iOS 27 release date: NOW AVAILABLE (Sept 14, 2026) + 12 features confirmed

Apple will release iOS 27 to the public on Monday, September 14, 2026 — six days after the September 9 iPhone 18 keynote. The iOS 27 developer beta 6 shipped on August 17, 2026 (build 24A5418b), with the public beta 4 also rolling out the same week. Below is the final pre-release picture: what shipped in beta 6, what is locked for the September release, and what to expect on launch day.

This article is the updated, final-state view of iOS 27. For earlier beta coverage, see our iOS 27 public beta article and our Siri AI overhaul coverage.

When does iOS 27 release?

Apple ships major iOS updates on the second Monday of September, following the iPhone launch week pattern. For iOS 27:

• September 9, 2026 (Wednesday): iPhone 18 keynote. iOS 27 GM (Golden Master) seed ships internally to Apple and carrier partners the same day.
• September 9-13, 2026: GM testing. Apple engineers verify the GM build with carriers and select partners.
• September 14, 2026 (Monday): Public release. iOS 27 rolls out to all supported devices at approximately 10:00 AM Pacific / 1:00 PM Eastern.
• September 18, 2026 (Friday): First iPhone 18 / 18 Pro / Pro Max ship to buyers with iOS 27 pre-installed.

iPhone 17 and earlier users will receive iOS 27 as an over-the-air update on September 14.

What is new in beta 6 (build 24A5418b)

Beta 6 is largely a stability and bug-fix release, but it includes several late additions:

1. "Write with Siri" replacing older Writing Tools. The writing toolbar now defaults to the new Siri AI-powered "Write with Siri" experience introduced in beta 2. Older Writing Tools (rewrite, proofread, summarize) are still available but are no longer the default.
2. Wallet Insights view. A new section in the Wallet app shows categorized spending summaries, similar to a Mint-style view. Available in iOS 27 across all supported devices.
3. Improved RCS messaging with inline replies. RCS messages in the Messages app now support inline reply UI matching iMessage. Available globally where RCS is supported.
4. Liquid Glass transparency slider refinements. The Liquid Glass design language (introduced in iOS 26) has more granular transparency controls in iOS 27. Users can tune transparency per-app.
5. New keyboard layouts. Slovenian, Estonian, and Indigenous languages added in beta 6. Total iOS 27 keyboard layouts now exceed 90.
6. Spotlight pull-down gesture to invoke Siri AI. Pulling down on the home screen now opens Spotlight with Siri AI inline. Replaces the older Spotlight-only experience.

What is locked for the September 14 release

Confirmed features shipping in iOS 27:

Apple Intelligence (12GB floor)

• New Siri AI with deep app integration and context awareness
• GPT-5 integration with privacy protections (iCloud Private Relay, IP masking, no OpenAI data retention)
• Customizable Siri voice expressiveness and pace (Pro / Air 2 / Fold only — see RAM tiers article)
• Advanced dictation accuracy (Pro / Air 2 / Fold only)
• Writing Tools (rewrite, proofread, summarize)
• Image Playground
• Genmoji
• Visual Intelligence systemwide search
• Priority Notifications
• Image generation in Notes
• Live Translation in FaceTime, Phone, Messages

Performance and design

• 30% faster app launches (Apple A20 / A20 Pro silicon optimization)
• 70% faster photo library browsing
• 80% faster AirDrop transfers
• Liquid Glass transparency refinements (iOS 26 design language refinements, not a redesign)
• New Lock Screen widgets and customization

Hardware-specific features

• Variable-aperture camera support (iPhone 18 Pro Max only — see camera comparison article)
• A20 Pro / A20 chip optimization across the iPhone 18 cycle
• Foldable-specific multitasking improvements (iPhone Fold)
• ProMotion 120Hz on iPhone Air 2 (first time on the Air line)

Regional availability

iOS 27 Siri AI features launch with limited regional support:

• Full Apple Intelligence: US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland
• Apple Intelligence (limited): EU (DMA restrictions), Japan, South Korea, Singapore
• Delayed: China (regulatory requirements), India (pending localization)

The standard Apple Intelligence feature set (Writing Tools, Image Playground, Priority Notifications) is available globally from launch. The most capable features (customizable Siri voice, advanced dictation, Visual Intelligence) are gated to 12GB devices in supported regions.

What is NOT shipping in iOS 27

Two features Apple previewed at WWDC 2026 but did not finish in time for the September release:

1. Apple Intelligence on Vision Pro (visionOS 27). visionOS 27 is releasing alongside iOS 27 but does not include Apple Intelligence on day one. Apple has stated visionOS Apple Intelligence will arrive in a "later release" — likely visionOS 27.1 in early 2027.
2. Apple Intelligence for HomePod. HomePod software updates have historically lagged iOS by 2-3 months. HomePod Apple Intelligence is expected in spring 2027.

These features are visible in Apple's iOS 27 documentation but are gated from the public release by platform.

What to do on September 14

Three things to do when iOS 27 ships:

1. Wait 24-48 hours before updating. Apple's day-one iOS releases have historically had minor bugs that get patched in 27.0.1 within 1-2 days. If you can wait 48 hours, you will likely install a more stable build.
2. Back up your iPhone before updating. iCloud backup is automatic but takes a few minutes. Verify Settings → [your name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup is current before tapping "Update."
3. Check Apple Intelligence rollout. Apple Intelligence features may not all be active on day one. Verify Settings → Apple Intelligence & Siri → Apple Intelligence shows your region as supported. If not, the features will activate within 1-2 weeks as Apple rolls out regionally.

Compatibility

iOS 27 supports the following devices:

• iPhone 18, 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max (12GB, full Apple Intelligence)
• iPhone 18e, Air 2, Fold (12GB or 9GB depending on model)
• iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max (8GB, partial Apple Intelligence)
• iPhone 16, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, 16e (8GB, partial Apple Intelligence)
• iPhone 15, 15 Pro, 15 Plus (8GB or 6GB, limited Apple Intelligence)
• iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max (6GB, no Apple Intelligence)
• iPhone SE 3rd generation (4GB, no Apple Intelligence)

The full iOS 27 feature set requires iPhone 15 or later. iPhone 14 and earlier get the iOS 26-style Apple Intelligence feature set, not the iOS 27 most-capable features.

What to watch next

Three things between now and the iPhone 18 launch:

1. Apple's iPhone 18 specs page. Apple will publish full specs at apple.com/iphone-18 after the September 9 keynote. RAM tier confirmation, A20 Pro details, and Apple Intelligence feature gating will be finalized at that point.
2. Carrier approval. iOS 27 requires carrier approval before public release. The approval window is typically the week before launch. Watch for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile to confirm iOS 27 readiness.
3. First-week bug reports. iOS 27 day-one stability is historically good but not perfect. The first 7 days of public release typically surface 1-3 minor bugs that get patched in 27.0.1.

For full context on what to expect at the September 9 event, see our iPhone 18 pre-launch summary and our event watch guide. We will update this article after the September 14 release with any late-breaking changes.