Apple Releases Public Betas of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27
In recent hours, Apple has released the first public betas of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, watchOS 27, and tvOS 27, allowing anyone with a compatible device to test the updates presented at June's WWDC. The builds coincide with the third developer beta released in recent days; for iPadOS and macOS, Apple has reissued a revised version with the same build number, which the public beta replicates.
For the Italian audience, the novelty is somewhat diminished since, as we know, the flagship feature of the entire cycle, the new Siri AI, does not arrive on iPhone and iPad at launch: as Cupertino clarified back in June, the DMA blocks Siri AI on iPhone and iPad in the European Union. Those installing the public beta of iOS 27 or iPadOS 27 in Italy receive the rest of the package but are left without the assistant rewritten around generative AI.
Siri AI: Conversation, Context, and Actions in Apps
The new assistant, presented at the June keynote, abandons the logic of isolated voice commands in favor of a continuous conversational interaction. Siri AI maintains context between one request and the next, interprets what appears on the screen, draws on the user’s personal information, and performs multi-step actions within individual apps and across different apps. A dedicated Siri app collects conversation history and synchronizes it via iCloud, while on iPhone, the interface can be summoned by swiping down from the Dynamic Island. On newer devices, it is possible to adjust the expressiveness of the voice.
At launch, Siri AI only speaks English and requires a device compatible with Apple Intelligence; on European iPhone and iPad, the exclusion related to the DMA still postpones its availability. However, the expansion of Apple Intelligence also concerns other areas. In Photos, three editing tools arrive: a more effective Clean Up for removing disruptive elements, Extend to generate content beyond the edges of the image, and Spatial Reframing to correct framing after the shot. Image Playground adds photorealistic generation, which was previously unavailable.
Safari automatically organizes tabs by topic and introduces Notify Me, which monitors a page and alerts when a product becomes available again or changes price.
Performance, Liquid Glass, and Other Platforms
On the performance front, Apple claims widespread improvements: app startup is up to 30% faster, new photos appear in the gallery up to 70% faster, and AirDrop transfers are up to 80% faster. These are manufacturer data and have not been independently verified.
macOS 27 Golden Gate addresses the Liquid Glass that divided users on Tahoe, with uniform corner radii, revised contrast, and sharper edges. Across all platforms, the slider for adjusting the intensity of Liquid Glass appears, allowing a transition from a very translucent appearance to a more opaque one.
iPadOS 27 adds support for external SSDs with declared transfers up to five times faster, an optional persistent menu bar, and resizable iPhone apps. Parental controls are redesigned with category permissions, granular scheduling, and an expanded Ask to Browse flow. On watchOS 27, the Dynamic App Grid, a single-touch gesture for the Smart Stack, and monitoring of menopause and perimenopause in menstrual health functionalities debut.
Installation is through the Apple Beta Software Program, free and without a developer account: after registering the Apple ID, the public beta appears in Settings, under the software update section. Since this is trial software, Apple advises against using it on the main device and recommends a backup. The stable version is expected in September, with the release candidate close to the fall launch event for the iPhone line.