It was about time. Apple has released beta 5 of iOS 27, and while it's not a revolution, it comes with a good number of fixes and surprises. The company officially unveiled it at WWDC in June, but this beta version paves the way for the final release in September. This update arrives, as expected, loaded with promises regarding performance and stability, something that is welcome after the initial debacle with Apple Intelligence last year.
If you live in Spain, there's one detail that will brighten your day: 5G+ connectivity now appears in the status bar. However, it's not all good news. The much-anticipated Siri AI, this year's big bet, has once again been left out for iPhones in the European Union due to regulatory issues. Let's review everything this beta brings and what you can expect from iOS 27 this fall.
What's new in beta 5: icons, settings, and 5G+
Beta 5 has arrived after a three-week wait, breaking with Apple's usual two-week release schedule. Even so, the content is interesting. Apple has revamped the icons for apps like Safari, Siri, Settings, and Preview , further adapting them to the Liquid Glass visual language. No more four-year-old designs.
There are also new welcome screens in apps like Music, Photos, and Wallet when you open them for the first time. And the depth effect on the home screen that appeared in beta 3 has been removed. It didn't return in betas 4 or 5. A slightly odd move, but there it is.
One of the most practical changes is that you can now decide how many apps appear in system search results in Settings. You can choose four, eight, or simply disable them. The exact installation time of the last update has also been added to the Software section, which is something us techies love.
Performance and compatibility: up to iPhone 11
Apple promised that iOS 27 would focus on performance, and so far the numbers bear this out. Apps open 30% faster, photos load 70% faster, and AirDrop is 80% quicker . In addition, file search is up to five times faster. This is noticeable in everyday use, even in beta versions.
In terms of compatibility, the good news is that iOS 27 maintains the list of compatible iPhones from iOS 26. That means if you have an iPhone 11, you can rest easy. However, to enjoy Apple Intelligence and the new Siri AI, you'll need an iPhone 15 Pro or later. The public beta has been available since July, and the final version is expected in mid-September, alongside the new iPhone 18.
Siri AI and Apple Intelligence: the revolution that hasn't reached Europe
The star of WWDC was Siri AI. Apple has scrapped the old assistant and rebuilt it from the ground up with the help of Google and its Gemini processors. Now Siri understands personal context, can search your messages, photos, and emails, and hold two-way conversations . It even has a dedicated ChatGPT-style app where you can attach files and view your chat history.
But here's the bad news for EU users. Apple has confirmed that Siri AI won't be available on iOS or iPadOS for European users due to restrictions under the Digital Markets Act. It will arrive on macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27, but iPhone users will have to wait. Meanwhile, Apple Intelligence is evolving with features like Spatial Reframing in photos, Extend for enlarging images, and a Safari that automatically groups tabs.
Parental controls and rumors of new iPhones
Apple has put a lot of effort into protecting children. It has worked with the American Academy of Pediatrics to create new parental controls. Children under 13 will have to ask permission to visit any new website in Safari , and parents will be able to limit app access by category and usage time. Violent or gory content is also blocked in Messages.
And it's not all about software. References to six new devices, the iPhone 18 series, have been found in beta 5. These include the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a rumored iPhone Ultra, which would be Apple's first foldable phone. The iPhone 18, iPhone Air 2, and iPhone 18e also appear. While only the first three are expected to arrive in September, the others are slated for spring. However, a price increase of between $200 and $300 for the Pro models is rumored, a prospect that hasn't gone down well with users.
To top it all off, Apple also released the iOS 26.6.1 beta today, a security patch for those who haven't upgraded to the iOS 27 beta. It's a two-pronged strategy to keep everyone happy while they finish polishing the operating system of the future.
What's clear is that iOS 27 arrives with a solid foundation. Beta 5 demonstrates that Apple has listened to the criticisms about performance and is fine-tuning the system to ensure the September release is as smooth as possible. The EU's shadow still looms over AI, but the other new features, from 5G+ to the new icons, make it worth the wait. If you're on the public beta, you already know that new features are just around the corner; if not, you'll have to be patient until autumn.