Apple released the iOS 27 public beta with a new Siri built on Gemini

Siri now holds context, reads the screen, and accesses Mail and Calendar — built jointly with Google on Gemini. Wedbush and JPMorgan predict an upgrade supercycle: 66% of active iPhones are still on iOS 26.

Author: Michael Kokin ·

What reviewers are saying

9to5Mac calls it a solid upgrade over iOS 26. Tom's Guide frames it as revenge for last year's lag in the AI race. And WSJ's Joanna Stern wrote that for the first time in years, the beta looks stable enough to install on day one.

What the new Siri can do

The new Siri holds conversational context and understands follow-ups without you having to repeat yourself. It sees what's on screen, can pull from your personal data (Mail, Messages, Calendar), and handles multi-step tasks across different apps in one shot. There's now a standalone app with chat history, like ChatGPT. The model was built with Google, on Gemini technology.

Upgrade supercycle

Analysts at Wedbush and JPMorgan think this could kick off an upgrade supercycle. 66% of active iPhones are still on iOS 26, and the most advanced AI features are only available on newer devices — so some users will have to upgrade. Wedbush has a $400 price target on AAPL.

How to install

You can install the new iOS through beta.apple.com — register your Apple ID in the Beta Software Program, then on your iPhone: Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates > iOS 27 Public Beta. Back up first. For the new Siri AI, you need to separately join a waitlist: Settings > Siri > Try New Siri > Join Waitlist. Requires iPhone 15 Pro or newer.