TL;DR: Apple hasn’t announced an iOS 27.3 release date. The first developer beta arrived November 3, 2026 (build 24C5037i), and the first public beta followed on November 5, 2026. Going by Apple’s last four years, the public release should come between about December 7 and December 15, 2026. That’s our estimate, based on Apple’s own release history, not an Apple date. Beta 1 brings back the redesigned Health app that Apple pulled from iOS 27.2, plus Siri AI in four more languages (Chinese (Traditional), Norwegian, Turkish and Vietnamese), which Apple said are coming “by the end of the year.” It should work on the same iPhones as iOS 27: iPhone 11 and later, including iPhone Duo. Don’t wait for it. Install iOS 27.2 now, because it carries 163 security fixes.
Update (November 5, 2026): Apple released the first iOS 27.3 developer beta on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (build 24C5037i), alongside betas of macOS, watchOS, tvOS, visionOS and Xcode 27.3, per Apple’s developer releases page. According to MacRumors and 9to5Mac, beta 1 includes:
Update (November 7, 2026): Apple opened the first iOS 27.3 public beta on November 5, 2026, two days after developer beta 1, according to MacRumors and AppleInsider. Matching public betas also shipped for iPadOS 27.3, macOS Golden Gate 27.3, tvOS 27.3 and watchOS 27.3. Enroll at beta.apple.com, then use Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and choose the iOS 27 public beta. Early betas can be buggy — skip them on a daily-driver iPhone. The final release is still expected in December 2026 (9to5Mac still points to roughly the first half of December).
- The redesigned Health app is back, with new Insights and Longevity tabs and a Health Age figure
- Siri AI gets new actions in Apple apps, plus Chinese (Traditional), Vietnamese, Turkish and Norwegian, and a developer preview so third-party apps can plug in
- Safari vertical tabs and an adaptive dark mode for websites
- StandBy clock faces on more iOS 27 iPhones, and Reachability for iPhone Duo
- Apple Intelligence in mainland China (without Siri AI), China earthquake alerts, Selfie Sing in Apple Music, Gym Strength in Fitness+, and RCS for Telstra in Australia
The public beta opened on November 5, 2026. The public release is still expected in December 2026, and our December 7–15 estimate stands. Beta features can change or be pulled before release, as the Health app was in iOS 27.2.
Last updated: November 7, 2026. By Veer. Facts checked against Apple’s security releases page and 2022–2023 archive (past release dates), Apple’s developer releases page, Apple’s Siri AI languages announcement, and reporting by 9to5Mac and MacRumors. Release dates for iOS 27.3 below are estimates, and we label them as estimates. This is a researched explainer.
When is iOS 27.3 coming out?
Our best estimate is the week of December 7, 2026, and no later than about December 15. Apple hasn’t given a date. 9to5Mac’s Ryan Christoffel expects a “mid-December” public launch, and MacRumors says “iOS 27.3 is expected in December.”
Here’s why December. This year’s numbering is off by one. Apple made iOS 27.1 exclusive to iPhone Duo, so iOS 27.2 shipped to everyone else on October 26, 2026, in the slot where an “x.1” update normally lands. That makes iOS 27.3 the equivalent of past “x.2” updates, and Apple has shipped every x.2 update of the last four years in December:
| Update | Previous update shipped | x.2 release date | Days after previous update |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS 16.2 | iOS 16.1, Oct 24, 2022 | Tue, Dec 13, 2022 | 50 |
| iOS 17.2 | iOS 17.1, Oct 25, 2023 | Mon, Dec 11, 2023 | 47 |
| iOS 18.2 | iOS 18.1, Oct 28, 2024 | Wed, Dec 11, 2024 | 44 |
| iOS 26.2 | iOS 26.1, Nov 3, 2025 | Fri, Dec 12, 2025 | 39 |
| iOS 27.3 | iOS 27.2, Oct 26, 2026 | Estimate: Dec 7–15, 2026 | 39–50 would mean Dec 4–15 |
Release dates from Apple’s security releases page and 2022–2023 archive. The iOS 27.3 row is our estimate.
Two things narrow the window. First, Apple has shipped all four of those updates between December 11 and December 13. Second, as 9to5Mac points out, Apple likes to ship its last big update of the year with a buffer before the holiday break, so there’s time for a quick bug-fix release if something goes wrong. In 2023, for example, iOS 17.2.1 followed on December 19.
