Apple is winding down initial work on iOS 27 as it prepares the operating system for the iPhone 18 lineup expected next month. The fifth beta of iOS 27 seeded to developers and public testers this week introduced changes to several app icons, adjustments to the Liquid Glass design, and new small features aimed at improving usability.

Apple said the beta also adds generated video descriptions for HomeKit Secure Video cameras, a search function for camera clips, and automatic surfacing of noteworthy clips for users with at least 2TB of iCloud+ storage. According to a developer report, a user with 8TB of storage can enable summaries for up to 15 cameras.

An alleged leak of a battery pack for the iPhone 18 Pro Max indicated a capacity of 5,391 mAh, about 12 % higher than the 4,823 mAh battery in the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The same leak suggested the iPhone 18 Pro will retain the 256GB base storage level, while analysts estimate manufacturing costs could rise by roughly 38 % due to higher memory prices.

Leaked screen protectors for the rumored iPhone Ultra showed asymmetric corner designs, with square corners near the hinge and rounded corners on the opposite edge, supporting earlier reports of a foldable form factor. The accessories also hinted at possible color options of silver and dark blue.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple is rethinking the Apple Watch lineup, exploring a round display, a screenless fitness tracker, and a return of a ceramic case option. The company’s industrial design team has been evaluating these directions for some time.

Gurman also said Apple is likely to unveil a new 14‑inch MacBook Pro powered by an M6 chip and a refreshed 24‑inch iMac with an M5 or M6 processor in October, following its typical release schedule.

Apple said the new iOS 27 features will be available with the public release later this year, and the company plans to roll out the hardware updates in the autumn.