Major iPhone software update released (iOS 27).

About this article.

The latest iPhone update, iOS 27, was released on 14 September. Get ready for some great new features and Siri AI! Well, almost. We spotlight some notable improvements and things to consider before tapping install.

Will my iPhone run iOS 27?

Apple hasn’t dropped support for any iPhones this year. This means that any iPhone 11 or higher will run iOS 27, including the SE second generation, which was released in 2020. Go to Settings, General, About to check your model. But before you start counting the dollars you’ve saved on upgrading, you do need a late model to take advantage of Apple Intelligence and Siri AI. Read on for compatible devices and benefits to help you decide if it’s worth it.

Warning: Read before installing.

It’s safe to say that the modern pace of software updates is letting more bugs slip through the cracks in general. This update has its fair share for VoiceOver and Braille users. Some are just annoying and others may make you want to hold off on updating for now. Have a good read of the below article from AppleVis to help you decide. If you’re not techy, we’d recommend waiting a month or two while some of these early issues are ironed out.

A summary of VoiceOver and Braille issues and improvements - AppleVis(opens in new tab)

How do I update?

Go to Settings, General, Software Updates. Scroll down and choose iOS 27 and follow the on-screen instructions. If it’s not there, your iPhone doesn’t support it. Note that the update takes some time, so make sure you’re not in a rush and do not try to turn off or restart the device during the process.

Important: Apple Intelligence and Siri AI supported iPhones.

Some of the most notable enhancements this year need Apple Intelligence on your iPhone. Unfortunately, this is a short list of supported devices, starting with the iPhone 15 Pro models or later. Apple says this is because a lot of the processing is done on the phone itself or on secure Apple servers. It’s worth flagging that many of the benefits offered can be achieved just as well or better on older iPhones with trusted third-party apps, such as Microsoft’s Seeing AI or Be My Eyes. If your iPhone doesn’t support Apple Intelligence, have a read through this article to help you decide if you need to upgrade.

Learn more about Apple Intelligence and Siri AI at the official Apple link below:

Apple Intelligence and Siri - Apple(opens in new tab)

A note on AI accuracy.

A quick reminder that Apple Intelligence and AI in general make mistakes. Always keep this in mind and do not rely on them for safe orientation and mobility.

Siri AI beta.

Arguably the most exciting news is that the long-awaited Siri AI is ready to try in beta mode for English users. It’s a whole lot smarter and can do a lot more on your behalf. It will continue to get better as time goes on, so if you’re not sure, just ask and see what happens. Go to Settings, Siri to turn it on and set your preferences. Here are some examples of what it’s capable of right now.

Natural conversations and better integration.

Gone are the days when you had to use simple commands that were quite specific. You can now talk to Siri AI like a person. You can even interrupt it if you’re that way inclined. It’s also far better at getting information from your iPhone, apps and the Internet. This is expected to get better over time and might make things a lot easier, especially if you struggle with the touchscreen. Once again, ask away and put it through its paces.

Do more for you.

Siri AI is starting to do some of the simple things we’ve dreamed of for years! For example, you can now use it to create a contact and add or change its details. You can also far more easily add or change calendar events. You can even tell it to delete a message that you’ve just sent by mistake.

Siri AI and the camera.

You now get far more useful descriptions of what’s in the camera. Simply load the camera app and Siri AI will describe what’s around in more detail than ever before. You can ask questions about the image or look it up online. You can even do this using the Magnifier app with your preferred contrast. Find out more from Apple below:

Use Siri AI in camera - Apple(opens in new tab)

Siri is now an app.

Siri AI is now its own app. Find it in your app library or put it somewhere easy to tap. It keeps track of your conversations so you can pick up where you left off on your iPhone or another connected Apple device.

Liquid Glass improvements.

A headline feature of last year’s major update was Liquid Glass. It was a big design change that made a lot of things on the screen see-through. Let’s just say that it was controversial in general. But for people with low vision, it caused a contrast nightmare and many users had to enable accessibility features just to make things usable again. So, forgive us for being cheeky, but the big improvement is that you can now easily turn it off! Go to Settings, Appearance, Liquid Glass and adjust the tint to suit you.

Voice Control.

Voice Control gets a big upgrade thanks to Apple Intelligence. You can now give commands in natural language, rather than being very specific. For example, if you don’t know the exact name of a button, you might say, “Double tap the button that sends the email”. Go to Settings, Accessibility, Voice Control to learn more.

Accessibility Reader enhancements.

You guessed it! You need Apple Intelligence to take advantage of these new improvements. The Accessibility Reader hit the scene last year and it’s a great way to adjust text content to make it easier to read. In iOS 27, Apple Intelligence means that it’s far better at handling more complex content, such as column layouts and tables. You may even prefer to ask for a summary. Whether you have one of the latest iPhones or not, this feature is worth a look. Go to Settings, Accessibility, Read and Speak, Accessibility Reader. Find out more below:

Accessibility Reader - Apple(opens in new tab)

Note: VoiceOver users, if you use the Accessibility Shortcut (triple press home or Side button) to load or unload VoiceOver, you may want to avoid adding Accessibility Reader when asked. If there’s more than one Accessibility Shortcut assigned, VoiceOver won’t turn on until you manually find it on the screen and lift your finger.

For VoiceOver and Braille users.

Apple has included some great enhancements and new features for VoiceOver and Braille users. There’s more customisation than ever and Apple Intelligence brings big improvements to Live Recognition. Follow the below link to a detailed overview from the Apple Vis team:

What's new for VoiceOver and Braille users article - AppleVis(opens in new tab)

If you’d rather listen, check out their recent podcast:

What's new for VoiceOver and Braille users podcast - AppleVis(opens in new tab)

In summary.

This year’s major update continues to introduce useful features for people with blindness or low vision. This is especially true if you’re lucky enough to take advantage of Apple Intelligence and Siri AI. Have a read of the known issues in the warning section above and decide if you’re ready. If you’re stuck or want more advice, take advantage of our free Assistive Technology Help Desk. Call between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm, Monday to Friday, on 1800 436 364 and listen to the prompts.

Happy tapping!