iOS 27 Beta: What to Expect from Apple's Next Major Update

Apple announced iOS 27 at WWDC 2026 on Monday, delivering a Liquid Glass opacity slider to fix legibility complaints, a reengineered Siri with on-device AI, and performance tweaks that span back to the iPhone 11. The update enters public beta in July and ships to all supported devices this fall.

Liquid Glass Opacity Slider: A Direct Response to Legibility Complaints

iOS 26 introduced Liquid Glass, a comprehensive design overhaul that replaced flat surfaces with translucent, glassy elements across the iPhone. While visually striking, the initial release drew criticism for poor readability — icons and text sometimes blended into busy backgrounds. Apple rushed out minor tweaks before the public launch, but the core issue remained: users couldn't control the intensity of the glass effect.

With iOS 27, you'll be able to slide a new opacity control to dial back the transparency of elements like tab bars and panels — a precise fix for a long-standing pain point.

The slider lives in the Accessibility settings, but it affects system-wide UI. Users who found Liquid Glass too distracting can now reduce its prominence without losing the visual language entirely. Apple's approach mirrors its historical pattern: ship a bold design, listen to feedback, then add a granular control to let users decide.

• Opacity slider adjusts transparency of tab bars, navigation bars, and panel backgrounds.
• Setting is system-wide but can be toggled per-app in future betas.
• Accessibility-first implementation means the slider is available even in Guided Access mode.

Siri and Apple Intelligence: Major AI Upgrades for iOS 27

Apple used WWDC 2026 to unveil the next generation of Apple Intelligence with a "bold new architecture" and an all-new Siri branding. Dubbed Siri AI, the assistant now leverages on-device models that maintain screen awareness — it can understand what's displayed and offer contextual actions without sending data to the cloud.

The redesign extends to the user interface: Siri responses stream from the Dynamic Island at the top of the display, and users can now customize the assistant's pace and expressivity. A dedicated Siri app stores conversation histories synced via iCloud, and the camera app gains a "Siri mode" that recognizes objects, provides information, and saves those interactions for later reference. Initial support is limited to English, with additional languages expected in subsequent betas.

• On-device processing ensures lower latency and stronger privacy guarantees.
• Screen awareness lets Siri act on content from any app without explicit commands.
• Customizable voice speed and emotional tone — a first for Apple's assistant.
• Conversation history stored in a new Siri app, searchable and icloud-synced.

These upgrades position Apple to compete directly with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa in the smart assistant space, while emphasizing privacy as a differentiator. The AI push mirrors trends seen across the industry, from sports analytics to enterprise productivity suites.

iOS 27 Compatibility: From iPhone 11 to the Latest, with Performance Focus

Apple confirmed that iOS 27 supports every model from the iPhone 11 onward — the same minimum as last year. This means millions of devices from 2019 will receive the update, extending Apple's already industry-leading support window. The company is touting performance improvements alongside design changes, suggesting that older hardware won't be left behind.

While specific benchmarks weren't shared, early developer releases indicate smoother animations and faster app launch times on devices with A13 Bionic and newer chips. The opacity slider also helps older iPhones, since reducing Liquid Glass transparency can reduce GPU load. The public beta will likely arrive in July 2026, with the final version releasing alongside new iPhones in September or October.

• Supported devices: iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, SE (2nd gen) and newer.
• Public beta expected in July 2026 via Apple's Beta Software Program.
• Final release aligns with typical fall launch timeline for new iPhone models.

Performance is a key theme this year, as Apple balances visual richness with responsiveness. The Screen Time redesign also falls under the trust and safety umbrella, giving parents and users more granular controls over app usage and content limits.

Key Takeaways

• iOS 27 was announced at WWDC 2026 with a focus on performance, design, trust/safety, and AI enhancements.
• The Liquid Glass opacity slider directly addresses user complaints about legibility from iOS 26.
• Siri and Apple Intelligence receive major upgrades, signaling Apple's commitment to on-device AI.
• Support extends to iPhone 11, making iOS 27 widely accessible.
• A redesigned Screen Time feature highlights Apple's trust and safety improvements.
• The public beta will likely arrive in July 2026, with the final version releasing in the fall.