Apple released the second public betas of watchOS 27 and tvOS 27 this week, allowing non-developers to test the upcoming features ahead of their official launch this fall. HomePod Software 27 is also available in beta for HomePod and HomePod mini owners.
The most consequential change in watchOS 27 is how Siri works on your wrist. Apple has rebuilt Siri around its new AI layer, allowing the assistant to pull from your personal information and handle multi-step tasks without you having to reach for your iPhone.
A dedicated Siri app now sits prominently in the updated app grid, which appears when you press the Digital Crown.
For Apple Watch users who have grown accustomed to Siri fumbling basic requests, the practical gap between what you ask and what actually happens is noticeably smaller in testing.
Workouts and Navigation Without Your Phone
Workout Buddy, which Apple introduced to guide users through exercise sessions, no longer requires an iPhone to be in range.
Treadmill run and walk distances are also tracked more accurately, a persistent complaint among users who found the watch’s indoor estimates unreliable.
Apple has also consolidated its Find My tools into a single app on the watch, with Precision Finding support included, so locating a lost AirTag or device works directly from your wrist.
The Smart Stack on watchOS 27 adds a new gesture for selecting widgets. Apple has also added contextual suggestions for three common situations: locating a parked car, surfacing a transit card at a fare gate, and delivering a birthday reminder with enough lead time to actually act on it.
The watchOS Smart Stack adds a new selection gesture alongside three fresh contextual triggers: parked car locations, transit cards at fare gates, and upcoming birthday alerts.
What Changes on Your Apple TV
tvOS 27 brings a redesigned Podcasts app and adds Hi-Res Lossless audio to Apple Music for users with compatible equipment.
Apple Music on Apple TV also gains AutoMix, which blends song transitions the way a DJ would, rather than cutting abruptly between tracks.
Switching between profiles on a shared Apple TV is easier, which matters in households where multiple people have different viewing histories and recommendations.
Apple also pushed general performance improvements into tvOS 27. Apps open faster, animations run more smoothly, and AirPlay connections from an iPhone or iPad establish more quickly.
For anyone who has watched their Apple TV sit on a loading spinner while guests are waiting, that last improvement is the one likely to get the most use.
Both betas are available now through Apple’s public beta program at beta.apple.com. Enrollment is free, and once signed up, the updates install through the Settings app on each device.
Apple is expected to release the final versions of watchOS 27 and tvOS 27 this fall alongside its broader software lineup.
