Apple Releases 6th Public Betas for iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate as RC Nears

Q: Will the highly anticipated Siri AI upgrades in watchOS 27 force millions to buy a new iPhone?

No. The Siri AI upgrade in watchOS 27 will not force millions to buy a new iPhone, but it will leave many users without the headline feature unless they already have newer hardware. Apple’s own requirements are the key constraint. Siri AI on Apple Watch needs both a compatible watch and an Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone nearby. On the phone side, that means an iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, any iPhone 16 model, or later. A user with an older iPhone such as an iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, or standard 15 can still run iOS 27 in many cases, and can still use watchOS 27 on supported watches, but will not get Siri AI on the watch. On the watch side, support is narrower than usual. watchOS 27 works on Apple Watch Series 9 and later, Ultra 2 and later, and SE 3. Apple has confirmed Series 9 is supported after earlier confusion. That means owners of Series 6, 7, 8, the original Ultra, and SE 2 are cut off from watchOS 27 entirely, regardless of iPhone. So the practical effect is mixed. Users with a supported watch but an older iPhone would need a new iPhone to access Siri AI. Users with an older watch would need a new watch, not necessarily a new phone. And users in the EU and China will not get Siri AI at launch anyway because of regulatory limits. In short, Apple is creating strong upgrade pressure, but not a universal requirement to buy a new iPhone.

3 articles · Updated · MacRumors · Aug 31

Apple opened the sixth public betas of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, tvOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate to anyone with a compatible device, widening testing beyond developers.
The release landed a week after the fifth public betas and just hours after the eighth developer betas, signaling the software cycle is in its final stretch.
No notable new features appeared in the latest developer builds, suggesting Apple is now focused on bug fixes and refinements rather than major additions.
Release candidate versions are expected next week after Apple's September 9 iPhone event, with final software likely to follow soon after.