Apple is reportedly eyeing a major hardware shift in 2027. The company is heavily rumored to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by a smartphone chip, alongside its first foldable iPhone. We might also see a different launch cycle for the mainline iPhones, one that splits the typical Fall release cadence.
While those are exciting developments worth keeping an eye on, Apple will be more interested in making a different turnaround focused on software. And in particular, with AI efforts on its mobile devices. That driver of those changes will likely be iOS 27.
So far, reports have predicted a Siri upgrade that finally pushes Apple into the generative AI era, following in the footsteps of Gemini finding a place in all major corners of Android. But iOS 27 will likely be a vehicle for a whole bunch of other tweaks, too.
Bloomberg has predicted that the next big iOS update could follow the same strategy as Mac OS X Snow Leopard all the way back in 2009. That update focused more on refinements and polish instead of flashy new features. That might sound a tad disappointing, but Apple has been brewing a few tricks in the background that could finally bear fruit next year and dramatically change the iPhone experience.
A new way to experience apps
Towards the end of 2025, Apple shed some light on a framework that it released for developers with iOS 26 and its companion updates. Simply put, it’s the secret sauce that allows developers to incorporate AI actions within their apps. Now, we are not talking about integrating third-party AI chatbots. Instead, it’s the AI model that is at the heart of Apple Intelligence and works completely on-device.
“The Foundation Models framework allows developers to create new intelligence features that protect users’ privacy and are available offline, all while using AI inference that is free of cost,” explains Apple. Now, here’s the more promising part.
Apple is reportedly planning to use a custom Gemini framework to boost Siri. And if the current implementation on Android devices is anything to go by, we can expect Siri to handle app actions – without having to open those apps in the first place. Gemini already does it with Google’s own apps and some third-party apps such as WhatsApp.
In Apple’s case, the foundations are already there to play with. The “Use model” function in the Shortcuts app lets users pick between on-device, Apple’s cloud compute, and ChatGPT for AI-powered actions. With the impending Siri overhaul, the assistant will handle cross-app actions on its own.
Moreover, if the new ChatGPT app store and shortcuts in AI browsers are an indication, Siri could become the central action for getting work done across different apps with voice or text prompts. Apple’s smartphones have been ready for such demanding AI actions since the iPhone 15 Pro landed, and iOS 27 could just bring some moonshot ideas to fruition.
Siri redesign
Apple is reportedly eyeing a redesign for the Siri assistant. Right now, the approach is rather haphazard. A long press on the power button summons it, and so does a double-tap on the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen. Visual Intelligence has its own UI activation route.
Gemini on Android has created a comparatively cohesive and uniform experience of interacting with it. Whether it’s voice mode, live chat, or screen-awaress, it can all be triggered within the same core UI experience. It’s unclear exactly how Apple plans to change the current Siri design, but it could use some decluttering for sure.
A good starting point would be expanding Siri’s multi-modal AI capabilities into dedicated widgets, just the way you can position Gemini actions on the iPhone’s lock screen. Siri could also benefit from a system where it can summon apps or specific AI-powered Shortcuts with custom keywords.
Apple Health+
The gamble Apple took on health and wellness with wearables paid off handsomely. And as the tech stack and market matured, it spawned its own subscription service called Fitness+, tagging alongside new sensor capabilities.
With iOS 27, Apple could unfold another chapter with a new service supposedly called Health+.
This one will reportedly be an AI-powered platform that will enable new features such as food logging, coaching, and more. An AI doctor could be the central part of the experience. “The service would be powered by a new AI agent that would replicate — at least to some extent — a real doctor,” reports Bloomberg.
The AI coach will reportedly collect data from Apple wearables and will process it to offer personalized recommendations. The Apple Health+ service will also offer videos featuring sleep, nutrition, physical therapy, mental health, and cardiology experts.
An AI-powered search tool
A system-wide search tool is reportedly on the development slate for iOS, as per Bloomberg. In addition to letting users search through files and other content on their device, the search system will dip into the web for finding answers.
“Apple’s new search experience will include an interface that makes use of text, photos, video and local points of interest, according to the people. It also will offer an AI-powered summarization system designed to make results more quickly digestible and more accurate than what’s offered by the current Siri,” says the report.
The universal Search system should feel familiar to the Spotlight upgrades Apple introduced with macOS Tahoe. And if it can integrate add-ons such as a clipboard and custom actions, the planned AI search system would become the activity hub on iPhones.
A new flavor of app multitasking
Apple’s upcoming foldable iPhone will reportedly introduce a new flavor of iOS that unfolds on a larger screen. Now, it’d be convenient for Apple to simply scale things up and offer a uniform experience across the external display and the inner flexible panel that will resemble an iPad mini.
I believe Apple will take a different route, or at least it should take one. Google has done a remarkable job at optimizing the core OS for foldable phones, while the likes of Samsung and OnePlus have gone a step further at creating their unique multi-app and window management tricks.
Flex Mode on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Canvas on the OnePlus Open are fantastic examples to take some inspiration from. Apple could also imitate DeX and turn the foldable iPhone into its own computing hub, without deviating too much from the core iOS 27 look.
Stage Manager within iPadOS and macOS is a unique idea that Apple can leverage. So far, details about the foldable iPhone’s software have been shrouded in mystery, but it’s almost obvious that Apple will deliver some innovative ideas on how to get the best out of iOS 27 on a screen that is roughly eight inches in size.
