Apple Seeds Public Beta 3 of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate, tvOS 27, and watchOS 27
Apple has now seeded the third public beta for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate, tvOS 27, and watchOS 27. Developer beta 5 shipped on August 10, and the public release followed a day later on August 11.
Final versions of all five are expected to arrive sometime in the fall of 2026. You can grab these builds for free via the public beta program. Head here to sign up at beta.apple.com. No paid developer account is required.
macOS Golden Gate Public Beta 3
macOS Golden Gate Public Beta 3 brings the most tangible refinements to the Liquid Glass design language so far. Apple added a new slider in System Settings that lets you adjust UI transparency from "ultraclear" to fully tinted. You can also expect uniform toolbars, edge-to-edge sidebars, and less rounded corners on windows.
The new wallpaper has replaced the default starting in this build. Build 26A5406e carries the tagline "More personal. More refined."
The Siri rework is central here. It now uses a chatbot-style interface that lives in Spotlight. A dedicated Siri app handles ongoing conversations and past chats. Visual Intelligence lets Siri answer questions about what's on your screen, working with screenshots, images, and PDFs.
AI features are expanding across the desktop. Photos gets Spatial Reframing and cleanup tools. Safari auto-organizes tabs by topic. Passwords updates weak passwords automatically. "Write with Siri" generates text and corrects grammar. Natural language Shortcuts let you create automations in plain English.
Keep in mind that the OS is now Apple Silicon only. Boot Camp, AirPort Utility, and AFP have all been removed. Rosetta 2 is being phased out too. Apps configured to use Rosetta now launch natively by default.
Apple Silicon only.
Requirements include MacBook Neo (2026), MacBook Air or Pro from 2020 onward, Mac mini from 2020, iMac from 2021, Mac Studio from 2022, and Mac Pro from 2023. Apple Intelligence needs M3 and at least 12 GB of RAM.
Known issues include Finder generating inaccurate AI folder names and Dock behaviors in Mission Control remaining inconsistent. Apple Intelligence features may not work until background assets finish downloading.
iOS 27 Public Beta 3
iOS 27 Public Beta 3 continues to polish the Siri overhaul. Apple describes the new assistant as more capable, noting it can search the web, access personal info, and take actions across apps. It's a fair comparison to say it's now more similar to Claude or ChatGPT than previous versions of Siri.
Visual Intelligence has moved to the Camera app. You can get nutritional info for meals or split bills via Apple Cash. The feature works on U.S. devices.
Child safety gets a significant boost. New controls include "Ask to Browse" for kids and Communication Safety that intervenes before gore or violence in shared images. Time Allowances by category come with age-based guidance.
Apple claims apps launch quicker, AirDrop is faster, and legacy devices see major optimization. The company says "everything feels faster, even on older iPhones." AirPods users get Custom EQ.
On-device Siri voice customization is limited to iPhone 17 Pro and newer. If you're running this on an older device, you'll want to wait for background assets to download before expecting Apple Intelligence to work.
iPadOS 27 Public Beta 3
iPadOS 27 Public Beta 3 introduces a new way to activate Siri. Just swipe down from the top of the screen. You can also use the Apple Pencil to circle items on screen for Visual Intelligence.
Safari Notify Me tracks price and restock changes. Natural language Shortcuts work on the tablet too. Setup Assistant lets parents choose which system apps kids can use.
Performance improvements include up to 5x faster file transfers between iPad and external drive. Wi-Fi and cellular transitions are smoother.
Known issues include devices with deeply discharged batteries getting stuck on the red dead battery icon. Apple fixed this in developer beta 5. Siri may misidentify contacts with similar names.
tvOS 27 Public Beta 3
tvOS 27 Public Beta 3 brings a redesigned Podcasts app and faster AirPlay. Apple Intelligence is arriving for HomeKit Secure Video, adding AI-generated descriptions and improved search. On-device processing uses a hybrid approach with Private Cloud Compute for privacy.
Bug fixes address Foundation URL encoding, Game Center completion handlers, and Metal rendering problems. SwiftUI issues with file export dialogs and layout calculations have also been resolved.
Known issues include the sidebar focus highlight briefly appearing flattened when launching the Apple TV app. Subtitles may not auto-enable during playback.
watchOS 27 Public Beta 3
watchOS 27 Public Beta 3 is one of the more impactful updates here. Apple has dropped support for Apple Watch Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, SE 2, and the original Ultra. If you're still running a Series 6, this is the end of the line. Gone.
Features include a Dynamic App Grid that rearranges based on context. One-handed gestures include double tap to scroll and tap thumb plus index finger to select. Workout Buddy works without a nearby iPhone.
Health tracking improves with more accurate sleep tracking. Users aged 40 and older can get notifications about possible perimenopause signs based on sleep patterns. Find My is now a single map-centric app.
Apple warns that watchOS software cannot be easily restored to an earlier beta. Installing this on a primary device carries real risk. If you rely on your watch for daily use, you might want to wait another month or two.
How to Install
All five public betas are available for free. Install via System Settings or Settings > General > Software Update. Click the "i" icon next to Beta Updates and select the appropriate public beta.
Third betas are still rough around the edges. Apple Intelligence features may not function until background assets finish downloading. If you need stability, the public beta program is a great way to test these AI features, but production devices should probably wait for the fall.
