iOS 27 and macOS 27 beta 6: Siri AI, Liquid Glass, and under-the-hood tweaks

Apple is rolling out iOS 27 and macOS 27 Golden Gate beta 6 on August 17. These versions focus on internal improvements, with minor visual tweaks and AI features like Siri AI and Visual Intelligence, ahead of a final release expected in September.

Faster betas, more subtle changes

The Beta 6 of iOS 27 and macOS 27 has been available since August 17 for developers, just one week after Beta 5. This accelerated pace suggests a stabilization phase: visible changes are rare, with a focus on technical optimizations. Users can install it via Settings > General > Software Update, then selecting the developer beta version.

Siri AI and Apple Intelligence lead the new features

iOS 27 doubles down on AI with Siri AI, a revamped version of the voice assistant. It now includes contextual understanding (messages, emails, open apps), expanded general knowledge, and visual interaction via the Dynamic Island on iPhone. A dedicated app lets users review conversation history.

Visual Intelligence, previously scattered, is now centralized in the Camera app with a Siri mode. Apple’s Foundation Models, combined with Private Cloud Compute, power these features, with some running locally and others in the cloud.

macOS 27 Golden Gate: a step toward touch and foldable?

macOS 27 Golden Gate introduces hints about the future evolution of Macs. Beta 5 already revealed new icons for Siri, Safari, and Chess. Beta 6 confirms the addition of a pull-to-refresh gesture in Safari, often interpreted as a sign of preparation for touchscreen MacBook Pros. Additionally, the iPhone Mirroring app now allows resizing its window to different ratios, a feature that could anticipate the arrival of a foldable iPhone Ultra, expected as early as September.

Design-wise, the system unifies the corner radii of windows and apps and offers a standalone Siri app. Automations and extensions in Shortcuts and Safari also benefit from AI, with simplified commands via prompts.

Liquid Glass, performance, and compatibility

The Liquid Glass design, introduced last year, is refined with a transparency slider to customize the interface. Performance is improved: faster app launches, AirDrop transfers, keyboard display, and better Wi-Fi/cellular handoff management.

iOS 27 supports iPhone 11 and later, as well as the 2nd-generation iPhone SE and newer. However, Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features require more recent hardware. The final version is expected in September, alongside new iPhone releases.

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Other notable adjustments

• Notifications transform into a Notification Center indicator before disappearing
• Keyword and star ratings in Photos, customizable slideshows
• Smoother Camera app behavior, including in Low Power Mode
• Continuous sending in Messages, Dual Capture in FaceTime
• Customizable equalizer for AirPods, new recovery options
• Simplified Apple Pay card switching, AI-generated wallpapers

These Beta 6 releases mark a key step before finalizing the systems. Apple appears to be focusing on stability and AI feature integration while dropping hints about upcoming hardware. The public release is imminent.