhone 17 features a 6.3-inch display compared to 6.1 inches on the iPhone 15. It's not a huge difference, though when I watched the "Wicked: For Good" trailer on both phones, the iPhone 17's wider viewing area certainly feels more expansive.

The bigger change is that Apple now turns to a Super Retina XDR panel for the iPhone 17, which means the screen's refresh rate can adapt based on what's happening on your phone. As a result, text scrolls more smoothly and game graphics feels more immersive than it does on the iPhone 15 and its 60Hz panel. In my opinion, the 120Hz refresh rate on the iPhone 17 practically justifies an upgrade all on its own.

The iPhone 17 promises a brighter display, with a listed peak brightness of 3,000 nits to the iPhone 15's 2,000-nit max. In reality, the numbers are a lot closer, with the iPhone 17 outshining the iPhone 15 by 1,505 nits to 1,401 nits in our testing. Color reproduction numbers are virtually indistinguishable between the two displays.

iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 15 cameras

Apple has been tinkering with its camera setup since the iPhone 15 came out, and the end result should be better photos in more scenarios if you use the iPhone 17. While both phones still offer a 48MP main lens, the iPhone 17 replaces the 12MP ultrawide camera on the iPhone 15 with a second 48MP sensor. That should mean more detailed ultrawide shots, as well as better macro close-ups with the iPhone 17.

Up front, the 12MP TrueDepth camera on the iPhone 15 makes way for an 18MP Center Stage lens. Besides the higher megapixel rating, the Center Stage camera on the iPhone 17 has a square sensor to adjust the orientation of the shot without requiring you to reposition the phone.

To gauge how the iPhone's cameras have progressed since 2023, I took a handful of shots with an iPhone 17 and iPhone 15, starting with this photo of my apple tree. Colors look vibrant in both shots, with a good blend of light and shadow. I do think the iPhone 17 does a better job highlighting the water droplet on one of the apples, which I'd chalk up to improvements the Fusion Main camera used on the newer model.

The ultrawide shots of this old fighter jet look pretty similar, which surprised me given the jump in megapixels for the iPhone 17's camera. Both phones proved equally adept at calling out the blue patches in the cloudy sky, and there's a similar level of detail on the surface of the plane itself.

That said, to my eye, the edges of the wing in the iPhone 17 shot look a little sharper, particularly on the far side. I wouldn't be dismissive of the iPhone 15's effort, though.

My daughter took a pair of portrait shots to see what improvements Apple's made to that model over the years. And setting aside the slightly different shooting angles, I think the iPhone 17 has the better shot. My skin tone is warmer, while still realistic, and the background colors look a little more vibrant.

A night shot of some stuffed animals is essentially a wash between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 15. The pink critter in the back is more evenly colored in the iPhone 17 photo if you want to nitpick, but both cameras excel in low light.

Overall, I think the iPhone 17 takes better photos than the iPhone 15, though they're not significantly better. You'll have more tools at your disposal should you upgrade to the iPhone 17, but if you stick with your current phone, you're still going get some very well-composed shots.

iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 15 performance and software

You'd expect the iPhone 17 to outmuscle the iPhone 15 simply because Apple's newer phone uses a chip that's several generations ahead of the silicon powering the older model. Indeed, the A19 system-on-chip inside the iPhone 17 doesn't disappoint, beating the iPhone 15's A16 Bionic chipset handily in both CPU and GPU benchmarks.

On Geekbench, the A19 beats the A16 Bionic's single core and multicore scores by 47% and 53%, respectively. The iPhone 17 can also churn out nearly 3x the frames per second as the iPhone 15 in 3DMark's Solar Bay Unlimited graphics test.

That said, in terms of real-world results, the iPhone 17 only beat the iPhone 15 by 2 seconds in a video transcoding test. Clearly, the iPhone 17 offers a faster chip, but you could argue that the real-world performance gains won't be all that noticeable on many tasks. For a lot of people, the iPhone 15's performance remains good enough.

There is one big difference between the two phones, though, even if both can run the latest version of iOS 26. The iPhone 17 supports Apple Intelligence, while the iPhone 15 does not, so the only way that iPhone 15 owners can experience Apple's AI tools is by upgrading to a newer phone.

I argued at the time of the iPhone 16's release that the current crop of Apple Intelligence tools aren't impressive or vital enough to justify an upgrade all on their own. It's possible that changes in 2026 when Apple hopes to release a more intelligent version of its Siri assistant. But at that point, iPhone 15 owners might prefer to wait for the iPhone 18 release in the fall to reap the benefit of even more upgrades.

iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 15 battery life and charging

The entry-level iPhone has always struggled to match the battery life of Apple's larger phones, which have more internal space for a bigger battery. That's the case with the iPhone 17, which turns in a time of 12 hours and 47 minutes on our battery test. That's certainly respectable, but a far cry from the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, which both landed spots on our best phone battery life list.

Still, iPhone 15 users who upgrade to the iPhone 17 will be jumping to a phone that lasts longer on a charge. When we tested the iPhone 15, it held out for just 11 hours and 5 minutes on our test, a little better than the average smartphone these days.

Even better, Apple has boosted the charging speeds on the iPhone 17. You can now enjoy wired charging speeds of 35W and 25W Qi 2.2 wireless charging. That compares to 20W and 15W, respectively, for the iPhone 15.

iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 15 verdict

The iPhone 17 offers notable improvements to anyone upgrading from an iPhone 15, with a larger, faster refreshing display leading the changes. But you'll also get a better performing phone that lasts longer on a charger while also taking better photos on average. Though the ability to use Apple Intelligence features wouldn't push me to upgrade, it is a nice bonus that guarantees future enhancements to your phone courtesy of software updates.

I think people who want to squeeze as much use out of their phone as possible before upgrading won't feel cheated should they stick with the older model. But the advantages offered by the iPhone 17 are pretty stark when you take a closer look at the two phones.

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Apple Intelligence often gets a bad rap for not being as smart as other phones' AI feature sets or the big chatbot apps like ChatGPT or Google Gemini. But it's still capable of doing some clever things, like turning an image into a Calendar event for you.

Using either a screengrab or an image taken with Apple's Visual Intelligence feature, your iPhone can scan the text for relevant details and record it in Apple Calendar for you (sadly there isn't support for third-party calendars yet). You can edit the event if you like, but the feature will often need only a couple of taps to work most of the time.

If you want to try this yourself, I'll demonstrate the two methods of using Visual Intelligence to make Calendar events below. Just make sure you're running a Visual Intelligence-capable iPhone (an iPhone 16 or later), and bear in mind that these screenshots were taken on an iPhone 17 Pro Max running iOS 26 — so things may look a little different if you're using a different model or older software!

How to use Visual Intelligence to create Calendar events on iPhone with a photo

When the event is visible on screen, you can either press the shutter button to capture the image to then work from, or tap the Add to Calendar button to skip a step.

How to use Visual Intelligence to create Calendar events on iPhone with a screenshot

Still thirsty for more iPhone tricks? Check our iOS 26 features to try first guide to make sure you're fully up to speed with the latest iPhone software.

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