Early testers say Apple's new Siri can translate, write emails and summarize files, but the first test version still drops its connection and uses more battery.
Apple's new Siri can now translate text, write emails, explain computer code and summarize long files. That is the verdict from a week of hands-on testing of the early iOS 27 version by the outlet Phonegram. The assistant is far more capable than the old one, but it is still rough. It sometimes loses its connection to Apple's servers.
Apple showed iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27 at its WWDC 2026 developer conference. The version tested is Beta 1, the first early build, meant for developers and people who can live with bugs.
Beyond those tasks, Siri can keep up an ongoing conversation and draws on more of the user's personal context. The testers called this a significant leap from the old assistant, which they said barely understood what people asked.
Some big pieces are not finished. Siri cannot yet see what is happening on your screen or act as a full helper across different apps. Its look is also still very simple next to rivals such as ChatGPT and Claude.
The iPad Pro, which can have up to 16GB of memory, also got attention. Testers say iPadOS 27 beta 1 finally uses that power. They report stable performance and fixes for Safari tabs closing in the background and the keyboard freezing in blogging platforms.
Power use may rise slightly in the first hours after installing. The system scans and organizes your files to feed its AI. After that, the testers saw no sudden crashes and called it one of the most stable first betas in recent years. The look uses Apple's Liquid Glass design, with sharper icon contrast and adjustable transparency.
A beta is a test version. Anyone who installs it should expect a smarter Siri, some glitches and a bit more battery drain at first. The material does not say when the final versions arrive or which devices will get every feature.
The new Siri looks like a real step up, but Beta 1 is a test build, so expect glitches and extra battery use if you install it early.
Code in an iOS 27.3 beta suggests Apple's HomeView smart display could run AI chatbots such as ChatGPT next to Siri. Nothing is confirmed.
Read more: Apple's smart home screen may soon let you talk to ChatGPTA How-To Geek writer has Claude read his Todoist list each weekday morning and brief him, with read-only access and no changes unless he says yes.
Read more: He set up Claude to read his to-do list and brief him every morningBloomberg reports Apple's CEO is pushing the head of its software team to take bolder steps on AI, which could shape features on your iPhone and Mac.
Read more: Apple's CEO pushes its software chief toward bolder AI plans
