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The Vision Pro only made a brief appearance on stage this year – but the beta version of visionOS 27 is packed with features. Besides the new Siri AI with Visual Intelligence, the update brings curved windows, significantly faster Wi-Fi, a redesigned control center, and a whole host of spatial improvements that are noticeable in everyday use with the headset.
While the WWDC keynote initially seemed to dedicate little time to the Vision Pro, the actual feature set of visionOS 27 is quite extensive. As expected, the system receives the new Apple Intelligence and Siri AI features that Apple also plans to include in iOS 27 and macOS 27 – however, on the Vision Pro, they appear significantly more seamlessly integrated into the platform than in previous attempts. In addition, there are numerous comfort and room-based features that noticeably enhance the headset's overall performance.
Siri AI enters the room
The biggest leap forward concerns the assistant: Siri AI is powered by Apple Intelligence and can be used in a completely new way on the Vision Pro. Instead of a voice command, a 3D orb, which can be freely placed in the virtual space, is all it takes – simply looking at it starts a conversation; a "Hey Siri" is not necessary. Using visual intelligence, the assistant captures in real time what you are looking at, recognizes content, answers related questions, and provides relevant context.
The new Siri also understands personal context: It can find a years-old photo to transform it into a 3D scene, suggest a suitable environment for relaxation, or retrieve an article that was started on another Apple device. It performs actions in apps like Messages, Music, and Reminders, summarizes open Safari articles, and can draft, revise, or proofread texts as you type. Its voice can also be customized in terms of pitch, speed, and tone (M5 model only). A dedicated Siri app consolidates all conversations in one place, allowing you to continue a conversation started on your iPhone on the Vision Pro.
Unlike on iPhone and iPad
A crucial point for European users: The Vision Pro is among the devices on which Siri AI will be available in the EU. This distinguishes the headset from the iPhone and iPad, where the new Siri will not be launched in the EU for the time being.
Apple Intelligence in the apps
Beyond Siri, Apple Intelligence intervenes in several areas. In Safari, bookmarks and the reading list can be automatically grouped by topic, making related pages easier to find. The Passwords app alerts users to security issues and can effortlessly update weak or compromised passwords. And Image Playground creates images in virtually any style, ranging from simple to photorealistic, which can be further modified with text or voice input.
Curved windows and walk-through panoramas
The most visually striking feature is the new curved app windows: applications like Safari, Freeform, and Apple TV now arrange their content in a curved pattern around the field of view, making better use of the Vision Pro's virtual display area. Panoramic photos, in turn, can be transformed into 360-degree scenes – instead of being a flat image, users can step into them and define them as their personal environment. Additionally, a new Web Environments interface opens Safari to 360-degree worlds: developers can transport users from a website into an environment that completely encloses the physical space.
Faster Wi-Fi, new control center and Blick notifications
Beneath the surface, Apple has significantly improved wireless performance: In supported networks, visionOS 27 is expected to achieve speeds up to three times faster. The Control Center has been reorganized and divided into separate sections for notifications and media playback, system settings, and immersive environments, making frequently used settings more easily accessible. A new, particularly small widget size allows for more content, such as clocks, weather, or photos, to be placed on the screen without cluttering it. Notifications now automatically expand when viewed – perfectly complementing the gaze-based user interface of the Vision Pro and requiring no additional hand gestures.
3D models from the Mac, a new environment and tools for developers
Mac users will soon be able to view and edit 3D models directly from within visionOS; Quick Look allows users to add annotations directly to the models. A new immersive environment based on Thórsmörk, a nature reserve in Iceland with striking mountains, valleys, and glaciers, will be added, which, like the existing environments, can be selected as a virtual background. For developers, Apple is introducing new frameworks, interfaces, and tools – including improvements to RealityKit, environment occlusion for a more realistic blending of virtual and physical objects, optimized rendering technologies, an updated Reality Composer Pro 3, and enhancements for popular game engines.
A quiet but dense update
Even though the Vision Pro was only briefly mentioned on stage, the new features of visionOS 27 add up to one of the most substantial updates in recent memory. The developer beta is available now, and the final version will be released this fall. Siri AI will follow later this year, initially launching in English – the remaining features will arrive with the regular update for all Vision Pro users. (Image: Apple)
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