Apple is set to release iOS 27, focusing on deep artificial intelligence integration and significant under-the-hood improvements for better performance and battery life, as reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
The strategy mirrors the approach taken with Mac OS X Snow Leopard in 2009, prioritizing stability and optimization over new features. This move comes after iOS 26 introduced the “Liquid Glass” design, causing noticeable performance degradation, particularly on older iPhone models. To address this, Apple intends to clean up the operating system by removing legacy code, rewriting features, and subtly upgrading applications to improve efficiency. These foundational changes are expected to make the operating system feel lighter and more responsive. Gurman notes that some user interface tweaks will likely be included to specifically address the performance issues introduced by the Liquid Glass design.
These optimization efforts are projected to result in improved battery life for compatible devices. Apple’s last major initiative to enhance iPhone performance and battery efficiency was with iOS 12 in 2018.
In addition to system cleanup, Apple will reportedly focus on delivering a more cohesive AI experience. This includes deeper AI integration across the operating system and the development of a more conversational, chatbot-style Siri. Apple has faced delays and criticism regarding its AI feature rollout. iOS 27 represents a significant opportunity for the company to reset expectations and compete more aggressively in the AI sector.
