In just about a week, Apple will unveil its new slate of operating systems at the WWDC 26 keynote. As usual, iOS will take center stage, with a raft of new features and functionality that set the tone for the next 12 months.
We’ve heard for a while that this year’s release will be more of a “maintenance” update, fixing the issues with Liquid Glass and ironing out the many wrinkles throughout the system. While I’m sure there will be plenty of this throughout iOS 27, the recent round of rumors suggests Apple is going to fix iOS 26 in a completely different way: by adding a level of fluidity just below Liquid Glass.
Last week, Mark Gurman offered the best look yet at the new Apple/Gemini Intelligence-powered Siri, including illustrations of the new interface. According to the report, Siri will now live in the Dynamic Island, and users will be able to “swipe down from the top center of the iPhone anywhere in the system” to start a chat session with Siri.
That implies that Apple expects users to not only interact with Siri far more often, but also treat the chatbot as a part of the phone rather than just another feature built into iOS. We haven’t seen the way the whole thing works yet, but we already know the new Siri will be far more capable. Now it seems that users will flow in and out of Siri like the Home Screen or Control Center.
It doesn’t stop at Siri. According to rumors, several features will make their debut in iOS 27 that extend the capabilities of Apple’s AI system beyond apps and menus:
- Writing Tools: Gurman says Apple’s system will be more capable and discoverable.
- Shortcuts: Users will reportedly be able to use plain language to create actions.
- Camera: A new “Siri” mode could bring Visual Intelligence to a more prominent location.
- Voice Control: iPhone users will be able to use natural language to interact with folders and files.
- Plus: All of the features we’re still waiting for from iOS 18: app intents, on-screen awareness, and personalized context.
Add it all up, and you have Phase 2 of Liquid Glass: Fluid space (bear with me, it’s a working name). If Liquid Glass is the topmost layer of iOS, then Apple Intelligence in iOS 27 will be the fluid substrate just under the surface, conducting your actions with as little direct user input as possible.
The biggest problem with Apple Intelligence now isn’t that it’s unfinished. It’s that the parts we have require direct user input and often produce disappointing results. Ultimately, the effort just isn’t worth it. But the AI bits that do work quietly—things like summaries, adaptive power, and order tracking—offer a seamless, frictionless experience that actually delivers on the promise of AI. Now Siri and iOS 27 can take it to the next level.
Where Liquid Glass delivered a new look for the iPhone, iOS 27 has the chance to deliver a fluid layer that flows exactly where and when we need it.
Foundry
Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but it’s cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too.
Trending: Top stories
iPhone 18 Pro is coming soon. Don’t buy one until you read this.
Apple’s new icons are so befuddling there’s an official guide to help explain them.
Apple teased an iOS 27 feature so exciting, I need it right now.
I switched to a 4-year-old iPhone and cured myself of the upgrade bug.
WWDC 2026: The year of the do-over.
5 easy tweaks to turn your distracting Apple Watch into a quiet fitness tracker.
Podcast of the week
In part 1 of our preview of Apple WWDC26, we talk about what we could see in macOS 27 as well as any possible Mac releases. Tune in to the show to find out more!
You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site.
Reviews corner
The rumor mill
Latest iOS 27 rumor brings hope for an overdue Settings app revamp.
Upcoming iPhone feature could kick in the moment your phone is swiped.
Massive iOS 27 leak shows off Apple’s new Siri app, Camera, Dynamic Island takeover.
iOS 27 leak: Camera app to get new AI powers, customizable UI.
Software updates, bugs, and problems
Typed the wrong macOS password? That brief pause isn’t a glitch.
The first iOS 26.6 beta is here, but good luck finding anything new.
And with that, we’re done for this week’s Apple Breakfast. If you’d like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters, including our new email from The Macalope–an irreverent, humorous take on the latest news and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can also follow us on Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, or X for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.