What could push it later: a late first beta, a long beta cycle (the Health app was pulled once already), or a serious bug found in testing. If the first beta slips past mid-November, a release in the week of December 14 becomes more likely. The first beta arrived on schedule on November 3, so a mid-December release still looks likely.
When does the iOS 27.3 beta come out?
It’s out: Apple seeded iOS 27.3 beta 1 on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, one day after 9to5Mac’s expected date. That fits Apple’s pattern of starting the next beta within days of the previous public release:
| x.2 beta | Previous public release | First beta seeded | Beta to release |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS 16.2 | Oct 24, 2022 | Oct 25, 2022 (MacRumors) | 49 days |
| iOS 17.2 | Oct 25, 2023 | Oct 26, 2023 (MacRumors) | 46 days |
| iOS 18.2 | Oct 28, 2024 | Oct 23, 2024 (MacRumors) | 49 days |
| iOS 26.2 | Nov 3, 2025 | Nov 4, 2025 (MacRumors) | 38 days |
| iOS 27.3 | Oct 26, 2026 | Not out yet (Oct 30). Expected ~Nov 2 | — |
As of our check on the morning of October 30 (India time, still October 29 in the US), Apple’s developer releases feed still lists iOS 27.2 builds 24B119 and 24B91020 (iPhone Duo) from October 26 as the newest iPhone software. No iOS 27.3 seed has appeared.
A public beta usually follows the developer beta by a few days through Apple’s free Beta Software Program. If you rely on your iPhone for work, banking or two-factor codes, skip the beta and wait for the final release.
What’s new in iOS 27.3?
Apple won’t publish a feature list until the beta arrives, so treat this as “expected,” not confirmed. Here’s what has solid backing:
| Expected feature | How solid is it? | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Redesigned Health app (Insight and Longevity tabs, a “health age” figure, booking lab work through Quest Diagnostics) | Strong. Apple pulled it from iOS 27.2 beta 4 and still says it’s coming “later this year” | 9to5Mac, MacRumors |
| Siri AI in Chinese (Traditional), Norwegian, Turkish and Vietnamese | Strong on timing. Apple says “by the end of the year” but doesn’t name the update | Apple Newsroom |
| Apple Intelligence in mainland China (basic features only, no Siri AI or Image Playground) | Reported by Bloomberg | MacRumors |
| RCS for Telstra customers in Australia | Telstra mentioned “an iOS update coming in December” in a support page it later deleted | MacRumors |
| Security fixes | Near-certain. Every point release carries them | Apple security notes (published on release day) |
The new Health app is the big one for US and UK users
The redesigned Health app first appeared in the iOS 27.2 developer beta and two public betas. 9to5Mac reported that it adds new data points like health age and lets you schedule lab work through Quest Diagnostics. Apple removed it in beta 4 and restored the old app, with a note that health data added during the beta is kept and viewable in Settings, and that the redesign is still planned for this year. iOS 27.3 is the last scheduled update before the end of the year, so it’s the obvious vehicle.
One caution: Quest disclosed a breach of its Quanum LSM lab-ordering portal this month. Apple hasn’t said how the lab-booking feature will connect to Quest, so read the permissions screens carefully when it arrives.
Siri AI languages, and what’s still missing
Since iOS 27.2, Siri AI works in English, French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish. Apple’s October 26 announcement says Chinese (Traditional), Norwegian, Turkish and Vietnamese are “coming by the end of the year.” Apple also says Siri AI “is currently unavailable in the EU in iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS,” and nothing so far suggests iOS 27.3 changes that. UK users aren’t affected by the EU restriction.
Apple also notes that server-based features such as Siri AI have daily usage limits and that “expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future.” Apple hasn’t given a date or price, and there’s no report tying that to iOS 27.3.
Which iPhones will get iOS 27.3?
