CUPERTINO, Calif., Feb 10, 2026, 01:13 (PST)
- iOS 27 will focus mainly on improving performance and squashing bugs, featuring just minor design changes.
- Apple is expected to spotlight a chatbot-style Siri as its flagship AI feature
- Reports indicate Apple plans to stick with its Liquid Glass design, opting to refine it instead of switching to something new
Apple’s upcoming iOS 27 update is reportedly focusing on fixing bugs and boosting performance, not rolling out flashy new features, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his Power On newsletter. He predicts this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will be quieter, with a chatbot-style Siri still the standout announcement. Gurman also mentioned a developer beta for iOS 26.4 should drop around the week of Feb. 23. As for WWDC, he expects it to land in early to mid-June. (MacRumors)
The shift matters because iOS 26’s major visual overhaul, dubbed “Liquid Glass,” didn’t land with everyone. Some users found the translucent style tough to read, prompting Apple to add options for dialing back the most intense effects, according to reports. (Macworld)
Apple is also pushing to reposition Siri as a cutting-edge AI assistant. The company aims to transform Siri into an AI chatbot, internally called “Campos,” and has secured a deal to integrate Google’s Gemini models for this upgrade, Reuters reported earlier. This move comes as Apple tries to gain ground following the cool response to its “Apple Intelligence” launch in 2024. (Reuters)
Not everyone agrees with Apple hitting pause on new features. A 9to5Mac poll this week asked readers if iOS 27 should prioritize reliability over flashy updates, reflecting Gurman’s take that Apple plans to use this cycle to clean up old code, fix bugs, and refine the interface. (9to5Mac)
The design debate is far from over. According to a report from The Mac Observer, Apple probably won’t ditch Liquid Glass in iOS 27 despite the ongoing criticism. Instead, the company is expected to keep the look and focus on refining it rather than starting from scratch. (The Mac Observer)
Apple introduced Liquid Glass as a versatile material designed to bring controls and navigation to life, all while keeping the focus on content. “At Apple, we’ve always believed in the deep integration of hardware and software,” said Alan Dye, then the company’s vice president of Human Interface Design, when unveiling the design last year. (Apple)
The recurring “Snow Leopard” comparison sums up a maintenance-heavy release — Apple’s 2009 Mac update that prioritized stability and speed over flashy new features. Such cycles often go unnoticed when smooth but can be painful if they stumble.
Apple faces a tough challenge: balancing a major quality boost with the rollout of complex new AI features. If the Siri update ends up delayed or disappointing, iOS 27 could feel sparse—despite any speed improvements.
Apple usually unveils iOS at WWDC and releases the update in the fall. If iOS 27 is truly focused on cleanup, developers will be hunting for the dull but important improvements — fewer crashes, fewer regressions, improved battery life — rather than flashy new features.
Apple’s interface team is undergoing changes. Late last year, Meta brought on Alan Dye, Apple’s longtime head of human interface design. CEO Tim Cook noted that Dye’s successor, Steve Lemay, “played a key role in the design of every major Apple interface since 1999.” (Reuters)
Right now, reports suggest iOS 27 aims for a tonal reset: hold onto the familiar design, polish the quirks, and update Siri to feel modern. Apple’s real test will be turning these “refinements” into changes users actually notice every day, not just bullet points in a presentation.
