Looking for a quick recap of iOS 7, or how it compares with today’s iPhone software? This guide covers both: the iOS 7 features Apple revealed at WWDC 2013 and what’s changed since, including Liquid Glass, Apple Intelligence, and iOS 27 (released September 14, 2026). The first part was written after the 2013 keynote, so “latest” and “new” there refer to 2013. For the current version, jump to the 2026 sections below.

iOS 7, Apple’s flagship mobile operating system, is almost entirely different from its predecessors. Skeuomorphic designs and 3D effects are gone, replaced by Sir Jony Ive’s “flat design.” It is a massive change for the six-year-old operating system.

Ive, now in charge of software after Scott Forstall’s departure, doesn’t believe in interfaces that mimic real-world objects. The Notes app, which looked like a legal pad, and the Calendar, which looked like a Moleskine notebook, are gone.

What Were the Biggest iOS 7 Features in 2013?

The biggest iOS 7 features were a flat, translucent redesign, Control Centre, a revamped multitasking view, a faster and unlimited-tab Safari, AirDrop, photo filters, a new Siri voice, automatic app updates, iTunes Radio, and Activation Lock for stolen iPhones. Each one is covered below.

New Look:

• iOS 7 has a new font leading the way, which seems to be a sort of Helvetica Neue Ultra. It’s very skinny and clean, and the iOS 7 banners at WWDC yesterday hinted at it.
• Instead of white bars on a black background, Apple will now show your service coverage with five little dots, white and grey depending on signal strength, over a translucent background.
• The lock screen changes for the first time in iOS history, with no more shiny top or bottom bars for “Slide to unlock” or the clock. Instead, “Slide to unlock” is translucent over the background image.
• Default app icons are flatter now, but not quite flat, as predicted.
• Jony Ive’s hand has shaped iOS notifications. The notifications panel isn’t laced with dark grey linen anymore; it looks much flatter. A Today view lets you see friends’ birthdays, upcoming invitations, your Calendar, stocks, and a quick look at tomorrow.
• The apps mostly have a white base, except for the stocks app, which has a black background, and the weather app, which shows motion in the background to convey the current weather.
• The keyboard is mostly white, with translucency that lets you see what’s underneath.

New Features

Control Center

• Control Centre is a pull-up tray on your lock screen.
• You can adjust brightness, volume, and other settings, including Wifi, Aeroplane mode, rotation lock, or Bluetooth.
• The Control Centre also offers a flashlight, plus tabs for music, camera, and other quick-access apps.
• The Control Centre adapts to its environment, so if you swipe up while you’re in Mail, it will keep the same blue-and-white colouring under that translucent panel.

Multitasking

• iOS 7 lets you multitask between all third-party apps with much better battery consumption.
• You can double-tap the Home button to enter multitasking mode, as always, but the multitasking interface has been revamped. It appears to offer live previews, but Apple wasn’t clear about that.

Safari

• Safari now opens straight into full-screen mode, with the option to pull down to bring up the search bar at the top.
• The search field has been improved into a unified smart search field, letting you access all your favourite websites with a single tap.
• Tabs now have a totally new interface, scrolling in a vertical carousel, with no longer any limits. In other words, you can have as many tabs as you want, instead of just 8 like before. Swipe a tab off to the side to delete it.
• The new Safari integrates with iCloud Keychain from OS X Mavericks and includes parental controls.

AirDrop

• You can share sheets with others by tapping their name. No NFC required.
• AirDrop supports iPhone 5, iPad 4th gen, iPad Mini

Camera And Photos

• The Camera app lets you swipe between camera modes, such as panorama or HDR, so you can quickly take a pic instead of fumbling with settings.
• Photos marks the first update to iOS’s photo gallery since its introduction.
• You can search by date and location in the Photos app.
• Instagram must be flattered — Apple introduced photo filters so you can add a little professionalism to your pictures.
• Users can share via AirDrop, iCloud photo sharing, and shared Photo Streams.
• You can even share video with iCloud photo-sharing.

Siri:

• Siri has a new voice! It sounds similar, but also weird. You can choose a male or female voice, if you like. Voices include languages like French, German, and other languages “over time.”
• The visual UI has also been upgraded, with a sound wave going along the bottom.
• Siri has also been integrated with settings, letting you tell her to turn on Bluetooth or lower the screen brightness.
• The company has also added support for Twitter, Wikipedia, and shows web search results directly from Bing.

iOS in the Car

• iOS in the Car depends a lot on Siri.
• It puts the iOS home screen on your car’s screen and lets you search for directions, listen to music, etc.

App Store

• You can now search for apps based on location. In other words, search for apps by the Louvre and see a lot of French museum apps.
• The App Store also now automatically updates apps for you in the background. Hallelujah again!

iTunes Radio:

• Apple has finally introduced the much-anticipated iTunes Radio, which gives a Genius-like experience to the entire 26-million-title iTunes catalogue.
• You can see the full list of songs on each station by clicking History, with purchase and preview buttons built right in to send you to the iTunes Store.
• iTunes Radio also lets you customise each station by clicking a star to show that you want more of this type of music.
• iTunes Match users get an ad-free experience, while others can use the app for free with a few audio and text ads.

