All of Apple’s products introduced at last week’s event with the exception of the iPhone Duo are now available, with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, and AirPods 5 all launching on Friday.
While new hardware is always a welcome arrival, users of existing hardware also got big upgrades this week with the releases of iOS 27, macOS Golden Gate and more. Apple is also already looking ahead to iOS 27.1 that will ship with the iPhone Duo next month and iOS 27.2 that will see the first significant round of improvements to iOS 27 for all users, so read on below for all of details on these stories and more!
Top Stories
Apple Releases iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 With Siri AI and Liquid Glass Update
Following last week’s big iPhone event, this week saw the traditional public release of Apple’s new major operating system updates, headlined by iOS 27 and iPadOS 27.
iOS 27 brings new Siri AI capabilities to users in many countries around the world, as well as a variety of other new features and improvements. For a quick introduction to iOS 27, check out our list of 10 features to try first, and when you’re ready for more, move on to our look at 50 new things your iPhone can do in iOS 27.
And for the most thorough look at what’s new, our iOS 27 Ultimate Mega Guide links to all of the feature coverage we’ve been putting together for the release.
macOS Golden Gate Now Available With Siri AI, Visual Intelligence and More
On the Mac side, this week saw the release of macOS Golden Gate 27. The update introduces Siri AI, a smarter chatbot version of Siri with a dedicated Siri app. It also brings Visual Intelligence to the Mac for the first time, and tweaks the look of the Liquid Glass design update Apple introduced last year.
For a quick overview of what’s new in macOS Golden Gate, be sure to check out our list of 10 features to try first, including Siri AI, easier creation of Shortcuts and Safari Extensions, performance improvements, and more, and then move on to our guide to 50 new features and changes for a more in-depth look.
Apple Says iPhone 18 Pro Max Sold in U.S. Differs in One Way
Following last week’s introduction of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, there was some confusion over the cellular modems included in the devices, with it appearing that Apple’s own C2 modem was only included in the iPhone 18 Pro.
Apple later updated its spec pages for the new models around the world, making it clear that the C2 is included in both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in every country around the world EXCEPT for the iPhone 18 Pro Max in the United States. That device continues to use the Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 modem from the iPhone 17 Pro models, but Apple has yet to explain the reason for this difference.
Reminder: iOS 27’s All-New Siri AI Has a Waitlist, Here’s How to Sign Up
If you recently installed iOS 27 on your iPhone, you might be wondering where the new-and-improved Siri AI and dedicated Siri app are. In case you missed it, you must join Apple’s waitlist in order to gain access to these new features.
Keep in mind that while iOS 27 is compatible with the iPhone 11 and newer, Siri AI is limited to the iPhone 15 Pro and newer. It is also not currently available at all in EU countries due to Apple’s regulatory battle with the European Commission over Digital Markets Act requirements.
For those who are eligible for Siri AI, joining the waitlist is a simple process in the Settings app. Once on the list, wait times seem to vary, with some users receiving access to Siri AI within a few minutes of signing up and others having to wait a few hours or even days.
Apple Releases First iOS 27.2 Beta
With iOS 27.0 out the door, Apple this week seeded the first beta of iOS 27.2 and related updates to developers for testing purposes. Yes, that’s right…iOS 27.2, not 27.1.
The biggest change in the first iOS 27.2 beta is the revamped Health app that Apple showed off at last week’s iPhone event, although Apple says it won’t be included in the public release of the update, so the general public will need to wait a bit longer for it to be available. For more, check out our full list of everything new in the first beta of iOS 27.2.
iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries
Apple this week announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries.
In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade “at no additional cost,” while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people.
The initiative does not include the U.S., Canada, Australia, nor is it offered in the UK and other European markets, but it is clearly more than a promotional offer, since Apple TV and Apple Arcade will stop being sold as individual subscriptions through Apple in countries where it has launched.
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