Apple has released the first public betas of iOS 27.3 and macOS Golden Gate 27.3, giving iPhone and Mac users an early look at several features expected to arrive in December.
The updates introduce expanded Siri AI capabilities, a redesigned Health app, and two new Safari features, alongside improvements to Apple Music and other built-in apps.
Public testing begins just two days after Apple distributed the initial developer betas.
Safari Gets Vertical Tabs and Adaptive Dark Mode
Safari is receiving two notable improvements across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
The first is vertical tabs, giving users another way to organize and navigate their open webpages instead of relying entirely on the traditional horizontal tab layout.
Apple is also introducing Adaptive Dark Mode, which adjusts how webpages appear in darker environments without simply inverting their colors.
Both features are available for testing in iOS 27.3, iPadOS 27.3, and macOS Golden Gate 27.3.
Mac users also gain native Live Activities, bringing real-time information to the menu bar even on models without a Dynamic Island.
Health Gets a Redesign as Siri AI Expands
The Health app is getting a refreshed interface with new Insights and Longevity information.
Apple hasn’t fully explained which health measurements contribute to those features, but the changes are designed to make personal health information easier to explore.
Meanwhile, Siri AI can now perform more actions across Apple’s built-in apps, expanding what users can accomplish through voice commands.
Developers can also create custom Siri actions for their own apps, opening the door to more third-party integrations.
The update also includes several smaller improvements.
- iPhone Duo Reachability: Apple’s foldable iPhone gains the familiar one-handed feature that shifts onscreen content downward.
- Apple Music Selfie Sing: A new feature expands the music experience with selfie-based participation.
- StandBy customization: Additional options are coming to supported iPhones beyond the Duo.
These features remain in testing and could change before the final release.
Apple Watch Gets Two Audio Intelligence Features
Apple is also testing new capabilities for Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 owners.
Live Rewind can produce a transcript of the previous 15 seconds of speech, while Siri Recap is designed to summarize conversations captured throughout the day.
Both features are part of Apple’s broader effort to make Siri AI more useful across its devices.
How to Install the iOS 27.3 Public Beta
Anyone interested in testing the updates can enroll through Apple’s public beta program.
- Visit beta.apple.com and sign in with your Apple Account.
- Enroll your eligible device in the public beta program.
- Open Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone or iPad.
- Select Beta Updates, choose the public beta, and return to Software Update to install it.
On a Mac, the corresponding controls are under System Settings > General > Software Update.
Public betas are also available for iPadOS 27.3, watchOS 27.3, and tvOS 27.3.
Because these are unfinished software releases, bugs, battery drain, and compatibility problems are possible. Installing them on a secondary device is generally the safer option.
Apple is expected to release the finished updates in December, although an exact date hasn’t been announced.
