Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- Macworld reports that Apple’s public betas for iOS 27, macOS 27, and other operating systems are expected by mid-July following developer releases.
- The new unified numbering system reflects the primary year of use, with current betas showing stability but potential battery life impacts.
- July also brings new Apple TV+ content including “Silo” season 3 and four new Apple Arcade games like “Creatures of the Deep+.”
For the last several years, July has been the same, in the Apple calendar. WWDC is long over, and the rush of hardware for the fall is still a couple of months away.
That doesn’t mean there’s nothing exciting, though. After several weeks of beta releases meant only for developers, July is when the new operating systems announced at WWDC and releasing in the fall are deemed stable and feature complete enough for the general public to test out.
The Public Beta of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, visionOS 27, and macOS 27 will begin in July. If you want to participate, read our article on how to sign up for and download the public betas.
New hardware releases
We’re pretty confident that July will pass without any new Apple hardware. For one, you’d have to go back to 2019 to find the last time Apple released anything new in July (an update to the 13-inch MacBook Pro). For another, Apple just raised prices on all of the products that might have been released, including the Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini. That probably means there won’t be anything new until the iPhone event in September.
Software releases
Apple starts releasing beta versions of the new updates at WWDC, and after three or four beta releases intended only for developers, it starts releasing them to anyone in the public who wants to test them out and provide feedback. Apple announced at WWDC that the public beta would arrive this month, so we expect it by mid-July. If you want to sign up, see our article on how to join the Apple beta program.
Fortunately, Apple has now unified all its operating system version numbers, referring to them by the year in which they will mostly be in use—the releases for this fall are “27” because they will be in use and updated primarily in 2027. It’s like model years for cars, so it’s easy to know what your device is running and whether the newest version has been installed.
We recommend you don’t install the beta on any device that you rely on every day. If you need it for work, and if it’s your only authenticator for critical applications, you should really wait for a full release. Having said that, the iOS 27 and macOS 27 betas have been remarkably stable for most testers so far. There are bugs, but they are mostly of the “annoyance” variety and not of the “this mission-critical app no longer works” variety. Note that battery life is often worse on beta releases than it will be with the final release in September.
Services
Apple TV+
Here are the shows, series, and movies we expect to release on Apple TV+ in TK. If you want to know what’s coming later, check our full guide to upcoming Apple TV+ content.
Silo (season 3): Season three of Silo continues the saga of a dystopian society of 10,000 people living underground under mysterious circumstances, while revealing an origin story set centuries earlier. July 3
Trying (season 5): Season five finds Nikki and Jason dealing with the consequences of Princess and Tyler’s biological mother turning up at their doorstep. July 8
Lucky: A young woman (Anya Taylor-Joy) leaves behind the life of crime she was raised in years ago, but must now embrace her darker criminal side one final time in a desperate attempt to escape her past. July 15
The Dink: Washed-up tennis prodigy Dusty Boyd gets involved in the world of pickleball in this sports comedy. July 24
Apple Arcade
Apple releases most Apple Arcade games on the first Friday of each month. Check our Apple Arcade FAQ for a full list of Apple Arcade games and more details on the service. Occasionally, games are released with no forewarning, but you’ll usually see next month’s releases listed in the Coming Soon section.
Creatures of the Deep+: A detailed 3D fishing adventure game. July 2
Draw It+: Draw as fast as you can before time runs out and try to earn a high score. July 2
Dungeon Clawler+: A claw machine deck-building roguelike. Yes, you read that correctly. July 2
Pocket City 2+: You’re the mayor and city planner in this cartoonish 3D city building game. July 2
