Apple rolls out iOS 27 public beta with new Siri AI and expanded non-AI features

Apple has released the iOS 27 public beta, highlighting the addition of Siri AI and a suite of Apple Intelligence capabilities. In addition to the AI features, the update brings several non-AI enhancements.

The Music app’s AutoMix now includes new transitions that are described as more immersive than the version introduced in iOS 26. The Photos app allows iCloud Shared Albums to share full-resolution photos and videos, improving image quality for collaborators.

Users can set a separate volume level for alarms in the Clock app via Settings > Sounds & Haptics, decoupling alarm volume from the ringtone setting. A new extra-large widget size is available for the Home Screen, with full-screen widgets for apps such as Music, Photos, Weather, and Calendar.

The lock screen now permits the Now Playing widget to be dismissed with a swipe, and the clock can be moved to the top widget row to avoid covering the wallpaper. The Photos app also enables saving a specific video frame as a still image without taking a screenshot.

Apple Pay’s checkout flow has been redesigned to simplify switching between payment cards. Landscape orientation support has been added to more apps, including Music, Reminders, and Weather, benefiting users who keep their iPhone docked horizontally.

The Find My app receives a refreshed design and more flexible sharing options, showing more precise location details without additional taps. A built-in paste shortcut now appears above the keyboard after copying content, streamlining copy-and-paste actions across apps.

CarPlay introduces an audio scrubber on the car display, allowing users to skip within songs or podcasts.

"When you copy something to your iPhone’s clipboard in iOS 27, you’ll see a built-in paste shortcut above the keyboard the next text field you go to," the update notes explain.

The article invites readers to share their preferred non-AI features in the comments.