iOS 27 has been officially available since Monday, September 14, 2026. With this update, Apple is introducing the new AI assistant Siri AI, a redesigned Liquid Glass design, and numerous new tools in the Photos app. If you own a compatible iPhone, you can install the update now by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
- Release: September 14, 2026, alongside iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and tvOS 27
- Biggest new feature: Siri AI with Gemini support, initially available only in English and not yet launched in the EU
- Compatible: iPhone 11 and newer, iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)
- Other new features: Liquid Glass design, redesigned app icons, AI photo editing, new parental controls
Release Date and Availability
Apple had already announced the release date for iOS 27 during the keynote in early September, where the iPhone 18 Pro was also unveiled. As usual, the update will roll out over the course of several hours, so if you haven’t received it by Monday afternoon, you should try again later in the day. As always, it’s a good idea to make a fresh backup before installing—major version jumps in iOS can occasionally cause compatibility issues with older apps.
Siri AI: The New Assistant in Detail
The most notable update is in Siri. The revamped version, which Apple officially calls “Siri AI,” processes requests either directly on the device or via a cloud-based infrastructure that, according to Apple, is designed to meet privacy standards similar to those of on-device processing. New features include text input for those who prefer typing over speaking, a conversation history that keeps track of the context across multiple requests, and significantly improved image recognition.
According to several reports, Siri AI also works with Google’s language models, complementing Apple’s existing intelligence technology. For now, however, the full range of features remains limited to newer devices: According to current reports, the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max are the only models expected to support all Siri AI features, while older but still compatible iPhones will receive only a subset of the new capabilities.
Liquid Glass, Photos Tools, and Other New Features
In addition to Siri, iOS 27 introduces a consistent Liquid Glass design that allows users to adjust the transparency of menu elements using a slider. It also includes redesigned app icons, enhanced widgets for the Home screen, and separate volume controls for individual system sounds, allowing notifications to be adjusted independently of the ringtone volume in the future.
The Photos app gains several AI-powered tools, including Spatial Reframing, an “Extend” feature for expanding image crops, and an improved “Clean Up” feature for removing distracting objects in the background. In Maps, Apple will now automatically generate lists of nearby restaurants, and the Health app is introducing new cycle notifications for perimenopause. Parents with children who have their own iPhones will also benefit from revamped parental controls, including features like “Ask to Browse,” which requires approval before accessing new websites.
What’s Missing in Germany for Now
Those living in Germany or another EU country will have to be patient when it comes to Siri AI. Apple is initially launching the new assistant feature only as a beta and exclusively in English; it won’t be available at all in the EU upon release. The reason is the Digital Markets Act: The exact distinction between Siri AI and existing Apple Intelligence features apparently hasn’t yet been clarified from a regulatory standpoint, which is why Apple is holding back the feature in the EU for now. Apple hasn’t yet announced a specific date for its rollout in Germany.
Which iPhones will get iOS 27?
The good news: Apple is keeping the compatibility list for iOS 27 unusually broad. All models that already ran iOS 26 are supported, from the iPhone 11 to the brand-new iPhone 18 Pro and the foldable iPhone Duo.
| Category | Supported Models |
|---|---|
| iPhone (current) | iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone Duo |
| iPhone 17 Series | iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air |
| Older models | iPhone 11 through iPhone 16 Pro Max |
| iPhone SE | 2nd generation and later |
| Full Siri AI support | iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max only |
Additional updates: iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS
On September 14, Apple will release not only iOS 27 but its entire lineup of operating systems at the same time: iPadOS 27, macOS 27, tvOS 27, visionOS 27, and watchOS 27. The latter is likely to be of particular interest to Apple Watch owners, who are also expected to benefit from minor Liquid Glass adjustments.
Conclusion
iOS 27 is an unusually extensive update with over 250 changes, though its most prominent new feature—Siri AI—remains a distant prospect in this country for now. Users in Germany will still get a noticeably revamped design, faster system performance, and new Photos tools. Anyone with a supported iPhone can download it right away, but it never hurts to check your backup first.
Sources: Apple
