Apple’s new iOS 27 is here. Check out some of the must-see new features on your iPhone.Credit: Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto
iOS 27 is here! The newest iPhone operating system has just been rolled out by Apple today.
Here are a few of the must-try features that you should check out as soon as your iPhone is finished updating to the new OS.
Siri AI
This is the big one. Apple has completely reimagined its voice assistant Siri as a full-fledged AI assistant.
Siri AIcan now perform tasks and answer questions just like other AI assistants like ChatGPT and Claude. But, of course, Siri AI is integrated directly into the iOS experience. Siri AI even has its very own app now.
The new Siri AI can take actions across a wide variety of apps, such as a user’s email, phone, photos, and Shortcuts. Siri AI can even create a new Shortcut based on a simple description. Users simply vocalize the workflow they want to automate in plain English, and Siri AI will take over and set the whole thing up.
So, be sure to check out Siri AI both to see what the brand new Siri can do
Change Siri’s voice speed, pitch, tone, and accent.Credit: Apple
Weather app updates
The Weather app has some big new updates in iOS 27 to take a look at.
There are new tabs for the day’s weather that provide users with information about conditions, precipitation, and Wind. Each tab will provide more in-depth details about the current day’s temperature, rain or snow, and the wind conditions over the next few hours.
There’s also a new Highlights feature in the Weather app that provides users with a written summary of what to expect weather-wise throughout the day.
AirPods custom EQ
Surprisingly, AirPods have been missing custom EQ settings, a standard feature for most headphones and earbuds. Well, no longer.
iOS 27 adds a three-band equalizer to the AirPods settings screen, allowing users to control the audio frequency spectrum of their earbuds.
Users can adjust EQ in real-time, changing how they hear the bassy lows, vocal mids, treble detail in the highs, and more.
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Other headphones have this capability and Apple previously allowed AirPods users to customize EQ within Apple Music. Now, however, AIrPods owners can have this greater audio control regardless of where they listen to their music.
Liquid Glass updates
If you had some problems with the way Apple’s new Liquid Glass design for iPhone looked, you may want to go directly to this new feature.
Apple has updated the Liquid Glass design with “more uniform refraction and improved contrast.” The iPhone-maker has even added controls in the form of a new slider that allows users to change just how clear or tinted the Liquid Glass design appears.
Disable the dictation button in Messages
This is another fix to an issue that has long-annoyed some iPhone users.
There’s a dictation button next to the text box in Messages. That dictation button becomes the “Send” button when you’ve already typed out some text in your message. However, the placement of both buttons makes for some accidental taps, which sometimes activate the dictation feature when it isn’t wanted.
Now, in iOS 27, users can change that in the iPhone settings. Simply open the Settings app, select Apps, then Messages, followed by the new Show Text in Field option. Users can pick if there’s a Record Audio button, Start Dictation button, or no button at all in that spot. The Send button will obviously still appear as normal after a user starts typing.
Bill splitting
If you’re tired of trying to figure out the math of who pays what when going out for a meal with friends, this new iOS 27 feature is a must-try.
Using Apple Wallet or the Messages app, simply point your iPhone camera at a receipt, iOS 27’s new bill splitting feature will read the information and then provide an itemized list on your iPhone. From there, you can pick which items you’re paying for and then use Apple Cash to just pay for what they ordered. The bill-splitting feature even adds the relevant tax and tip portion as users select what items they are paying for.
Photo app updates
But there are other lesser talked about new features to check out too.
For example, iPhone users can now share albums with their friends who own Android and Windows phones with the new iOS 27. In addition, users can now select stills from videos and save them as standalone pictures instead of having to take screenshots.
iPhone Handoff
This is probably the most undercovered feature, especially if you’re someone who can’t choose between your classic iPhone or the new foldable iPhone Duo.
iPhone Handoff lets you have both.
With iOS 27’s new iPhone Handoff feature, Apple smartphone owners can use one number with two separate devices. Users can swap back and forth and pick which device will receive phone calls and messages, and then switch it back at any time.
For now, this feature is only available for T-Mobile users, and the carrier is charging an extra $5 per month to use it.
There’s even more to check out with the new iOS 27, so be sure to explore the latest updates to your iPhone.
Preorder the new Apple products
Along with iOS 27, Apple also released new AirPods, Apple Watches, and iPhones. Except for the iPhone Duo, all of these devices are available for preorder now.
Apple AirPods 5 earbuds
$129at Amazon
Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm)
$399at Amazon
Apple iPhone 18 Pro, 256GB
Save up to $1,200at T-Mobile
iPhone 18 Pro Max, 256GB
Save up to $1,200at T-Mobile
Matt Binder joined Mashable’s tech vertical in 2018, where he covers social media, tech policy, cybersecurity, online scams, cryptocurrency, AI, creator news, weird tech, and other related tech beats.
