Apple advances iOS 27 beta and teases upcoming iPhone and Mac updates

Apple rolled out the fifth beta of iOS 27 to developers and public testers, introducing revised app icons, adjustments to the Liquid Glass effect and several minor usability enhancements. The update arrives about a month before the scheduled public launch of the new operating system.

A leak purportedly showing a battery pack for a Chinese-market iPhone 18 Pro Max indicates a capacity of 5,391 mAh, roughly 12 % larger than the 4,823 mAh battery used in the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The same source notes that the iPhone 18 Pro will start with 256 GB of storage, and an analyst estimates that component cost increases could raise manufacturing expenses by about 38 %.

Leaker "Ice Universe" posted images of screen protectors for the rumored foldable "iPhone Ultra," revealing asymmetric corners—square on the hinge side and rounded on the opposite edge—consistent with earlier reports of a single-hinge design. The accessories also suggest the device may be offered in silver and dark-blue color options.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is reassessing its Watch lineup, exploring concepts such as a round-display model, a screenless fitness tracker and a potential ceramic case that could return in the near future.

Gurman also reported that Apple is preparing a refreshed base-model MacBook Pro with a 14-inch display powered by an M6 chip, as well as updated 24-inch iMacs equipped with M5 or M6 processors, expected to be announced in October.

Apple confirmed that iPhone users subscribed to iCloud+ plans with at least 2 TB of storage will gain new Home app capabilities in iOS 27, including generated video descriptions for HomeKit Secure Video cameras, searchable camera clips and automatic highlighting of notable footage.