Safari is getting a serious design and usability refresh in Apple’s upcoming iOS 27.3, iPadOS 27.3, and macOS Golden Gate 27.3. Alongside new visual tweaks, Apple is also adding deeper intelligence to its assistant, bringing meaningful changes for anyone who spends time in the browser.
Vertical Tabs and a smarter view
The most noticeable change is the addition of Vertical Tabs across iPhone, iPad, and Mac — not just on larger displays. Rather than the classic horizontal tab bar, tabs will now appear along the left side. By default, you’ll see icons only (to save space), but there’s an option to expand it so titles are visible. These vertical tabs integrate smoothly with Safari’s existing organization tools like Topics and Tab Groups, automatic sorting with Apple Intelligence, pinning, and quick switching. Users can activate the layout through Safari’s settings or via the View menu on Mac or iPad.
Dark mode that actually adapts
Safari will now offer an Adaptive Dark Mode for websites that don’t have native dark themes. When Dark Mode is enabled system-wide and you land on a bright website, Safari will prompt you to “Try” Adaptive Dark Mode. If you accept, it will dynamically adjust the site’s look — darkening backgrounds, adjusting contrast, inverting graphics and logos, tweaking vector art, boosting raised design elements, and rebalancing shadows. These adaptations vary by site; not every adjustment applies everywhere. If a site already has a dark design, or a developer opts out with a special tag, Safari won’t alter the look. You can also make Adaptive Dark Mode work automatically across all sites or apply it selectively per website.
New Siri powers for browsing & history
Siri is gaining wider control over tab and window management. You’ll be able to ask it to sort, move, close, or arrange tabs into groups. It also handles web history — for example, clearing history for a specific site or a time range (say, the past ten days).
A future feature currently in development — though not yet in beta — will let Siri reach beyond just the active page. It will interpret content across non-active tabs and off-screen material, so you can query it about information spanning multiple sites. For example, when shopping with several tabs open, Siri could fetch price comparisons or analyze product details across those tabs.
Starting today, these features are available to developers in the 27.3 beta versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS Golden Gate. The smarter Siri functionality requires a compatible device that supports Apple Intelligence. The full public release is expected in December, after additional beta refinements.
Why this update matters
This is more than just polish. The vertical tab layout reflects a broader trend toward giving users more spatial control over browser real estate, especially as devices gain more screen space. Adaptive Dark Mode bridges the gap for sites that haven’t yet offered dark designs, improving readability and comfort without waiting for developer updates. The enhanced Siri features push toward a more unified, intelligent browsing experience — where the assistant isn’t just reactive, but proactively helps manage content.
Keep an eye on the roll-out: how well Adaptive Dark Mode handles complex sites, privacy implications of Siri’s expanded access, and whether these changes truly improve usability, especially for devices with smaller screens. If done right, iOS 27.3 could mark one of Safari’s most meaningful updates in years.
