Apple previewed iPadOS 27 during the WWDC 2026 keynote. Unlike previous years, this new iPadOS software update covers Apple Intelligence, the new Siri, and makes the experience more reliable for users. While in previous iterations Apple tweaked multitasking capabilities, making the iPad work similarly to a Mac, iPadOS 27 wants to turn the iPad into an AI agent. These devices also benefit from general improvements, such as apps opening faster, AirDrop working more reliably, and other small improvements.
In general, iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 Golden Gate share the same core features, as Apple continues to reuse core features across these operating systems to provide a more seamless experience across these three platforms. That said, the company is also being pickier with some features, as the ability to change Siri’s voice is only available on a handful of devices, like the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, iPads with M4 chip and 12GB of RAM, and M3 or newer Macs also with 12GB of RAM or more. If you can’t wait to download iPadOS 27, or are just waiting for the public beta to become available in July, here are some of the features Apple is currently working on, with an expected release date later this fall.
iPadOS 27 is all about Siri
Siri has come a long way since its debut with the iPhone 4S. While Apple has repeatedly promised that the personal assistant will be smarter and work more proactively, this is actually the first time this has happened, thanks to the integration of its large language models with Google’s Gemini models. With this, Siri now has a dedicated app, which works similarly to what you’d expect from ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini. Users can, but not limited to, start discussions, get help on a document, brainstorm, use visual intelligence, etc.
For the first time, Siri can move more freely in iPadOS 27. By understanding the context of what’s displayed on your screen, it can find messages, links, and details shared within apps. For example, if someone asks for photos from last Saturday on iMessage, Siri will suggest the best photos from that day so you don’t have to keep scrolling to find them.
However, it is important to note that the new Siri, including enhanced Apple Intelligence features, will not be available in the European Union and China. While Apple appears to be working to make these features available in China as soon as possible, in Europe Apple remains unhappy with the Digital Markets Act and will continue to delay adding new features until it can get a different ruling on its proprietary technologies.
Photos app becomes a powerful editing tool
With iPadOS 27, Apple added a new Tools button for editing photos. The company calls it “next-level intelligent photo editing” because the cleanup tool has been revamped and there are new expand and crop options. While it’s unclear whether the Clean Up tool got a little help from Apple’s acquisition of Pixelmator or is part of the company’s collaboration with Google, the fact is that iPadOS should handle complex cleaning tasks better. While users shouldn’t expect Apple to re-do half of a person’s face like Samsung and other AIs do, iPadOS 27 should be better at removing objects and people from an image without interfering with the background.
With the new Spatial Recading tool, users can take advantage of a technology introduced with Apple Vision Pro by cropping the image by adjusting the angle at which the photo was taken. This way you can enhance the photo once it has been taken and, if necessary, the new Extend function can enlarge the background to make the photo look natural. On top of that, the new Extend feature can turn a portrait photo into a landscape photo, add slightly more background to make the photo perfect for a wallpaper, and much more. Most importantly, these AI features are free and available even on older photos, meaning you don’t need to have taken a certain photo with a very specific Apple device.
Liquid Glass looks better for all users
When Apple introduced Liquid Glass with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe, the new interface divided users, with some saying it was too translucent, making the experience not accessible at all, while other users complained that Apple had tinted its bold new design language too much, making it less special than was implied during the previous WWDC keynote. After a year of slight modifications to this interface, Apple finally presented a solution for its Liquid Glass user interface: a slider.
With it, users who prefer a more translucent experience can make the most of Liquid Glass, while those who have difficulty reading through Liquid Glass can choose a more tinted experience. On top of that, Apple made app icons sharper and redesigned a few with more layers of glass. With this, the company claims to have improved readability while making apps easier to spot, even with custom themes like the Clear option introduced in 2025.
Apple has also fixed other UI issues, such as offering a different menu bar, so users can easily interact with sections of apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, Files, etc. Although the company may continue to tweak the interface over the coming months, there is already a consensus that it has taken the right path in offering more customization to users.
Apple Intelligent now has a more prominent place in Apple apps
It’s not just Siri that gets a lot of Apple Intelligence. Apple is also rolling out its AI in several of its stock apps, including Notes, Passwords, Image Playgrounds, and Safari. Among these examples, the Notes app now helps you organize your notes for studying, transcribe your thoughts with translation, and even get a head start on a draft.
For Safari, Apple now intelligently organizes tabs by topics, so you can get your work done, prepare for your next vacation, and always take a look at the latest outfits you want to buy. Speaking of which, there’s a new “Notify Me” feature that lets Safari monitor a page and notify you if there’s an update, like a sold out product coming back in stock, a cheaper plane ticket, etc. The Passwords app, on the other hand, can help you replace these compromised codes by logging into your account, changing the password, and then updating it in the app.
Last but not least, Image Playground finally offers the same level of precision as ChatGPT and Google Gemini, allowing you to create realistic images, as well as other original pieces in different styles. Apple says this feature has a daily limit that can be increased with an iCloud+ subscription. It’s also important to note that the company has added smart suggestions in Messages, the ability to describe shortcuts, and more.
Screen time and child safety have been revamped
Apple has revamped Screen Time for parents and guardians by adding several new features to help protect children. With iPadOS 27, parents will be able to better understand how their children spend time online by offering three different categories of data: Entertainment, Games and Social Media. Not only will they be able to set limits that may change depending on the day, but Apple itself will ensure that the content available on the iPhone is age-appropriate for children. With this, the Screen Time feature will evolve, as parents and their children will be able to set next steps for more adult apps and websites in the years to come.
Apple aims to help parents understand what a healthy way might be for children to use technology, as Apple says it is an important and indispensable tool, provided users access age-appropriate content. For example, with iPadOS 27, kids will be able to use “Ask to Browse” and “Ask to Download” messages through iMessage when they want to visit a page or app that they technically shouldn’t visit.
On top of that, Apple is adding new ways to help kids avoid coming into contact with sensitive content, such as nudity or violent images, through FaceTime, iMessage and other apps. These functions are in addition to the guarantees previously announced by the company, which spent a good few minutes at WWDC to highlight these changes.