Activation Lock:

• This is for those of us who have had an iPhone stolen.
• If a thief steals your phone and tries to turn off Find My iPhone, they can no longer turn the device back on without your iCloud password.
• Users can also block messages and calls from other users.

Keep yourself updated with the latest

How Has iOS Changed Since iOS 7?

iOS 7 set the direction for the clean, modern look that iPhones have today, and Apple has reshaped the software several times since.

Version	Key Change
iOS 7 (2013)	Flat, translucent design, Control Centre, AirDrop, automatic app updates
iOS 14 (2020)	Home Screen widgets and the App Library
iOS 16 (2022)	Customizable lock screen
iOS 18 (2024)	Apple Intelligence introduced
iOS 26 (2025)	Liquid Glass design and a new year-based version number
iOS 27 (2026)	Redesigned Siri, wider Apple Intelligence features, performance and child-safety updates

iOS 7 vs iOS 27: How Do They Compare?

Area	iOS 7 (2013)	iOS 27 (2026)
Design	Flat and translucent	Liquid Glass, with refinements
Siri	New voices, settings control, Bing results	Redesigned Siri with AI features
Passwords	iCloud Keychain in Safari	Passwords app with help updating compromised passwords
Security Updates	No longer provided	Actively supported
Supported iPhones	iPhone 4 and later at launch	iPhone 11 and newer

What Is New in iOS 27 in 2026?

Apple announced iOS 27 at WWDC on June 8, 2026, and released it to the public on September 14, 2026. Rather than a visual overhaul, it focuses on a smarter Siri, trust and safety, and performance. Key changes include:

• A redesigned Siri with more advanced AI capabilities
• Apple Intelligence features expanded across apps such as Safari, Mail, Image Playground, and Passwords
• A Passwords app that can help update eligible compromised passwords
• New parental controls and child-safety features
• Refinements to the Liquid Glass design introduced in iOS 26
• Performance and stability improvements across the system

Feature availability varies by iPhone model and region, and the most advanced AI features require newer hardware, so check Apple’s official compatibility list before updating.

Which iPhones Support iOS 27, and Is iOS 7 Still Safe?

iOS 27 supports the same iPhones as iOS 26, which means the iPhone 11 series and newer. Older models such as the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR stay on the iOS 18 branch, where Apple has continued to release security updates. Devices that ran iOS 7, such as the iPhone 5, cannot run modern iOS versions.

iOS 7 is more than a decade old and no longer receives security updates, so any device still running it is exposed to known vulnerabilities. Don’t use a phone or tablet that cannot update to a supported iOS version for work email, banking, or company data.

How Should Businesses Manage iPhone Updates?

Apple regularly ships iOS updates that include security fixes, and it also issues updates for older supported devices. When employees delay updating, known flaws stay open to attackers. A single out-of-date phone with access to email, files, or Microsoft 365 can become an entry point for phishing, account takeover, or data theft.

Most small and mid-sized businesses don’t have time to chase every employee for updates. A managed IT provider can handle this centrally with mobile device management (MDM): enforcing updates, requiring passcodes and multi-factor authentication, separating work and personal data, and remotely wiping a lost device. At BA Consulting, we help businesses across Toronto and the GTA keep their devices, cloud tools, and networks secure. If you are weighing support options, read our guide on managed IT services vs break-fix.

Quick Checklist: Is Your Business Ready for iOS 27?

• List every iPhone and iPad that accesses company data
• Check each model against Apple’s iOS 27 compatibility list
• Replace or retire devices that can no longer receive updates
• Turn on MFA for email, Microsoft 365, and other work apps
• Use MDM to enforce passcodes, encryption, and updates
• Set a simple policy for AI features and company data
• Test updates on a small group before rolling out to everyone

Keep yourself updated with the latest iOS news, Apple updates, and IT security tips from BA Consulting. Need help securing your company’s devices? Contact us for a free IT assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Were the Main Features of iOS 7?

iOS 7 introduced a flat, translucent design, Control Centre, a new multitasking view, a redesigned Safari with unlimited tabs, AirDrop, photo filters, a new Siri voice, automatic app updates, iTunes Radio, and Activation Lock.

2. What Is the Latest iOS Version in 2026?

The latest major version is iOS 27, released on September 14, 2026. Apple also releases smaller updates after a major release, so check Settings to see the newest version available for your iPhone.

3. Which iPhones Can Run iOS 27?

iOS 27 supports the same models as iOS 26: the iPhone 11 series and newer. Some Apple Intelligence and Siri features need newer hardware, so not every supported iPhone gets every feature.

4. How Do I Update My iPhone to the Latest iOS?

Back up your iPhone, connect to Wi-Fi and plug it in, then open Settings, tap General, and choose Software Update. Download and install the update if one is available.

5. Is It Safe to Use an iPhone That Cannot Update Anymore?

It becomes riskier over time. Devices that no longer receive security updates are exposed to known vulnerabilities, so don’t use them for sensitive work data. Plan to replace them and ask your IT provider to help with the transition.

6. How Can a Business Manage iPhone Updates and Security?

Most businesses use mobile device management (MDM) through a managed IT provider. It lets IT enforce updates, passcodes, and encryption; separate work and personal data; and wipe lost devices. Pair it with multi-factor authentication and staff security training.