Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) kicks off later today, and this year's edition could be one of the most consequential in recent memory. The company is widely expected to signal a new direction for the software powering its entire device lineup — iOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, macOS 27, and visionOS 27 are expected to be on the cards, with Apple Intelligence poised for a significant step forward. Whatever Apple unveils, the features themselves are unlikely to reach consumers until later in the year, arriving alongside new iPhones and watches. As ever, some of what gets announced may change, or be held back, before the final release.
A smarter Siri and a new vision for the iPhone
This year's iOS update feels different from the cosmetic redesign of last year — these changes could fundamentally alter how you use your iPhone from day to day. And if the persistent rumours about a foldable iPhone prove true, the stakes get even higher. A so-called iPhone Fold is said to feature a 5.5-inch display when closed, expanding to a 7.8-inch iPad-like canvas when opened. That larger screen would support split-screen multitasking with two apps running side by side, and many of Apple's own apps are expected to gain sidebars to take advantage of the extra real estate. Battery efficiency, naturally, would be a key focus. iOS 27 is expected to be compatible with the iPhone SE (3rd generation) and iPhone 12 onwards, right up to the iPhone 17e.
Apple Intelligence grows up
When Apple introduced Apple Intelligence with iOS 18, it felt like a tentative first step. Two years on, the company appears ready to take a much bigger leap — think of it as Apple Intelligence 2.0. Visual Intelligence looks set to sit at the heart of the update, extending its reach into Photos, Camera, Notes, and beyond. AI-powered Shortcuts could also become far more accessible: the Shortcuts app has always been capable, but building automations has never been particularly simple. That may be about to change, with Apple expected to make the process considerably more intuitive.
Siri, meanwhile, is in line for perhaps its most meaningful upgrade in years. Rather than remaining a closed ecosystem, Siri could open up to third-party AI models — acting as the interface whilst letting another model do the heavy lifting under the hood. Apple is already known to be working with Google on a custom AI model built in collaboration with the Gemini team, which may power a Siri chatbot feature. Privacy, Apple insists, will not be compromised in the process.
Personal context is another area expected to see real progress. Siri may gain the ability to learn from your emails, messages, files, and photos over time — building a richer picture of your life so it can help you manage tasks and surface information before you even think to ask.
Accessibility at the centre
Some of the most compelling changes could come in the accessibility space, and they hint at the broader direction Apple is heading. Users who are blind or have low vision will be able to point their iPhone's camera at a sign or scene and have VoiceOver describe it in detail — not by pulling information from the internet, but entirely on-device. The same logic applies to captions: if a video does not have subtitles, on-device AI will generate them automatically.
Voice Control is set to become significantly more natural, allowing users with physical disabilities to navigate iPhone and iPad entirely by voice using plain language rather than memorised commands. Accessibility Reader promises a customisable reading experience for users with dyslexia, low vision, and other conditions, with built-in translation that preserves the original formatting, fonts, and colours. Vision Pro users may also gain the ability to control their wheelchairs directly through the headset.
Much of this, of course, remains speculative until Apple takes to the stage. But the direction of travel is clear — and it looks rather exciting.
