iOS 27 release date: When is it coming to your iPhone — and what's new?

Apple is set to release iOS 27 on Monday, September 14, bringing performance enhancements and new features to iPhones, including older models. The update follows Apple's September launch event where the latest iPhones were unveiled. Here are the key iOS 27 features to look forward to:

1. Faster performance: Apps can launch up to 30% faster, photos load up to 70% quicker, and AirDrop transfers could be up to 80% faster. Apple has optimized memory usage, CPU utilization, display rendering and search for a smoother iPhone experience.

2. Siri AI improvements: A major update for Siri AI is coming, but it won't be available on September 14. Users will eventually be able to ask Siri questions across apps without manually finding the information, with initial availability in English beta later this year and additional languages following. This feature will require a compatible Apple Intelligence device.

3. Enhanced photo editing: Apple is adding AI-powered editing tools to Photos, including a new Spatial Reframing feature that intelligently recomposes images and improvements to Clean Up for easier removal of unwanted objects. Some advanced features require Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhones.

4. Camera improvements: Siri is integrated directly into the camera experience, allowing users to point their iPhone at something and ask for information about what they're seeing. This expands Apple's Visual Intelligence tools and turns the camera into an additional search and question-asking tool.

5. More control over Liquid Glass: While the Liquid Glass design introduced with iOS 26 remains, Apple is giving users more control. iOS 27 includes an opacity adjustment to choose between clearer and more frosted interface effects, and refines icons in several built-in apps.

6. Larger widgets and Lock Screen customisation: iOS 27 introduces extra-large widgets, providing more information directly on the Home Screen. Users also get additional Lock Screen customisation options, including more control over the clock size.

7. Better volume controls: iOS 27 offers more individual control over ringtones, alarms, timers, alerts and system sounds, allowing users to keep important notifications loud without making other notifications equally loud.

8. Expanded child-safety features: Apple is enhancing its child-safety and parental-control features. Parents will have more ways to approve requests, manage age-appropriate experiences and protect younger users from potentially inappropriate content.

It's important to note that while iOS 27 arrives on September 14, some of Apple's most anticipated AI features will be available later as part of an initial English beta in English and additional languages following. The update will be supported on the same iPhones as iOS 26, including the iPhone 11 generation and second-generation iPhone SE, but some Apple Intelligence features will require newer hardware.