Apple opened WWDC with a closer look at iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, and unsurprisingly, AI was the main theme of the presentation. Alongside a number of visual tweaks and performance improvements, Apple spent a lot of time talking about the next generation of Apple Intelligence and what it means for everyday iPhone and iPad use.

The biggest announcement was the new Siri AI experience. Apple is giving Siri a much larger role across its software, even introducing a dedicated app for the assistant. According to the company, Siri can now better understand personal context, what’s currently on your screen, and information from the web, allowing for more natural conversations and more useful actions.

Whether it lives up to that promise is something users will find out once the software reaches more devices, but it’s clear Apple is trying to make Siri feel less like a voice command tool and more like a genuine AI assistant.

Apple also made a few changes to the Liquid Glass design language introduced previously. Users can now adjust transparency levels with a slider, and the interface itself looks a bit cleaner thanks to “more uniform refraction and improved contrast”.

There are some performance gains as well. Apple says apps launch up to 30% faster, photos appear in the library more quickly, and AirDrop transfers can be 80% faster than before. The company also highlighted improvements to network switching between Wi-Fi and cellular connections.

A number of smaller features were announced too. Mail search is getting smarter, VoiceOver can provide more detailed image descriptions, and subtitles now support automatic syncing and translation. One update that stood out is support for full-resolution contributions to iCloud Shared Albums from Android and Windows users, something many people have wanted for quite a while.

On the iPad side, Apple is adding a tool that can turn a collection of photos and videos into a customizable slideshow complete with transitions, music, and export options. Calendar events can also be created or edited using natural language, and file transfers to external storage devices are reportedly up to five times faster.

As usual, not every feature will be available on every device. The more advanced Apple Intelligence features require newer hardware, while many of the broader improvements will work on older supported iPhones and iPads.

Developer builds are available starting today, with a public beta expected next month and a wider rollout planned for later this year. AI may have dominated the keynote, but a lot of the updates Apple showed were actually about making everyday tasks a little faster and a little less frustrating.

(Apple)

Apple has officially shared which devices will support its next round of major software updates following the announcements at WWDC 2026. As expected, the new releases bring a mix of upgrades, including improvements to Apple Intelligence, a smarter “Siri AI” experience, and a refreshed design in several areas. But support isn’t exactly the same across every product category.

For iPhone users, the news is pretty straightforward. iOS 27 will be available on all iPhone models that currently support iOS 26. That means devices ranging from the iPhone 11 lineup to the latest iPhone 17 series will be covered, along with the iPhone 16e, iPhone Air, and iPhone SE (2nd generation and newer). It’s a broad support list and gives a lot of users another year without worrying about replacing their phone.

The iPad story is a bit different. Apple is trimming support for a handful of older models this time around. Devices losing compatibility include the 2018 versions of the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro, the 8th-generation iPad, the 5th-generation iPad mini, and the 3rd-generation iPad Air. Newer models remain supported, including iPad Pro models from the 2nd-generation 11-inch and 4th-generation 12.9-inch onward, as well as newer iPad Air, iPad, and iPad mini models.

Mac users are seeing an even bigger shift. With macOS 27 Golden Gate, Apple is effectively closing the chapter on Intel support. The update will only be available on Macs powered by Apple silicon. That includes recent MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, the Mac mini, iMac, Mac Studio, Mac Pro, and the newly introduced MacBook Neo. If you’re still using an Intel Mac, this appears to be the end of the road for major macOS upgrades.

The biggest surprise initially came from watchOS 27. When Apple first published its compatibility list, the Apple Watch Series 9 was missing, leading many users to assume it had been dropped. That quickly raised questions, especially since the Series 9 shares the same S9 chip as the Ultra 2. Apple later confirmed the omission was a mistake and updated its website to include the Series 9 among supported devices.

With that correction, watchOS 27 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, Ultra 2, Ultra 3, and the latest Apple Watch SE.

These software updates are expected to arrive this fall. For users with supported devices, there’s plenty to look forward to, from new AI-powered features to performance improvements.

(Source)