Apple unveils iPadOS 27
At Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, the company unveiled exciting new features for the iPad with iPadOS 27. This update promises to enhance performance, with apps launching up to 30 percent faster thanks to smart preloading of necessary information and improved multitasking capabilities.
Similar to the updates rolling out for Apple’s other operating systems this year, iPadOS 27 will leverage the new Siri AI. Users can access Siri through Spotlight search, which will intuitively differentiate between when you’re asking for assistance and when you’re simply searching for apps or documents. Additionally, a new dedicated Siri app will allow for interactive conversations with the assistant, similar to how you might use a chat-based AI, and will enable users to revisit previous discussions.
Screen Time is receiving a significant upgrade, empowering parents and caregivers to manage when and how long children can access specific apps and services. New APIs for parental controls will be introduced, along with a Declared Age Range API that allows apps to tailor experiences based on the user’s age. Caregivers will have the ability to restrict access to certain apps and control who kids can communicate with via iMessage. A new feature will require kids to request approval before visiting websites, automatically activated for users under 13.
Performance enhancements are also on the way, with file transfers to external drives via USB-C expected to be up to five times faster. App launches and AirDrop transfers will see similar speed boosts.
Safari will become more organized with the introduction of an Organize Tabs feature, which will automatically categorize open tabs into groups based on content. The new Safari Notify Me feature will keep you updated on webpage changes, such as price drops or restocks.
Siri AI will enhance the Shortcuts app, making it more intuitive. While users can still manually create shortcuts, iPadOS 27 will allow you to request the app to generate shortcuts using natural language prompts.
When iPadOS 26 launched last September, it brought a fresh design with Apple’s Liquid Glass aesthetic, blending glossy and translucent UI elements. With iPadOS 27, Apple is refining this design for better readability, ensuring more uniform refraction and improved contrast. App icons will appear sharper, and a new slider will let users customize the Liquid Glass appearance from clear to tinted.
Accessibility features are also being improved, with VoiceOver enhancements for better screen comprehension and detailed image descriptions. iPadOS 27 will automatically generate captions for videos, including those you create, and will translate existing captions into different languages.
The Photos app is set to gain new editing capabilities powered by Apple Intelligence, allowing users to fill in gaps when straightening images or reframing shots. Collaborating on iCloud Shared Albums will be easier, and full-resolution photo viewing will be introduced. New slideshow features will enable users to save slideshows as videos for easy access later.
With iPadOS 26, Apple moved closer to making its tablets viable laptop alternatives by introducing a resizable windowing system similar to macOS. In iPadOS 27, the menu bar, which currently disappears, can be set to “always show,” enhancing the desktop-like experience.
Developers can start exploring iPadOS 27 today, with a public beta expected next month and an official release slated for this fall. Compatible iPad models include:
* iPad Pro (M4 and later), iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (4th generation and later), iPad Pro 11‑inch (2nd generation and later)
* iPad Air 13-inch (M2 and later), iPad Air 11-inch (M2, M3, and M4), iPad Air 11-inch (4th generation and later)
* iPad (A16), iPad (9th generation and later)
* iPad mini (A17 Pro), iPad mini (6th generation and later)
