Apple is set to unveil iOS 27 at WWDC 2026 on June 8, and talk is moving beyond the sleek Liquid Glass design already unveiled. iOS 26 Towards meaningful improvements in functionality and intelligence due to early betas rumours. But this is just the beginning. With the right improvements, iOS can raise this figure iPhone from a highly capable personal assistant to a full-fledged mobile workstation. Here’s what I want to see most in iOS 27.
1. Forward-thinking Siri
To truly evolve, Siri needs to move from a simple voice-activated remote to an expected assistant. Siri has historically been reactive, waiting for a “Hey Siri” command. This means that Siri needs a manual trigger for almost everything, and each conversation is essentially a stand-alone interaction. Predictive Assistant uses your habits, location, and schedule to provide assistance proactivelyor when you need it. Give me Siri, who can see what’s on my screen and do multi-step tasks like finding a specific photo in my album, editing it, and texting it to my parents all at once.
(Credit: Apple)
Of course, there are many problems that will come with this Siri change. Privacy is a pressing concern AI assistant access and memory of my habits, history, and upcoming events, plus on-device awareness, is an Achilles’ heel that Apple needs to properly secure before releasing to the public. Apple is currently working with Google to improve Siriand a A standalone app is rumored to be in the works. I hope that the fruits of this collaboration will deliver the iPhone AI assistant that I want.
2. iPhone as a desktop powerhouse
Whatever you think of the Apple ecosystem, the company’s devices are its workforce. The iPhone’s A-series chips improve every year, and the latest iterations are more than capable of running a full workstation. It uses the Apple A18 Pro chip (found last year iPhone 16 series) new MacBook Neocreating a powerful, relatively inexpensive entry-level laptop. Despite this power, iOS 26 only supports basic screen mirroring, which does not reduce productivity. The screen mirroring lacks multitasking support, the aspect ratios don’t match, and it has an unnecessarily large button layout considering it mirrors the iPhone.
The above is a preliminary offer compared to the iPad Stage manager or Samsung’s DeX. I use DeX; it’s essentially a full desktop environment with a taskbar, start menu, and resizable (and even overlapping) windows. When I connect my Samsung phone to the monitor it becomes a desktop computer with full keyboard and mouse support. DeX also allows me to use my phone as a trackpad, keyboard, or screen for a separate task, such as texting or making calls.
I want to see the same functionality for the iPhone – complete with native desktop behaviors to use as much power as possible. This would be a huge boost to productivity and the gameand the pinnacle of iPhone evolution, making it essentially the only computer that I, and many other people, had to carry.
Here are the widgets of iOS 26 technically interactive. But they feel a bit half-baked, like remote controls rather than mini-apps you can interact with from the home screen. Today, iOS 26 supports basic operations without requiring you to open the full app, including simple toggles and media controls. Any heavy background work forces the iPhone to open the main app.
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)
That’s why I need real widget interactivity in iOS 27, something that bridges the gap between a static display and a functional widget on my home screen. For example, I want to write a quick note in a widget without the app going to the foreground. Likewise, viewing and interacting with a live, moving map within Apple Maps A widget would be great. Currently, it only shows your current location and tapping the widget opens the app.
Get our best stories!
Love everything Apple?
By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm that you are 16+ and agree with us Terms of use and Privacy Policy.
Thank you for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Watch your inbox!
Currently, widgets are good for quick glances and simple triggers. The versions I dreamed of in iOS 27 would allow me to complete full tasks without ever leaving my home screen.
Recommended by our editors
4. Liquid Glass, Your Way
Although iOS 26 offers several ways Control the Liquid Glass aestheticincluding the Reduce Opacity toggle and different color presets, the system still relies on all-or-nothing presets. I can choose between the highly transparent Clear view or the high-contrast, colorful version, but there’s no middle ground. Even with the addition of Reduce Brightness Effects in iOS 26.4, the experience remains fragmented in Accessibility and Display settings.
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)
I want a system-wide opacity slider that provides granular control over the interface. Instead of switching between extremes, which is often too dark or too distracting, a custom slider will allow me to adjust Liquid Glass’s transparency to a specific percentage that I find most attractive. This way I was able to adjust the settings and ensure legibility on any wallpaper while maintaining the attractive, modern design.
5. Spotlight from macOS on iPhone
Rumors abound about search improvements coming to iOS 27 this year, including a Search bar like Google AI mode. This would be a great addition if announced at WWDC. However, I want to see some macOS Tahoe Spotlight improvements have carried over to iOS 27 as well.
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)
For example, Quick Keys for shortcuts and Browse Mode for scanning your iPhone’s contents will alleviate the need to dig through webs of apps to find what you’re looking for. One of the biggest problems is that iPhones generally don’t use keyboard shortcuts; instead, they rely on touch commands. Therefore, a proper Spotlight implementation needs a gesture-based equivalent. Still, it’s an option I want on the table if my iPhone desktop dream comes true. This would be a boon for productivity.
About our specialist
Gabriel Zamora
Senior Writer, Software
Experience
In 2014, I started my career as a freelancer at PCMag. This became a full-time position in 2021, and I now review email marketing software, mobile operating systems, web hosting services, streaming music platforms, and video games as a senior writer. I’m a graduate of Hunter College, a hardcore gamer, and an Apple enthusiast.
Read Full Bio
