iOS 27: All the Rumors About Apple's Next Big iPhone Software Update

It's only been two months since iOS 26 launched, but rumors don't take breaks. We're already hearing details about the next-generation iOS 27 update, which Apple will introduce in June 2026 before launching it in September 2026.

iOS 27 Mock Quick
We've rounded up all of the rumors that we've heard so far.

Foldable Features

In 2026, Apple plans to launch the first foldable iPhone, a device that could be called the ‌iPhone‌ Fold. Rumors suggest that it will feature a 5.5-inch display when folded, and a 7.8-inch display when it's opened up like a book.

An ‌iPhone‌ with a larger display that also folds will require some major updates to iOS, and iOS 27 will focus on building new interfaces and experiences made for a larger display.

We haven't heard specifics on how Apple will tweak iOS to accommodate the ‌iPhone‌ Fold, but we could see some iPad-like options such as side bars and perhaps even multitasking views with support for multiple windows.

Bug Fixes

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has described iOS 27 as a "Snow Leopard" update, suggesting that Apple will focus on improving underlying performance and quality rather than introducing major new functionality. Apple engineers are reportedly going through ‌iOS 26‌ to look for bloat, bugs, and any other issues impacting performance.

Liquid Glass

iOS 27 might include refinements for the Liquid Glass design that Apple introduced with ‌iOS 26‌. There have already been some changes in the iOS 26.1 and iOS 26.2 updates, but iOS 27 will provide Apple with the opportunity to make larger adjustments.

Apple Intelligence

We're supposed to get the much smarter version of Siri in an iOS 26.4 update planned for spring 2026, but it's likely even more Apple Intelligence capabilities will follow in iOS 27.

We don't know specifics yet, but ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features could expand to additional apps.

Apple is working on a "World Knowledge" Siri search feature that would provide information on general search queries, which will likely be included in ‌Siri‌'s iOS 26.4 update. If it's not in iOS 26.4, the add-on ‌Siri‌ feature could instead come in iOS 27.

Siri

With iOS 27, Apple could update Siri's design. ‌Siri‌ will get its major overhaul in iOS 26.4, but a new visual look is supposedly planned for iOS 27. There are no specifics about what the redesign might entail, but rumors linked to Apple's upcoming tabletop robot suggest that the company might introduce a version of ‌Siri‌ that's more animated, similar to the Mac Finder logo. That more animated version of ‌Siri‌ could also come to the ‌iPhone‌ and iPad.

Health+

Apple is rumored to be developing a paid Health+ service with nutrition planning and medical suggestions, and we could see that introduced as part of iOS 27.

The medical tool would explain different health metrics and trends from the Health app, offering up personalized guidance for health improvement.

New Satellite Features

Apple is working on several new satellite features for the ‌iPhone‌, and it's possible some features could be introduced as soon as 2027. Timing on Apple's satellite improvements is unclear, though, and behind-the-scenes updates from Apple's satellite partner Globalstar are required.
Rumored features:

  • Apple Maps via satellite
  • Photos in Messages via satellite
  • Satellite API framework for third-party apps
  • Satellite over 5G
  • Satellite connectivity without the need for a view of the sky

Some of these features might require new hardware, but options like ‌Apple Maps‌ via satellite would not require components beyond what's available now.

Launch Date

New versions of iOS, macOS, and Apple's other software platforms will be previewed in June at WWDC before launching in September just ahead of when new ‌iPhone‌ models come out.

Popular Stories

Apple Wallet ID Illinois

Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver's Licenses to These 7 U.S. States

Wednesday December 24, 2025 8:40 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Year With These 12 New Features

Tuesday December 23, 2025 8:36 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another nine months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models. The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID Front camera in...
maxresdefault

Where's the New Apple TV?

Monday December 22, 2025 11:30 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
maxresdefault

10 Mac Apps Worth Trying in 2026

Wednesday December 24, 2025 9:27 am PST by
2026 is almost upon us, and a new year is a good time to try out some new apps. We've rounded up 10 excellent Mac apps that are worth checking out. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Alt-Tab (Free) - Alt-Tab brings a Windows-style alt + tab thumbnail preview option to the Mac. You can see a full window preview of open apps and app windows. One Thing (Free) -...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Monday December 22, 2025 8:47 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 26.2, following more than a month of beta testing. It is a big update, with many new features and changes for iPhones. iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted a total of eight new features. Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen A new slider in the Lock...
airpods color prototypes

