iOS 27 Public Beta 1 Is Out: Download and Try These New Features

Get an Early Taste: Apple Rolls Out First iOS 27 Public Beta

If you have been eagerly waiting to test the latest features, the wait is officially over. After a series of developer-focused previews, Apple has finally opened the floodgates for the first public beta of iOS 27. It isn’t just about the iPhone either—public beta versions for iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, and tvOS are all live and ready for your hardware.

While we expect a stable, official release later this fall, those who enjoy living on the cutting edge can sign up for the Apple Beta Software Program and start testing today. The good news for iPhone users is that compatibility remains identical to the previous version. If your device is currently running iOS 26, it is eligible for this update—covering the iPhone 11 and everything released since, including the 2020 iPhone SE.

What’s New Under the Hood?

iOS 27 introduces a refined take on the “Liquid Glass” design language, directly addressing several user pain points from previous iterations. Beyond the visual polish, the focus here is clearly on speed. Apple claims that app startup times have dropped by 30%, while your Photo library should load a massive 70% faster. If you’re a heavy AirDrop user, you’ll be pleased to hear those transfers are now up to 80% quicker.

Perhaps the most talked-about feature is the integration of Siri AI. You can now use natural, conversational language to ask questions, pull up specific files, or execute complex tasks across your apps. There is even a dedicated app for it now, making it much easier to harness these AI-driven capabilities. (Note: Due to ongoing regulatory hurdles in the EU, these specific AI features may be restricted in that region.)

Important Considerations Before You Install

While developer betas are meant to catch the worst of the bugs, a public beta is still, well, a beta. It might not be quite stable enough for your daily driver just yet, so proceed with caution. If you depend on your phone for mission-critical tasks, you might want to wait for the polished version coming later this year.

Support Changes for Mac and iPad

While the iPhone lineup remains largely unchanged in terms of support, the landscape for Mac and iPad is different this time around:

Macs: Intel-powered machines have reached the end of the road. macOS 27 is exclusive to Apple Silicon models.
iPads: Several older models have been dropped. To run iPadOS 27, you will need an iPad mini (2021 or newer), a vanilla iPad (2021 or newer), an iPad Air (2020 or newer), or an iPad Pro (2020 or newer).

Whether you are a developer, a power user, or just a curious tech enthusiast, the new beta offers a great look at where Apple is headed. Just remember to back up your device before taking the plunge.