iOS 27 public beta is here: Apple starts the test phase for all iPhone users

Interested users can now install the first public beta version of iOS 27 on their iPhone. Apple is using it to test new design adjustments and extreme leaps in performance before the final release next fall.

Public beta for iOS 27 starts

Last night, the Californian technology company released the first public test version of iOS 27. Interested end users can now install the upcoming operating system on compatible iPhones. At the same time, the corresponding preliminary versions for iPadOS 27, MacOS 27, WatchOS 27 and TvOS 27 are also available for download. To install iOS 27, at least an iPhone 11 or a second generation iPhone SE is required. Initial testers report a fairly high level of stability for the early stage of development. Even sensitive applications such as banking apps should function largely without errors. Nevertheless, software security experts strongly recommend that you create a complete backup of all important data in advance.

This is how you can install the iOS 27 public beta:

Siri AI restricted in Germany

A central innovation is the update for Apple Intelligence, which fundamentally modernizes the voice assistant Siri. Siri AI accesses personal data and understands active screen content in the respective context. However, the entire artificial intelligence (AI) system in Germany and the European Union (EU) remains restricted for the time being for regulatory reasons. Users in this country can currently only try out the intelligent tools on a Mac with an English system language. Like Apple on its Information page explained, the local language models also require very powerful hardware, at least an iPhone 15 Pro. Some of the particularly computationally intensive and advanced functions will even require an iPhone 17 Pro in the future.

New design and more performance

Aside from artificial intelligence, the update brings many smaller visual and technical adjustments to the devices. The Liquid Glass user interface introduced by Apple last year can now be easily adjusted in transparency using a slider. Darker edges and lighter accents are intended to significantly improve the general readability of long texts in everyday life. In addition, the responsible developers promise noticeable performance improvements in everyday use, from which owners of older devices will also benefit directly. The manufacturer particularly highlights the following improvements in its iOS 27 patch notes:

The major iOS 27 update is rounded off by extensive revisions to the integrated Screen Time. Parents receive a much clearer dashboard and will be able to set app limits for certain times of the day even more precisely in the future. The web browser Safari now automatically groups open tabs according to appropriate subject areas.