In all likelihood, Apple will not acknowledge the existence of iOS 27 Until WWDC 2026But that doesn’t mean the company is saving all its iOS 27 announcements until then. On Tuesday, Apple published a press release announcing new accessibility features coming “later this year.” While Apple hasn’t specified, it almost certainly means they will come with iOS 27.
Apple has a good track record when it comes to accessibility features, and it usually announces a slate of new accessibility updates before WWDC. But this year looks a little different: while these features will indeed benefit users with limitations or special needs, Apple also advertises them as “powered by Apple Intelligence.” This is almost certainly the company’s way of signaling to the tech community (as well as investors) that it continues to take AI seriously, especially after two years of slowdown and setbacks. Moreover, many of these features seem widely useful, whether you “need” them or not.
You can use voice control with natural language
Perhaps the most universally useful new upgrade is voice control. While Apple currently lets you use Voice Control to navigate your iPhone with spoken commands, Apple Intelligence will let you use Voice Control with natural language. That means instead of telling Voice Control to tap input on a specific grid number, you can say “open yellow folder” in Files or “tap the best restaurants guide” in Maps.
This will be huge for users who rely on voice control to use their iPhone or iPad. But it also shows that Apple Intelligence has advanced to the point where any of us can control these devices with our voices. If you need to use your iPhone hands-free for any reason — say, you want to check a recipe while cooking — instead of washing your hands, you can direct your iPhone with your voice, find the right recipe, then wash your hands again.
Add subtitles to individual videos
Apple says that with its future update, Apple Intelligence will be able to caption videos whenever subtitles are not present. It can work on a clip you watch online that doesn’t have subtitles, or on a video you’ve filmed yourself. This will happen automatically on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro, and Apple says the entire process is done privately on the device (although it can be turned on or off).
Voiceover and Magnifier
Credit: Apple
Apple says that later this year, VoiceOver and Magnifier will be able to describe what’s on your screen—which, when paired with the camera, will allow your phone to describe what’s going on around you. You’ll be able to use the “Image Explorer” in VoiceOver to find photos, bills, records, and descriptions of anything you feed. with living identityApple Intelligence will be able to describe what’s going on in the camera view, just like competing products. Like Jamie Live At that point, Apple says you’ll also be able to ask follow-up questions “in your own words,” which makes the experience a little more back-and-forth, rather than constantly pinging Assistant.
A magnifier option makes it easier for users with low vision to see specific elements up close. After the upgrade, however, when hovering Magnifier’s camera over a document or receipt, you’ll be able to ask questions about the Apple Intelligence topic. For example, you can ask “How much is the bill?” And get complete answer with reference. You can also use voice commands to perform actions like “zoom in” or “turn on the flashlight.”
What do you think so far?
Apple is improving Accessibility Reader
Credit: Apple
Apple’s Accessibility Reader can make key chunks of text easier to read with customizable fonts, backgrounds, layouts, and colors. Now, with Apple Intelligence, Accessibility Reader will work on “more complex source material.” It includes scientific articles, text printed in multiple columns, as well as images and data tables. This feature will also provide a summary, so you can get the gist of the content before reading.
Apple Vision Pro accessibility updates are also coming
Credit: Apple
Apple has some new Vision Pro upgrades this fall as well. First, the company is adding a new wheelchair control feature to the headset, which will allow users in power wheelchairs to control their wheelchairs with eye movements. Additionally, Apple announced that vehicle speed alerts are coming to the headset. This feature, which was previously iOS-exclusive, adds moving dots to the display to combat the effects of motion sickness. It will be interesting to see if it can help combat the motion sickness that sometimes comes from using the Apple Vision Pro in a moving vehicle. Finally, users will have new options to tap and perform system actions via facial gestures.
Other accessibility updates in the works
In addition to the above, Apple is adding the following accessibility options in iOS 27:
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Sony Access Controller support for iOS, iPadOS and macOS
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Touch Accommodation will support a “new way of personal setup” in iOS and iPadOS
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Hearing aids made for the iPhone are in the works, which can pair between your Apple devices, such as AirPods.Which is also an FDA approved hearing aid
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Apple is adding large text support for tvOS
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Name recognition is expanding to more than 50 languages