Expect the same list as iOS 27: iPhone 11 and later, including iPhone Duo. Apple’s security releases page lists iOS 27.2 as available for “iPhone 11 and later,” and Apple doesn’t drop devices in a point release. Siri AI features need an Apple Intelligence iPhone: iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max or any iPhone 16 or later.
| Your iPhone | What you’ll get in December |
|---|---|
| iPhone 11 or later on iOS 27 | iOS 27.3 (expected) |
| iPhone 11 or later staying on iOS 26 | iOS 26.7.x security updates, if Apple keeps shipping them. It shipped iOS 26.7.2 on Oct 26 |
| iPhone XS, XS Max, XR | iOS 18.7.x security updates only. iOS 18.7.11 shipped Oct 26 |
| iPhone Duo | iOS 27.3 (expected). It got 27.2 as build 24B91020 |
If your iPhone is stuck on iOS 18, note that iOS 18.7.11 is more important than it looks. Apple’s security notes show it brings the fix for CVE-2026-86950, the CoreGraphics flaw Apple says “may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack.” That fix reached iOS 26 users in September (see our iOS 26.7.1 guide).
Should you wait for iOS 27.3 or install iOS 27.2 now?
Install iOS 27.2 now. Apple’s iOS 27.2 security notes list 163 fixes, including 26 in WebKit, the engine behind every iPhone browser. None is flagged as exploited, but waiting six weeks for 27.3 leaves those holes open for no benefit. Our iOS 27.2 security update guide covers what it fixes and who should update. When 27.3 arrives, it installs on top of 27.2 like any other update.
To update: open Settings > General > Software Update, then tap Update Now (Apple’s steps are here). Back up first if you haven’t recently. If battery life dropped after a recent update, our iOS 27 battery drain fixes still apply.
iOS 27.3 timeline
| Date | Event | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 13, 2026 | iOS 27.2 beta 4 removes the redesigned Health app; Apple says it’s still coming this year | Happened |
| Oct 14, 2026 | Bloomberg reports Apple Intelligence will launch in China with iOS 27.3 in December | Reported |
| Oct 23, 2026 | iOS 27.1 ships on iPhone Duo only | Happened |
| Oct 26, 2026 | iOS 27.2 ships for iPhone 11 and later; Apple says four more Siri AI languages are coming by year-end | Happened |
| Nov 3, 2026 | iOS 27.3 beta 1 (build 24C5037i) | Happened (MacRumors) |
| Late Nov–early Dec | Later betas, then a release candidate (RC) about a week before launch | Expected, based on past cycles |
| Dec 7–15, 2026 | iOS 27.3 public release | Our estimate |
FAQ
When is iOS 27.3 coming out?
Apple hasn’t announced a date. Based on Apple’s release history, we expect iOS 27.3 between about December 7 and December 15, 2026. Apple released the comparable updates on December 13, 2022, December 11, 2023, December 11, 2024 and December 12, 2025.
Is the iOS 27.3 beta out?
Yes, for developers. Apple released iOS 27.3 beta 1 (build 24C5037i) on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Apple opened the first public beta on November 5, 2026, two days after developer beta 1. The final release is still expected in December 2026.
Why is there no iOS 27.1 on my iPhone?
Apple made iOS 27.1 exclusive to iPhone Duo. Other iPhones skipped it and got iOS 27.2 on October 26, 2026, so iOS 27.3 is the next update for everyone.
What will iOS 27.3 include?
Expected features are the redesigned Health app that Apple pulled from iOS 27.2, Siri AI in Chinese (Traditional), Norwegian, Turkish and Vietnamese, and Apple Intelligence in mainland China. Apple hasn’t confirmed the feature list yet.
Which iPhones will get iOS 27.3?
Expect iPhone 11 and later, including iPhone Duo, the same devices that can run iOS 27.2. Siri AI features need an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max or any iPhone 16 or later.
Should I wait for iOS 27.3 instead of installing iOS 27.2?
No. iOS 27.2 includes 163 security fixes and is available now. iOS 27.3 will install on top of it when it arrives.
Sources
- Apple: Apple security releases, Apple security releases 2022 to 2023, iOS 18.7.11 security content, Developer software releases, Siri AI is available in more languages starting today, Update your iPhone, Apple Beta Software Program
- 9to5Mac: iOS 27.3 release date: Here’s when to expect new iPhone features (Oct 29, 2026), Apple announces Siri AI will expand to these new languages soon, iOS 27.2 beta 4 no longer includes Apple’s overhauled Health app
- MacRumors: Apple Intelligence coming to China in December with iOS 27.3, iOS 27.3 may expand RCS support to Telstra, Apple releases fourth iOS 27.2 beta, first-beta reports for iOS 16.2, iOS 17.2, iOS 18.2 and iOS 26.2
