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Should I update now to iOS 27 or iPadOS 27?
Version 27 of iOS iPadOS and WatchOS are the first versions of a major annual update. Although they have been tested rigorously throughout the summer by beta testers, including me, some bugs remain and some remain to be discovered after wide release. I advise that you don't rush in to installing the first release unless you just can't wait to sample its new features. I haven't had serious problems with this version but if you are risk averse, then it's best to wait for version 27.1 which will probably appear in October. In the past we've often had to wait until the .1 release for accessibility bugs to be fixed. There are several reported VoiceOver bugs in 27.0 but I imagine these probably won't be a serious problem for most readers. There are few compelling reasons to rush to update now if your iPhone or iPad doesn't support Apple Intelligence and Siri AI. The features and settings mentioned below are for iOS and iPadOS 27 and won't be available until you update. To update go to Settings / General / Software Update and look for iOS 27 under the Also Available heading.
The list below is a very short list of some new features which have caught my attention but for many of us the long-awaited release of Siri AI will be the most persuasive reason to update so long as our devices can support it. (See the link below).
New for everyone
Siri AI and a new Siri app. This is by far the most significant feature of version 27 and gives Siri a huge AI boost. Siri can now behave as an AI chatbot but one that can perform many tasks within apps for you and which is aware of screen contents and your personal information on your device. It can already do many tasks that previously required multiple steps with or without VoiceOver. It is available only on devices which support Apple Intelligence. Siri AI is still work in progress and Apple states that it is a beta version but it has some impressive features right now. I'll write soon about what works and what doesn't work so well. If you want to try Siri AI you will have to join a wait list at Settings / Siri;
Several other Apple Intelligence upgrades including the ability to create Siri Shortcuts with a description of what you want them to do. This is available only on devices which support Apple Intelligence;
A small thing, but it could be significant for many - it's now possible to set different volumes for your ring tone and alarms and timers. Take a look in Settings / Sounds & Haptics;
New for low vision users
There's a new slider in Settings / Appearance to control how Liquid Glass looks, from clear to fully tinted, which effectively turns off most of the clear, transparent effects. This gives you fine control if you like Liquid Glass effects but can't tolerate them full blast with the clear setting.
New for VoiceOver users
improved image descriptions. This is available only on devices which support Apple Intelligence;
Control of the amount of text, paragraph, line, sentence and element that is spoken as you swipe through text at Settings / Accessibility / VoiceOver / Text Navigation and similar control of exploring a screen by dragging a finger over it at Settings / Accessibility / VoiceOver / Text Exploration;
customisable hints. Hints are those suggestions like "double tap to open". They can be very useful but some are definitely unnecessary as you become more proficient with VoiceOver. At Settings / Accessibility / VoiceOver / Verbosity / Hints it is now possible to set a delay before a hint is spoken and to select between never, always and app-specific hints to set which hints are spoken. When you are familiar with all the basic VoiceOver hints, switching to app-specific hints could be a good choice so you don't miss VoiceOver features in apps.
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last updated 15 September 2026
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