Apple Releases Second Public Betas of iOS 27, macOS Golden Gate, and More

Apple has released the second public betas of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate, watchOS 27, and tvOS 27. The coordinated rollout gives non-developers another opportunity to test the company's next-generation operating systems ahead of their official launch this fall. These builds arrive just over a week after Apple seeded the initial public betas.



The latest public betas continue to showcase the biggest additions in iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, led by Siri AI. Apple's next-generation assistant can handle natural, back-and-forth conversations in a dedicated app, access your personal context, understand what's on your screen, and perform actions across multiple apps. The mobile updates also refine the Liquid Glass interface with a new transparency slider, while Apple says apps launch up to 30 percent faster and nearby AirDrop transfers complete up to 80 percent faster, even on older supported iPhones.


Mac users testing macOS 27 Golden Gate will find the same Siri AI experience integrated into Spotlight, along with Visual Intelligence for analyzing on-screen content. Apple has also refined its Liquid Glass design with improved readability, more uniform toolbars, edge-to-edge sidebars, and less dramatically rounded window corners. Additional enhancements include flexible aspect ratios for iPhone Mirroring. The second public beta shares the same 26A5388g build number as this week's developer release.

The wearable and home platforms are receiving notable updates as well. The watchOS 27 public beta brings Siri AI to the wrist when paired with a compatible iPhone, while Workout Buddy can now provide coaching without requiring a nearby iPhone and treadmill walks and runs are tracked more accurately. On the Apple TV, tvOS 27 introduces a redesigned Podcasts app, Hi-Res Lossless audio and AutoMix transitions in Apple Music, along with faster AirPlay connections. Apple also released the second public beta of HomePod Software 27 alongside today's updates.

Anyone interested in testing the updates can enroll a compatible device through the Apple Beta Software Program. Once enrolled, the public betas are available through Software Update in Settings on supported devices. Because beta software may contain bugs, Apple recommends installing it on a secondary device or creating a backup before upgrading.