Apple wasted no time moving beyond iOS 27 and macOS 27. Just two days after releasing its major new operating systems, the company began beta testing iOS 27.2 and macOS 27.2 with developers.
No, you didn’t somehow miss beta testing iOS 27.1 and macOS 27.1. Apple made the unusual move of not putting these through public beta testing, and for good reason.
What happened to iOS 27.1?
Your current iPhone might never run iOS 27.1. That’s because Apple is reportedly reserving it for the upcoming iPhone Duo. That version will bring the debut of new software features specifically designed for the foldable’s two-screen design that no single-screen iPhone on the market now can test.
Putting version 27.1 through the normal public beta process seems pointless, so we’re getting the first iOS 27.2 beta now, as it’s aimed at the rest of the iPhone lineup.
There are also no betas named macOS 27.1, iPadOS 27.1, etc., but that’s likely because Apple prefers to synchronize the version numbers for all its operating systems. Releasing iOS 27.2 at the same time as macOS 27.1 would throw off that sync for the next year.
iOS 27.2 beta 1 changes include updated Health app
Apple began seeding iOS 27.2 beta 1 to developers Wednesday, so a complete list of what’s changing is not yet available. But it’s clear it isn’t just a collection of bug fixes. Developers are already turning up some new features, most notably Apple’s redesigned Health app.
Apple previewed the updated Health app earlier this month at the Surprise and Shine event. It brings features such as Apple Intelligence-powered health insights, a new Longevity section and a readiness score.
Cupertino said the redesigned app would arrive before the end of 2026. It might or might not be in the final iOS 27.2 release, even if Apple is testing it now.
More new features
Apple also expanded Siri AI support in iOS 27.2 beta 1. The first version of iOS 27 launched Siri AI in English, with Apple promising additional languages in October. The new beta adds support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish.
Another change already found in the first beta brings the iPhone’s dual-camera capture feature to group FaceTime calls. That lets participants share video from both the front and rear cameras during a group call.
macOS 27.2 is here, too
As mentioned, Mac users didn’t get left behind. Apple also released the first developer beta of macOS 27.2, just two days after macOS 27 Golden Gate became available to everyone.
The full list of changes is not yet available, but it will also almost certainly include additional language support for Siri AI.
There’s also iPadOS 27.2 beta 1, watchOS 27.2 beta 1, tvOS 27.2 beta 1 and visionOS 27.2 beta 1 out now for developers.
Just for developers … for now
These are not public betas — only developers have access to them. If Apple follows its previous practices, the second round of developer betas won’t come for two weeks, at which time the general public will get their turn.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 26 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh SE/30 (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer.
That’s because he’s a “tablet first” type of guy. Rather than use a Macbook, he connects a keyboard case to the iPad. And instead of a desktop Mac, he connects his tablet to a 27-inch display and full-size keyboard. (So don’t try to tell him that everyone has to use a Mac to be productive.)
Before coming to Cult of Mac, Ed wrote for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
