Apple unveiled iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, and an enhanced Siri AI during its WWDC keynote on June 8, 2026 [1, 2, 3]. iOS 27 supports iPhones from iPhone 11 onward, dropping support for older models including the 3rd-gen iPad Air, 8th-gen iPad, and 5th-gen iPad mini that use A12 Bionic chips [4, 3, 5, 6, 7]. macOS 27 Golden Gate requires Apple Silicon chips, ending support for Intel Macs in this release [8, 2, 9].
The new iOS and iPadOS versions deliver significant speed improvements. App launch times rise by 30%, photo imports accelerate 70%, and AirDrop transfers jump 80% faster due to enhanced CPU scheduling [4, 3, 5, 6, 7]. iPadOS 27 also adds new parental controls, Screen Time scheduling, and a Declared Age Range API to tailor app experiences by age [10, 7].
In software design, Apple's Liquid Glass aesthetic introduced in iOS 26 is refined with an opacity slider that adjusts transparency and layered effects in app icons [2, 3, 5, 6, 9]. The Photos app gains AI-powered tools such as spatial “Reframe” to alter perspectives, “Extend” to expand images, and an improved cleanup feature [11, 7]. Safari on macOS 27 and iPadOS 27 adds AI-driven tab organization by topic and a “Notify Me” function to track webpage changes [9, 7].
Apple rolled out a revamped Siri AI powered by Google Gemini, introducing more conversational abilities, visual awareness, and a standalone Siri app. Mike Rockwell, Apple’s AI head, said Siri AI allows “back-and-forth conversations with detailed and engaging answers” [1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 7]. Craig Federighi emphasized privacy, stating, “We believe privacy in AI is non-negotiable. Data is only used to execute your request, and outside experts can continue to verify this promise at any time” [6].
iOS 27 also contains code and features indicating preparation for a foldable iPhone, including fold state detection and hardware indicators within system software [12]. The foldable device is expected to launch in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series [12].
WWDC 2026 marked Tim Cook’s final keynote as Apple CEO. He will step down on September 1, 2026, with John Ternus succeeding him [1, 3, 6]. Developer betas for iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 are available now, with public betas expected in July. The public release of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 Golden Gate is scheduled for fall 2026 [4, 5].
