Video summary

iOS 27 Beta 3 Released - What's New?

Main summary

Key takeaways

Technology

Summary of iOS 27 Beta 3 (What’s new, changes, issues, and performance)

Release scope + update size

  • iOS 27 beta 3 was released to registered developers about 2 weeks after beta 2.
  • It was also released for other Apple platforms:
    • iPadOS 27
    • watchOS 27
    • macOS 27 “Golden Gate”
    • tvOS
    • HomePod 27
    • visionOS 27 (beta 3)
  • Update size was reported as ~15.6 GB on the speaker’s iPhone 17 Pro Max, noted as download size (not necessarily permanent storage loss).

Build + modem changes (connectivity)

  • New iOS build number: 24A5380H
  • Modem firmware for iPhone 17 series: 2.09.00
  • Claimed benefit: possible fixes for modem / cellular connectivity issues.

Key feature and UI changes

1) App icon updates (visual/iconography)

  • Reminders icon: reminder indicator circles changed from filled to outline.
  • Feedback icon: changed from a more gradient look to a simpler white bubble + exclamation.
  • Clear (Liquid Glass) icons: described as fixed/refined, with:
    • less “over-sharpening”
    • fewer/diminished black borders
    • cleaner rendering Examples referenced: Camera and Photos icons.

2) Control Center / status indicators

  • Control Center status bar now shows both 5G + Wi‑Fi together (previously it would show one or the other depending on settings).
  • Connectivity Assist is suggested as a related change (uses cell data in addition to Wi‑Fi for reliability).
  • Control Center “add control” behavior:
    • Control Center app icons now match the current Home screen icon style (e.g., Clear icons).
    • The Search control appears more opaque/whiter.
    • A new Accessibility control was added: “Show borders” (to display borders around icons/UI for better visibility with liquid glass).

3) Lock screen / notification center immersion (possible bug)

  • When pulling down notification center:
    • Beta 2: lock screen image displayed normally.
    • Beta 3: shows an outline/subject cutout (the speaker’s photo), more apparent as you pull down.
  • Similar cutout effects may appear in apps when pulling down.
  • The speaker suspects this might be a bug, potentially depending on whether notification “bubbles” are present.

4) Search/Siri indexing behavior

  • Beta 1: long indexing (could take ~2 weeks).
  • Beta 2: indexing popup may not have appeared for many.
  • Beta 3: indexing messaging appears under Settings → Optimizing Search and Siri, stating:
    • indexing improves search using recent data and can take time
    • longer charging sessions help speed it up
  • Expected behavior: likely no ongoing battery/usage impact after the initial period.

5) Siri orb / Siri-related visual changes

  • Siri orb (“Siri bubble/orb”): beta 3 adds a colorful rainbow-like reflection/leak beneath the orb.
  • Siri settings changes:
    • Siri app icon label now shows “Siri” with a beta badge embedded (no longer “Siri AI (beta)” in the same way).
  • Expressive voices preview:
    • No longer grayed out (was previously inaccessible)
    • Enables customization of pace and expressivity
    • Currently available only for the American voice (other voices/accents still limited)
    • Customization appears available for both voice variants (example shown: female and male)

6) Accessibility + liquid glass readability tweaks

  • Lock screen shortcut icons and customization buttons:
    • increased white/opacity behind controls for improved readability (even with liquid glass minimized)
    • Cancel/Done buttons appear with more visible backing
  • An additional small UI animation behavior difference is noted when changing settings/customization.

7) Keyboard paste behavior (small but notable)

  • Clipboard paste UI updated:
    • beta 3 shows paste option text (for “Paste from Messages”) with different emphasis.
  • Mentioned bug: paste candidates may show generic “item” instead of specific content (speaker suggests it’s temporary).

App-specific changes

Music

  • Search tab becomes persistent at the top instead of disappearing.
  • Now Playing screen cleanup:
    • removal of backdrop behind favorites and the three dots buttons

Shortcuts

  • “Create new shortcut” UI changes:
    • from a blue “plus/new shortcut” button to a center liquid glass circular button with a plus and no text
  • Editor/create flow changes:
    • “Edit” button labeling changes (top-right)
    • “Describe a shortcut” text loses trailing ellipsis
    • options are no longer disabled (e.g., duplicate/share/etc. may be available even if empty)
    • icon selection changes: adds an X in the upper-left to clarify dismissal/clearing
  • Natural-language description behavior:
    • improved formatting and different response variety vs earlier betas
  • New option in Shortcut settings:
    • “Open shortcuts 2”, which can default to opening either:
      • a “describe” flow, or
      • the original editor flow (more “pro” building method)
  • New restore option:
    • “Restore 4 shortcuts on this device aren’t currently in your library.”

Camera / related Siri requirement

  • Siri tab restrictions:
    • If the new Siri feature isn’t enabled, camera Siri mode may block access (requires “new Siri”).

Photos

  • “Extend” tool UI:
    • beta 3 shows the extend button immediately
    • changes where the “extend” label appears (no extra scrolling/moving required before it becomes visible)
  • New nutrition interaction:
    • “Look up nutrition” glyph updated from search icon to a fork-and-knife icon
    • triggers nutritional data lookup

Messages in iCloud

  • Earlier iCloud message sync issues are described as fixed in beta 3.

Home (Apple TV update from iPhone)

  • Works more reliably in beta 3:
    • Apple TV “update available” can be initiated from Home
    • “Updated recently” shows recently updated Apple TV without needing manual TV navigation

Wallet

  • Insights removed:
    • Speaker notes Wallet “Insights” is gone in beta 3
    • It was present in beta 2 but didn’t work properly in the US for them
    • Speaker speculates it may return later, but it’s missing in beta 3

Splash screens / system visuals noted

  • New splash screens referenced:
    • Find My (flexible location sharing, Apple Watch related redesign/location improvements)
    • Apple TV (MLS included + F1 on Apple TV messaging)
  • macOS 27 beta 3 includes new Golden Gate Bridge wallpapers/screen savers.

Known issues from release notes (highlighted)

  • Files: deleting from Recently Deleted may fail or be slow.
  • Keyboard: unlocalized text may appear for paste candidates; suggested workaround is to reboot (linked to seeing strings like the “item” placeholder/unexpected code-like text).
  • Status bar: may appear blurred while apps are foregrounded.
  • The speaker also mentions additional issues beyond these.

Performance + battery review (early impressions)

  • Performance: excellent, no lag/random issues after a few hours.
  • Geekbench test:
    • higher scores than the previous beta in both single-core and multi-core
  • Battery:
    • 100% → 97% after ~50 minutes of heavy use/features
    • Speaker suggests battery may be better than beta 2, with the caveat that it’s still a beta.

Update timeline expectations

  • Public beta expected around July 13 (week of July 13).
  • iOS 27 beta 4 (developer beta + public beta) expected around July 20.
  • Final release expected mid/late September (typical second-half September timing with new iPhone launch).

Main speaker/source

  • Brandon (YouTube video host / reviewer).

Original video