I usually wait until the full release of iOS before updating my iPhone. But I’ve been so frustrated with iOS 26 that this year, for the first time, I bit the bullet and installed the iOS 27 public beta.

Despite all the caveats about beta software, it’s been a smooth experience so far. I’ve been running iOS 27 for a few weeks, and everything feels a little faster, even in Low Power Mode. Siri AI is miles ahead of its older versions. And while I haven’t been super annoyed by Liquid Glass, I appreciate that there’s now a slider to adjust the transparency levels. 

What I like most about iOS 27 are the changes to the app I use more than any other: Safari. I begrudgingly learned to use the new Compact toolbar layout in iOS 26, mostly because the classic Bottom layout took up more space than it did in previous iOS versions. 

While I appreciated the bit of extra screen real estate in Compact, I missed having the All Tabs icon within reach. As a workaround, I could swipe up from the Compact toolbar to see all my tabs. But that became an annoying exercise — I would frequently tap a bit too low on the screen and exit the app by accident. 

The All Tabs icon was one of those features I knew I took for granted once it was gone. But now, like Luke Skywalker in Episode VI, it’s making a triumphant return.

In iOS 27’s Safari Compact toolbar, the All Tabs icon replaces the three-dot menu of iOS 26, which is exactly where it should have been all along. It’s so much more intuitive to tap that icon. And by long pressing it, you can still see the old options to open a new tab or switch to private browsing. 

Another pleasant surprise in the iOS 27 Compact layout is the return of the Bookmarks icon. It’s at the top of the screen when I open a new tab, along with my Reading List and History. Those icons don’t obstruct my view, and they’re easily tappable. This is such an elegant addition, I can’t believe it took this long for Apple to implement it.

Last but not least, Safari can now organize all your tabs automatically. Go to All Tabs, then tap the three-line icon near the top of the screen to see all your tabs filtered by category. It’s a super useful feature, especially if you keep as many emotional support tabs open as I do (currently 72).

Apple pays great attention to detail, and Safari in iOS 26 seemed like a jarring exception. But with iOS 27, it feels like the company listened to user feedback and made the right changes. My thumbs are already grateful.

Jason Chun is a CNET writer covering a range of topics in tech, home, wellness, finance and streaming services. He is passionate about language and technology, and has been an avid writer/reader of science fiction for most of his life. He holds a BA from UC Santa Barbara and an MFA from The New School.

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