iOS 27.3 and macOS 27.3 bring Vertical Tabs and Adaptive Dark Mode to Safari

Apple has just released the first developer beta versions of iOS 27.3, iPadOS 27.3, and macOS 27.3. The latest software updates introduce several major changes and improvements specifically designed for the Safari web browser.

• Apple released initial betas for iOS 27.3, iPadOS 27.3, and macOS 27.3.
• Safari now supports a vertical tab layout and Adaptive Dark Mode.
• Siri AI can now perform direct management actions on open tabs.
• Public rollout for all users is expected sometime in December.

Safari introduces Vertical Tabs layout option With iOS 27.3, iPadOS 27.3, and macOS 27.3, Safari is adding a brand-new Vertical Tabs design option. Users can choose to arrange their tabs vertically along the left-hand side of the browser instead of the traditional top placement. By default, these vertical tabs appear as icons to maximize screen space, but users can resize the tab bar to view full website titles. Vertical tab layouts have gained popularity in recent years, largely popularized by Arc from The Browser Company. However, Arc development ceased last year, and the company announced it will shut down entirely in December. On iOS, users can enable vertical tabs through the Settings app, while Mac and iPad users can toggle the feature directly from the View menu in Safari.

Adaptive Dark Mode for unsupported websites For websites that lack native Dark Mode support, Apple is introducing Adaptive Dark Mode. When Dark Mode is enabled on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac and a user visits an unsupported website, Safari displays a new option to automatically generate a dark version of the page. Users can configure Adaptive Dark Mode to kick in automatically across the web or choose to use it on a site-by-site basis. This feature ensures a more consistent visual experience when browsing the internet in low-light environments.

Siri AI integration and tab management Apple has also expanded Siri AI capabilities in these new beta updates. Siri can now take direct action on open browser tabs, allowing users to move, sort, organize, and close tabs using voice commands. In future software updates, Siri's on-screen awareness will be further expanded to analyze the entire content of a website rather than just what is currently visible on the screen.

Beta availability and release schedule Currently, iOS 27.3, iPadOS 27.3, and macOS 27.3 are rolling out to registered developers for beta testing. Apple is expected to make the stable updates available to the general public in December.