Beta testing for iOS 27.3, macOS 27.3 and more began on Tuesday, and a highlight is Apple allowing all developers to experiment with connecting their apps to its much more capable Siri AI. This has the potential to revolutionize the iPhone.
Beyond that, the betas bring a collection of other new features to the iPhone, Apple Watch and other devices. The update includes support for two new AI-powered features that let the latest Apple Watch models listen to nearby conversations. And Apple’s redesigned Health app returns to iPhone.
Just be aware, with the betas so new, many of the features in these upcoming OS upgrades are still being found.
iOS 27.3 just took its first step into a wider world
iOS 27.2 reached customers on October 26, but Apple never takes a break on developing new versions. It’s already hard at work on the next round of OS upgrades, and began beta testing iOS 27.3, macOS 27.3, iPadOS 27.3, watchOS 27.3 and more on November 3.
While Apple announced third-party developer access to Siri AI, the company never releases a full list of all the new features they should be looking for in its betas, so these have to be discovered piecemeal.
Still, many of the biggest changes are already known.
Siri AI opens up to third-party apps
Starting Tuesday, Apple now allows all developers to connect their apps to its much more capable Siri AI, opening the door to new ways of getting things done by simply asking the iPhone for help.
“Today’s preview allows any app to bring its content and actions directly into Siri AI by using App Intents, making it easier for all apps to tap into Siri AI’s newest capabilities, including personal context understanding, onscreen awareness, natural language and more,” said Apple.
With Siri AI, users will be able to make everyday requests in natural language, such as checking a delivery, booking a reservation or placing an order, without opening an app. Developers can also teach Siri to combine several actions to handle more complicated requests.
Cupertino has been talking this up since WWDC26 in June, and it’s finally happening.
The new capabilities are available for testing in the iOS 27.3 and other operating system betas, with apps expected to begin reaching customers in 2027. Submissions to the App Store using the new capabilities doPUBLP up until spring.
New Apple Watch models get AI-powered conversation listening
Apple announced two new Audio Intelligence features for the latest Apple Watch models back in September, but they are only now finally moving toward release with the watchOS 27.3 beta introduced on Tuesday.
Live Rewind lets users recover something they might have missed. Double-pressing the Digital Crown displays a text transcription of the previous 15 seconds of detected audio.
Siri Recap takes a broader approach. It uses AI to generate a summary of conversations, complete with a title and key points.
Both have significant privacy protections built in, and depend on a hardware-isolated Secure Exclave in the new S11 processor in the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. That’s why these Audio Intelligence features work only on those two models.
Redesigned Health app returns
Photo: Apple
The iOS 27.3 beta also brings back Apple’s redesigned Health app. The company previewed the new software earlier this year, but pulled it from later iOS 27.2 betas before the update reached the public.
After the revamp, the app adds a new Insights tab with personalized health recommendations and summaries covering areas such as heart health, sleep and fitness. It also introduces a Longevity section with a Health Age estimate based on key health measurements, plus at-home assessments of flexibility, strength and balance using the iPhone camera and Apple Watch.
Apple Intelligence finally makes it to China
iOS 27.3 is a milestone in Apple’s effort to bring Apple Intelligence to iPhone owners in China. But it’s not Siri AI.
The update enables tools the rest of the world has been using for years: Writing Tools, Genmoji, Clean Up, Notification Summaries, Priority Notifications, Visual Intelligence, and Live Translation with AirPods.
When will iOS 27.3 arrive?
Apple’s first iOS 27.3 beta is available to registered developers through Software Update in Settings. The company is also testing iPadOS 27.3, macOS 27.3, watchOS 27.3, tvOS 27.3 and visionOS 27.3.
A public beta should follow the developer release, giving ordinary iPhone owners an opportunity to try the new features before the final versions arrive.
Apple says iOS 27.3 will reach the public in December.
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.
