Apple’s upcoming iOS 27 and macOS 27 Golden Gate updates, announced at last week’s WWDC, appear to deliver on the company’s promises of better performance and stability — at least based on early feedback from beta testers. While the new software includes flashier additions like an AI-powered Siri and Apple Intelligence features, the most talked-about improvement among developers right now is something simpler: devices just feel faster.
The company is currently trialing iOS 27 and macOS 27 with developers and volunteers willing to install unfinished builds. Traditionally, this is the buggiest phase of any software release. The whole point of running a trial version is to find problems before the public gets the update, so the first developer build usually comes with the most issues. That’s why I don’t recommend installing such unfinished software on personal devices, at least until a public version is available.
The risk for data loss and crashes is typically too high.
But reports from forums like Reddit suggest this year might be different, especially for macOS 27. One thread on r/MacOSBeta described the first developer build as a surprise: the user said the “lag, stutters, and general sluggishness” they dealt with on macOS 26 Tahoe are largely gone. They noticed apps launching faster, smoother animations, and more polish throughout the OS. The top comment agreed, and another user praised improvements during high-end tasks. One comment seemed to sum things up: “The new OS’s early build is more stable than macOS 26 during its entire run.”
Testers of the new iOS report similar sentiments, though the praise isn’t as universal. One user on r/ios26 — ironically — said the first trial runs much smoother than the official build of its predecessor. A commenter shared that their iPhone 12 mini runs this test version better than their iPhone 16 Pro runs iOS 26.5. Another said the test build was initially slow due to indexing but eventually sped up. The same theme emerged: “It seems like the new OS is basically just what iOS 26 should’ve been.”
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Not everyone agrees.
Scroll through the thread for the new iOS and you’ll find critics. One user said their iPhone drops from 120Hz to 60Hz. Another reported keyboard glitches and battery drops. Someone else found icons looked “pixelated” and “aliased,” while another noted broken gestures. One user supposedly bricked their iPhone entirely by updating to the test version. I’m more surprised by the lack of these complaints in the macOS 27 thread. These test versions are unfinished, so even while some users enjoy snappier devices, risks remain.
The focus here isn’t that you should install these test versions now. It’s that there are signs Apple’s performance claims are true. It’s normal for test versions to be temperamental. It’s not normal for such unfinished software to be better than its official predecessors. I think it’s safe to be a cautious optimist: come the fall, your iPhone or Mac may really feel faster just by updating.
Older devices may get the biggest boost
Anyone updating this fall will find good news, particularly those using older iPhones and Macs. The new OS supports devices as old as the iPhone 11. While you need a 15 Pro or newer to run Apple Intelligence, your iPhone from 2019 will likely feel snappier just by updating. The company said it made improvements to the iPhone’s CPU scheduler, which handles many day-to-day processes, and found ways to implement these optimizations on older hardware. It may help you put off upgrading for another year.
While the company dropped Intel Macs this year, M1 Macs released in 2020 may also benefit. I won’t complain if my M1 iMac is faster in September than it is right now, even if it’s still perfectly usable.
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The firm highlighted a few benchmarks in particular. It claims 30% faster app launches on iPhone 11 Pro Max, 80% faster AirDrop transfers on iPhone 16 Plus, and images syncing with your Photos app 70% faster on iPhone 15. None of those stats come from the company’s latest devices, emphasizing that these updates are designed to boost performance across the board — not just on the most powerful hardware.
Apple once accused of intentionally slowing down older iPhones now seems to intentionally want to help you keep your device longer.
I’m all for that.
One caveat: The company did drop quite a few devices with this round of updates. Intel Macs, yes, but also a number of Apple Watches and iPads. I’d love to see performance gains for my Series 6, as would Series 7, Series 8, first-gen Ultra, and second-gen SE owners. But watchOS 26 is the end of the line for us. For anyone with an older device that is supported, though, these updates may dim your temptation to upgrade — at least until Apple releases a touchscreen MacBook or a foldable iPhone.
