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Apple has released iOS 27, focusing heavily on bug fixes, performance stability, and overall system improvements rather than flashy new visuals. The update brings compatibility back to the iPhone 11 and introduces several useful features, such as natural language shortcuts, custom Wallet passes, an upgraded Siri, system-wide AirPods equalization, and new Safari tools.
Create Shortcuts Using Natural Language
The Shortcuts app has received a major upgrade powered by Apple Intelligence, allowing users to build shortcuts using natural language prompts instead of manual step-by-step programming. When launching the app and tapping the plus button, users can simply describe the desired shortcut. While the system usually creates straightforward actions successfully, it occasionally pieces together incorrect actions, though users can manually tweak them by tapping Edit. Additionally, users can incorporate Apple Intelligence actions—such as information extraction, summarization, or text generation—into their shortcuts, subject to daily rate limits for cloud models.
Add Custom Passes to the Wallet App
iOS 27 introduces the ability to create custom passes and add them directly to Apple Wallet for loyalty cards, gym memberships, and other items that lack native issuer support. Users can utilize Apple Intelligence on supported iPhones by opening an image or screenshot of a ticket or membership card with a barcode, swiping up, and tapping Add Pass to Wallet. Alternatively, users can open the Wallet app, tap the plus icon, select Create a Pass, and take a photo of the ticket or ID card so Visual Intelligence can extract the relevant information.
Experience the Improved Siri AI
Compatible iPhones can now join the waitlist for Siri AI via the settings menu, bringing a significantly more capable virtual assistant that handles follow-up queries much better and understands personal context. The assistant can now pull information from messages, emails, and photos to answer questions or complete tasks that previously required manual app navigation. Furthermore, the Camera app now features a new Siri mode that taps into Visual Intelligence to answer questions about whatever the camera points at.
Tweak AirPods Sound With a System-Wide Equalizer
Owners of AirPods 4 or newer, AirPods Pro 2 or newer, and AirPods Max 2 can now adjust their audio using a built-in, system-wide equalizer. After connecting the earbuds and navigating to the AirPods settings under Audio and Routing, users can select the Custom option to manually adjust lows, mids, and highs, moving beyond the default balanced profile.
Explore New Safari Capabilities
Safari now includes webpage change alerts powered by Apple Intelligence, allowing users to track product prices, ticket sales, or restocks without manually checking. By tapping the three-line icon in the address bar and selecting Notify Me, users can describe what to monitor and set a checking frequency. Safari also uses Apple Intelligence to automatically organize active tabs into relevant categories from the tab overview, and lets users build custom extensions by describing a specific task through the browser menu.
