4 New Features to Watch in the iOS 27 Beta

The iOS 27 developer beta, unveiled during the WWDC 2026 keynote, is already drawing attention. The Verge reporter Jay Peters tested the beta on an iPhone 16 Pro and reports that while he looks forward to the new Siri AI features, he also discovered numerous improvements outside of AI.

At this year’s WWDC, Apple announced the full rollout of Apple Intelligence and a revamped Siri. However, according to Peters, Siri AI is still on Apple’s waitlist and not immediately available for testing. Meanwhile, the adjustments and new features applied to the OS details, while not matching past major updates, demonstrate a high level of polish.

Below are details of the four features Peters particularly appreciated.

Liquid Glass Transparency Adjustment

The “Liquid Glass” design introduced in iOS 26 applies a translucent glass texture to UI elements like tab bars and search bars. In iOS 27, however, a slider has been added that allows users to adjust this transparency themselves. By moving the slider, you can seamlessly switch from a “glassy” state that shows more of the underlying content to a “frosty” state that prioritizes readability. Peters describes the slider as “something that should have been there from the start.” The ability to individually balance visibility and design aesthetics is a welcome change for professional users.

App Icon Design Refinements

With the Liquid Glass redesign in iOS 26, many standard app icons were overhauled. In iOS 27, further design tweaks have been applied, including subtle color adjustments and enhanced glass textures. Peters notes that “the changes are subtle, but the overall appearance is significantly more refined.” The icon design changes not only improve OS consistency but also seem to aim for harmony with third-party apps. Though still in beta, Apple’s continued fine-tuning of icons is commendable.

Independent Volume Controls

Finally, on iOS, you can now independently set the volume for ringtones, alarms/timers, and notifications/system sounds. Previously, all volumes were linked, causing the inconvenience of alarms making ringtones louder. By turning off the relevant toggle in Settings > Sounds & Haptics, each volume can be adjusted individually. This feature has been requested by users for years and is welcomed as a fundamental usability improvement.

Mega Widgets Arrive

iOS 27 adds mega widgets that occupy an entire page of the home screen. Peters stated, “I don’t usually use widgets, but I couldn’t help trying this one.” Widgets with lots of information, such as calendar, weather, and stocks, greatly improve visibility in full-screen mode. Mega widgets bring a new level of freedom to home screen customization. They are particularly valuable for business users who want to manage schedules on a single screen.

This iOS 27 beta can be seen as a “quality improvement” update that takes a step forward from last year’s major design overhaul. Even though flagship features like Siri AI are not yet testable, the steady progress in fine UI adjustments and usability improvements reflects Apple’s product philosophy.

Editorial Opinion

Short-term impact: The iOS 27 beta introduces new requirements for developers to optimize app UIs. Adapting to Liquid Glass transparency adjustments and mega widgets will affect app display design. Additionally, since the independent volume settings change the traditional sound management logic, testing loads for accessibility-related apps may temporarily increase. Over a 3-6 month span, as best practices for app design based on these new features are established, information exchange among third-party developers is expected to become more active.

Long-term perspective: This update shows that Apple has moved from a major visual overhaul (iOS 26) into a phase of deepening usability. Over a 1-3 year span, these continuous improvements in details will lift the overall quality of the iOS ecosystem and serve as a differentiator from other platforms. For enterprise users in particular, improved UI customization directly ties to operational efficiency, potentially strengthening Apple’s presence in the business market.

Question from the Editorial Team: Apple announced a major Siri AI overhaul, but it is not yet testable in the beta. As the full rollout of AI features is delayed, how much value users place on “non-AI UI improvements” is up to them. iOS 27 re-raises the question of how much weight should be given to basic OS quality amid the AI bubble. Our readers, which would you prioritize: AI features or UI/UX quality?

References

• 5 things I already love from the iOS 27 beta - The Verge — Published June 8, 2026
• Apple WWDC 2026 Keynote (official)