Apple has released the second iOS 27 beta for developer testing. iOS 27 beta 2 replaces the first iOS 27 beta, which arrived after WWDC 2026 earlier this month, and continues Apple’s summer beta cycle ahead of a public release this fall. We’ll update our devices and share what we discover.
The second developer beta is available now through the Settings app on eligible iPhones. If you’re enrolled in the Apple Developer Program, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and choose the iOS 27 Developer Beta.
Apple says it will release the first iOS 27 public beta in July, followed by the final version for everyone this fall.
As always with early developer betas, you should still expect bugs, battery life drops, app compatibility issues, and other rough edges.
Beta 2 releases for major iOS updates usually focus heavily on bug fixes and early refinements, though Apple often uses these updates to add smaller feature changes too.
iOS 27 is one of Apple’s most AI-focused iPhone updates yet. The headline change is Siri AI, Apple’s rebuilt assistant powered by the next generation of Apple Intelligence and new Apple Foundation Models.
Siri AI brings richer conversations, personal context, broader world knowledge, on-screen awareness, and deeper app actions across the system.
On iPhone, Siri AI also gets a new visual experience tied to the Dynamic Island, plus a dedicated Siri app for revisiting conversations across devices.
Visual Intelligence is being folded more directly into Siri too, including a new Siri mode in the Camera app and improvements that affect Camera Control on iPhone.
Apple Intelligence is also expanding across apps. iOS 27 adds AI-powered improvements for Photos, Safari, Passwords, Mail, Messages, Phone, Shortcuts, Home, and more. As we covered in our breakdown of Apple’s new Foundation Models, some capabilities run on-device, while others use Private Cloud Compute.
Not every iOS 27 AI feature will work on every iPhone. iOS 27 itself supports iPhone 11 and later, plus iPhone SE 2 and newer, but Siri AI requires newer Apple Intelligence-compatible hardware. Apple’s most powerful on-device AI model has even stricter requirements, including iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air.
Beyond Siri and Apple Intelligence, iOS 27 includes a variety of iPhone-specific changes. Apple has refined the Liquid Glass design introduced last year, including a new Liquid Glass transparency slider for adjusting the look of system UI.
There are also performance improvements for app launches, Photos loading, Camera launch in Low Power Mode, AirDrop transfers, and Wi-Fi-to-cellular transitions.
Other iPhone changes include Photos keywords and star ratings, customizable slideshows, smoother Camera behavior, continuous sending in Messages, Dual Capture in FaceTime, custom EQ for AirPods, new recovery options, easier Apple Pay card switching, and AI-generated wallpaper creation.
We’re installing iOS 27 beta 2 now and will update with any notable changes. In the meantime, you can catch up on everything new in iOS 27 from Apple’s keynote list.
Spot any changes in today’s release of iOS 27 beta 2? Let us know in the comments below!
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Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.
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