iOS 27: These 10 new features are coming
Apple’s WWDC 2026 is only three months away, and with it, the unveiling of iOS 27. Since the completely redesigned version of Siri might not appear until September, iOS 27 is shaping up to be the update we were hoping for from iOS 26. It will include new Apple Intelligence features, updates for the iPhone Fold, and more. Here are the latest rumors.
Apple iPhone Fold and iOS 27
Apple plans to launch the first Apple iPhone Fold in September – a device that may be called the iPhone Fold. Rumors suggest it will have a 5.5-inch display when folded and a 7.8-inch display when unfolded.
An iPhone with a larger, foldable display requires some major updates to iOS, and iOS 27 will focus on developing new user interfaces and user experiences for a larger display.
The Apple iPhone Fold works like a mix of iPhone and iPad. However, it runs iOS 27 instead of iPadOS and does not support iPad apps. When unfolded, the iPhone resembles the iPad and allows multitasking with two apps side by side. Many Apple iPhone apps have sidebars to the left of the display. Apple provides developers with tools to easily adapt their apps to the new layout.
Furthermore, the Apple iPhone Fold is expected to have a wider design than most foldable devices from other manufacturers. Rumors suggest it will have an iPad-like 4:3 aspect ratio. When folded, the Apple iPhone Fold will offer a standard iPhone layout consistent with the current iOS version.
A smarter Siri
We were supposed to get the Apple Intelligence version of Siri in iOS 26.4, but Apple is still having development problems. Siri isn’t working as expected yet and isn’t ready for launch.
Some or all of the new Siri features could appear in iOS 27, although there’s a possibility we might get something new as early as iOS 26.5. It’s still somewhat unclear exactly what we’ll get and when, as iOS 27 also includes a Chatbot version of Siri with elements similar to ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini.
We could get a completely revamped chatbot version of Siri with all the new features at once, or we could get the Apple Intelligence update and chatbot functionality in a later iOS 27 update.
Apple works with Google and plans to use a custom-designed AI model developed in collaboration with Google’s Gemini team for some of the new Siri features, including the upcoming Siri chatbot functionality.
Apple Intelligence Siri features we’re waiting for
Apple described three specific ways Siri will improve through the integration of Apple Intelligence: personal context, the ability to see what is displayed on the screen to know what the user is talking about, and the ability to do more within and between apps.
Siri understands pronouns, references to content on the screen and in apps, and has a short-term memory for follow-up requests.
Personal context
With personal context, Siri can keep track of emails, messages, files, photos and more, learning more about you to help you complete tasks and keep track of what has been sent to you.
- Show me the files Eric sent me last week.
- Find the email in which Eric mentioned ice skating.
- Find the books Eric recommended to me.
- Where is the recipe Eric sent me?
- What is my passport number?
Screen awareness
Screen recognition allows Siri to recognize the screen content and perform actions accordingly. If someone sends you an address via text message, you can ask Siri to add it to your contact card. Or if you’re looking at a photo and want to send it to someone, you can ask Siri to do it.
Deeper app integration
Deeper app integration will allow Siri to do more within and between apps, performing actions and tasks that are currently impossible with the personal assistant. We don’t yet have a complete picture of everything Siri will be able to do, but Apple has already mentioned some examples.
- Move files from one app to another.
- Edit a photo and then send it to someone.
- Have Eric describe the way home to you and tell him your expected arrival time.
- Sende Eric die von mir verfasste E-Mail.
Answers and images
As early as August 2025, Craig Federighi, Apple’s head of software development told employees that the efforts to update the architecture were so promising that Apple would be able to perform a “much larger upgrade” than Apple had originally planned.
Since then, rumors have circulated that Apple will expand Siri with image generation capabilities based on Image Playground. Siri is also expected to receive a “World Knowledge” search function that provides information on common search queries using web data. Similar to ChatGPT, Siri will summarize web search results and thus be able to answer questions.
Siri chatbot
Apple plans to turn Siri into a fully-fledged chatbot that users can interact with similarly to Claude or ChatGPT. The Siri chatbot will be deeply integrated into Apple’s operating systems and will not be a standalone app.
Users activate Siri by speaking the activation word Siri or pressing the side buttons on their iPhones – similar to before. The exact appearance of the Siri chatbot’s user interface is still unknown. However, Apple needs to make fundamental changes to compete with the functionality of chatbot apps. Currently, it’s not possible to communicate with Siri in writing or view the conversation history. This needs to change.
The chatbot Siri will be able to do everything current chatbots can, such as search the internet for information, analyze uploaded files, and summarize information. However, because it will be integrated into the iPhone at the system level, Siri will also be able to gather information from device data, control device functions and settings, use personal data for tasks, analyze screen content, and much more.
Siri design update
With iOS 27, Apple could update Siri’s design. Specific details about the redesign are not yet known, but rumors surrounding Apple’s upcoming desktop robot suggest that the company might introduce a more animated version of Siri, similar to the Finder logo on the Mac and MacBook. This animated version of Siri could also be available for iPhone and iPad.
Core AI Framework
Apple will introduce a Core AI framework for developers, replacing the current Core ML framework. The Core AI framework will allow developers to integrate AI models into their apps.
Liquid Glass
iOS 27 is expected to include improvements to the Liquid Glass design that Apple introduced with iOS 26. While there were already some changes in the iOS 26.1 and iOS 26.2 updates, iOS 27 offers Apple the opportunity for more extensive customization.
AI Calendar App
iOS 27 could include a calendar app that integrates AI.
AI health functions
Apple originally planned a comprehensive AI-powered Health+ subscription service. However, the plans have been scaled back. Some of the planned components could still be introduced in iOS 27, although it’s unclear what new features to expect.
Reports indicate that Health+ would have provided health recommendations in the Health app, including detailed health reports, videos explaining medical conditions, and wellness tips.
New satellite features
Apple is working on several new Satellite functions for the iPhone, and it’s possible that some of these will be introduced as early as 2027. However, the exact timing of Apple’s satellite improvements is unclear, and background updates from Apple’s satellite partner Globalstar are required. Rumors about features:
- Apple Maps via Satellit
- Fotos in Nachrichten via Satellit
- Satellite-API-Framework für Drittanbieter-Apps
- Satellitenkommunikation über 5G
- Satellitenverbindung ohne Sichtkontakt zum Himmel
Some of these features may require new hardware, but options like Apple Maps via satellite do not require any components beyond those currently available.
Performance and stability
Mark Gurman from Bloomberg described iOS 27 as a “Snow Leopard” update, suggesting that Apple will focus on improving the underlying performance and quality.
Apple places great emphasis on cleaning up the iOS code and removing outdated elements. This could mean updating apps to improve performance and reworking some existing features to make them more efficient. These code updates could result in a more responsive and faster version of iOS.
Apple is also aiming for efficiency improvements that could result in noticeable improvements in battery life.
Start date
iOS 27, the next macOS and Apple’s other software platforms will be unveiled at WWDC in June, before being released in September shortly before the launch of new iPhone models.
