Apple Launches iPadOS 27 Bringing Siri AI and Much Faster External Storage Speeds

Apple has rolled out its yearly tablet operating system refresh, iPadOS 27, synchronizing the platform with the artificial intelligence tools already available on iPhones. The release prioritizes enhanced productivity on bigger displays, tighter linkage between the Apple Pencil and on-screen visual analysis, and markedly quicker interactions with external drives and documents.

Siri AI receives a generative overhaul. At the heart of the release sits a completely rebuilt Siri under Apple Intelligence, powered by Apple’s next-generation Foundation Models — which Apple says were custom-built in collaboration with Google and its Gemini models — not the Gemini app or Google Assistant. The assistant now maintains ongoing dialogue, pulls relevant details from emails, messages, calendars and notes, and can perform actions inside apps without leaving the current view. It works through its own dedicated window with sidebar and floating panels plus a system-wide search that opens when users swipe down from the top edge.

A new "Write with Siri" option lets owners rephrase passages, fix mistakes or shift tone to match personal style, and it works with handwritten input. Voice customization and on-device dictation precision remain restricted to iPad Pro and iPad Air devices fitted with the M4 chip and at least 1TB of storage. "Due to regulatory requirements," the advanced Siri AI functions are blocked on iPad models sold in European Union countries and China.

Apple Pencil gains direct AI integration. The stylus now connects straight into the Visual Intelligence system, which activates on any screenshot and lets users circle items to pull nutritional data, divide restaurant checks or add calendar events automatically. Within Notes the improved Image Wand converts rough sketches into realistic pictures via Image Playground.

Photos gains broader generative editing with Clean Up to erase unwanted objects, Extend to grow image edges, and Reframe that adjusts perspective using depth information. Shared iCloud albums now deliver full-resolution files and accept uploads straight from Android and Windows devices.

File transfers and system performance see major gains. Moving files to USB drives or the Files app runs up to five times faster, matching the speed users see in the Mac Finder. Gesture-based window controls feel snappier, contextual menus appear more quickly, and the active app name now sits in the status bar for easier identification. Apps originally built for iPhone can be freely resized on the tablet for a larger workspace.

Shortcuts can trigger automations the moment a Magic Keyboard connects. Safari groups tabs by subject and supports building extensions through plain-language prompts. The Home app adds 4K camera feeds with AI-generated activity digests, while Passwords scans the network to flag and strengthen weak logins.

Compatibility drops older hardware and restricts advanced features. An updated processor scheduler improves responsiveness on every supported device. iPadOS 27 runs on iPad mini 6th generation and later, iPad 9th generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 2nd generation and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 4th generation and later, plus iPad Air 4th generation and later. Support ends for the iPad mini 5th generation, iPad 8th generation, iPad Air 3rd generation, and original iPad Pro models. Every Apple Intelligence capability needs an M1 chip or newer, or the A17 Pro processor. Daily limits apply to intensive image creation tasks unless users pay for an expanded iCloud+ plan.