Apple today unveiled the wraps of its next-generation operating system updates, including iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27 Golden Gate, at its Worldwide Developers Conference. While the long-awaited Siri AI update is the headline, Apple has also highlighted efforts to optimize the software, improve performance and reliability.
For starters, the company continues to refine the Liquid Glass design language it introduced last year. A slider in the settings will allow users to fine-grain control the transparency of the Liquid Glass effect, from maximum transparency and glassy to fully tinted. Last year’s redesigned icons are also reworked with more layers of glass, which Apple says will make them sharper and more distinctive.
In MacOS, Apple also changed the way app bars and sidebars work, made toolbars more distinctive, extended the content of sidebars to the edge of the window, and reintroduced color to sidebar icons. Mac windows also get a “tighter corner radius” to address complaints about window resizing in Mac OS 26 Tahoe.
Application toolbars get a more refined look in macOS 27 Golden Gate.
Credit: Apple
Application toolbars get a more refined look in macOS 27 Golden Gate.
Credit: Apple
Apple also redesigned how search works across its operating systems. Updated indexing in Spotlight, Mail, and Photos should make them find both new and old content more reliably.