Apple Tested AirPods in Bright Colors

Saturday December 27, 2025 6:06 am PST by
Apple reportedly tested a version of the first-generation AirPods with bright, iPhone 5c-like colored charging cases. The images, shared by the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami," claim to show first-generation AirPods prototypes with pink and yellow exterior casings. The interior of the charging case and the earbuds themselves remain white. They seem close to some...
iPhone Fold Vertical Feature

Why Apple's Foldable iPhone May Be Smaller Than Expected

Tuesday December 23, 2025 5:21 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone, rumored for release next year, may turn out to be smaller than most people imagine, if a recent report is anything to go by. According to The Information, the outer display on the book-style device will measure just 5.3 inches – that's smaller than the 5.4-inch screen on the ‌iPhone‌ mini, a line Apple discontinued in 2022 due to poor sales. The report has led ...
iPhone SE Cosmopolitan Clean

Apple Discontinued These 25 Products This Year

Wednesday December 24, 2025 7:24 am PST by
With the end of 2025 near, the time has come to look back at the devices and accessories that Apple discontinued throughout the year. Most of the products that were discontinued this year were simply replaced by a new model with an updated chip. However, the iPhone SE line was entirely discontinued when the iPhone 16e launched, and the iPhone Plus line is being phased out. Below, we have...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Iridescent Search

Samsung Developing 'Wide Fold' With iPhone Fold-Like Design Ahead of Apple's 2026 Launch

Tuesday December 23, 2025 11:55 am PST by
Samsung is working on a new foldable smartphone that's wider and shorter than the models that it's released before, according to Korean news site ETNews. The "Wide Fold" will compete with Apple's iPhone Fold that's set to launch in September 2026. Samsung's existing Galaxy Z Fold7 display is 6.5 inches when closed, and 8 inches when open, with a 21:9 aspect ratio when folded and a 20:18...

Top Rated Comments

sniffies Avatar
5 weeks ago
Apparently, the internal codename for iOS 27 is fix_the_whole_damn_iOS_26_mess release.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ricketysquire Avatar
5 weeks ago
All I want.

Attachment Image
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
IIGS User Avatar
5 weeks ago
The biggest feature should be “it just works”

Skip new features and interfaces and satellite gimmicks and fall back on making something that works with a minimum amount of bugs and issues. Function should be the priority right now.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
skiguy45 Avatar
5 weeks ago
They just need to kill liquid glass.

It's a poorly conceived mess.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Scooby_Snacks Avatar
5 weeks ago
This is just part of list of problems with the hot mess that is iOS 26:

• Rapid battery drain, with devices losing charge much faster than before, sometimes up to 30% faster depletion.
• Frequent overheating, especially during 5G use or gaming, causing devices to become uncomfortably hot.
• UI jitteriness, choppy scrolling, translucency artifacts, and overall sluggish, laggy animations.
• App crashes and freezes affecting core apps like Photos, Messages, CarPlay, and others.
• Connectivity drops involving Wi-Fi and Bluetooth instability, leading to frequent disconnections.
• Major, major problems with CarPlay including phone calls failing, apps freezing, stereo shutting down, control buttons not working, and multiple active call glitches.
• Much dislike and criticism that the “Liquid Glass” aesthetic and animations make the interface look flashy but less usable, less readable, and more intrusive visually.
• Lock and home screen customization features are buggy or not working properly.
• Old keyboard removed or changed, with many users demanding the old keyboard back - the new keyboard is terrible.
• Redesigned Safari browser is considered cumbersome and frustrating by several users.
• The design philosophy of moving all search bars to the bottom of the screen is counter intuitive and confusing many users.
• Confusing changes in passcode, face or fingerprint unlock, and security settings that frustrate longtime users.
• Hidden or moved settings (e.g., focus modes, automation, notification customization) causing confusion and difficulty for users.
• Many, many users report the update feels like a buggy, incomplete, and rushed release, leading to frustration over stability and usability.
• Compatibility issues causing third-party apps to crash or perform slowly.
• Inability to downgrade from iOS 26 due to compatibility restrictions, trapping users with this problematic version.

iOS 26 is the worst update Apple has ever released, it's a complete disaster, and the only feature for iOS 27 should be to fix all of these problems and UI/UX blunders to get users back to what was a great and mature iOS 18. Honestly, they should just release. I never in a million years would have considered Android until now.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DBZmusicboy01 Avatar
5 weeks ago
iOS 26 has been an abomination. It has made the iPhone 17 Pro run worse than iPhone 11 on iOS 18. It refreshes as much as the XS Max does on iOS 18 and way too many issues of all kinds. Not acceptable 2 months after release to be running this poorly on a new Pro iPhone with 12GB of RAM.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)