Apple has released the first iOS 27.3 public beta for iPhone, and its main feature is the redesigned Health app that missed the final iOS 27.2 release. The developer beta of iOS 27.3 arrived on November 3, and the public version followed a few days later.
Beyond Health, the beta adds vertical tabs to Safari and lets Siri carry out more tasks inside Apple apps. Apple says the Health redesign will reach everyone as a free software update later this year.
What is in the redesigned Health app?
The redesigned Health app is built around Apple Intelligence and adapts to a person’s own health data on iPhone and iPad. Apple’s newsroom describes a new Insights tab that gathers summaries across heart, sleep, readiness, fitness, vitals and cycle tracking through the day.
A For You section adds recommendations based on daily habits. Apple’s example is practical advice on adjusting a wind-down routine after several nights of interrupted sleep. The app also pairs data with educational videos and articles from Health app clinical experts.
What does the Longevity tab and Health Age do?
The Longevity tab tracks long-term metrics for heart health, sleep, mental wellbeing, movement, metabolic health, hearing and nutrition. Its centrepiece is Health Age, which turns Apple Watch data such as VO2 max, resting heart rate, sleep and heart rate variability into a measure of how the body is tracking against chronological age.
Users can also add clinical lab results, such as A1c and LDL cholesterol, to build a fuller picture.
The update also adds at-home movement evaluations. Using the iPhone camera and Apple Watch, people can measure flexibility, strength, balance, movement mechanics and VO2 max with live audio and visual feedback. Apple says the vision models run entirely on the device and that no video is recorded, stored or shared.
Which languages and devices are supported?
Apple says language support now covers global English, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), French, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese, with more to come.
The app needs an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad running the latest software, and some features are iPhone only. Health Age requires an Apple Watch. The VO2 max test needs an Apple Watch, AirPods Pro 3 or a third-party heart rate sensor. Some features require users to be 18 or older, and Apple notes that features may differ by region and language. The German outlet netzwelt reported before the beta that Apple Intelligence features require an iPhone 15 Pro or newer.
What else is new in iOS 27.3?
According to New Mobile Life, Safari now supports vertical tabs, so tabs can sit at the side of the window, and adaptive dark mode that darkens sites without their own dark theme. Siri can now create and save playlists, schedule an iMessage to send later and start a Journal entry.
The same report lists a Reachability change for the folding iPhone Duo, more StandBy clock styles for other iPhones and a Gym Strength feature in Fitness+ that builds a four week plan from a person’s goals and equipment.
Is the redesigned Health app new?
Not quite. Apple first tested it in iOS 27.2 betas, including the public beta in September, according to iThinkDifference. It then did not appear in the final iOS 27.2 release, which is why it is back in iOS 27.3.
Prices
No price is listed. The Health redesign is a free software update, and the public beta is free through Apple’s Beta Software Program. Apple’s newsroom notes that some Apple Intelligence features that rely on server models carry daily usage limits, and that expanded access may be offered for a fee in the future.
Who it suits
Health and fitness fans. If you wear an Apple Watch and track sleep or training, the Insights and Longevity tabs are the reason to try this beta.
Curious early adopters. Safari vertical tabs and the wider Siri actions are easy to test, and the beta is free to join.
Who should wait. Anyone who depends on their main iPhone should skip betas, because beta software can have bugs. The final release is expected later this year, and netzwelt expects December.
Users outside the listed languages. Apple says some features may not be available in all regions or languages, so check the list before expecting everything.
What is still unknown?
Apple has not given an exact release date for the final iOS 27.3, and it has not said which regions will see every Health feature on day one.
Next step
Back up your iPhone first, then sign up for the free Apple Beta Software Program with the same Apple Account as your phone. Open Settings, then General, then Software Update, then Beta Updates and choose the iOS 27 public beta. Read Apple’s newsroom post for the full feature and availability notes.
