iOS 27.2 hits release candidate, with more Siri AI languages expected

Apple released iOS 27.2 RC to developers on Monday, the release candidate for the next iPhone update (build 24B115). Release candidates of iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS 27.2 came out the same day, according to Apple's developer releases page. An RC is usually the same build that ships to everyone, barring a last-minute bug.

Siri AI learns new languages

The headline change is Siri AI, the new AI-powered version of the assistant. In September, Apple said it would add French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish “next month,” meaning October. Apple did not name the update; MacRumors ties the new languages to iOS 27.2.

There are limits. Apple says Siri AI will not initially be available in the European Union on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, it is not offered to users under 13, and it has daily usage caps. Apple has not said which regional variants of Portuguese and Spanish are included.

What else changes

• App Tracking Transparency in the EU: Apple's release notes describe an expanded prompt and a yearly re-prompt; the alternative prompt is required in France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Romania.
• The redesigned Health app, which appeared in earlier betas, was pulled from 27.2 and will return in a later version, per Apple's notes.
• HomePod: a new Home app setting can lock the speaker's touch controls (handy against toddlers, cats and phantom touches), per 9to5Mac. Sound Glow, which lights up the top of HomePod mini 2 in the colors of the album art, should also reach older models, according to MacRumors.
• Profiles in the Apple TV app and a new Apple Music icon, per 9to5Mac and MacRumors.

When and for whom

Apple has not announced a date. MacRumors expects the release before the end of October, possibly as soon as next week. iOS 27 supports iPhone 11 and later and iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later. The update lands in a busy stretch for Apple, which has its “Pro and tell” launch set for October 28, where new Macs are expected.