Apple Releases iOS 27 and Version 27 Beta Suite

Apple released iOS 27, introducing a refined liquid glass design with a new transparency gloss slider and expanded lock screen customization, including resizable time displays. The update overhauls the camera app with professional tools like Cleanup, Extend, and Reframe, while adding full-page widgets for native apps. Performance gains include 30% faster app launches and 80% faster AirDrop speeds, with support extending back to the iPhone 11.

Following the initial iOS 27 release, the company launched fourth developer betas on July 20, 2026, for a comprehensive suite of operating systems, including iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate, watchOS 27, visionOS 27, and tvOS 27. These betas introduce a conversational Siri AI with onscreen awareness and a new CPU scheduler to improve battery efficiency and launch speeds.

Parallel to the version 27 rollout, Apple issued release candidates for the 26.6 software cycle, including iOS 26.6, iPadOS 26.6, and watchOS 26.6. These 26.6 updates are expected to reach the general public within a week, while the wider release of the major version 27 updates is scheduled for September.