Two New Features in iPadOS 27.2: Siri Context Pop-up and Apple TV User Profiles
iPadOS 27.2 was released this week, adding two new features: the Siri context pop-up and Apple TV user profiles. After selecting text with a trackpad or mouse, a Siri icon appears to the left of the selection; hovering over it expands the "Ask Siri" input box and offers writing suggestions such as "Proofread," "Rewrite," and "How does this sound?"; Siri AI can also recall past conversations and draw on information from more sources, including photos in Messages, calendar attendees, voicemails, and Safari history. The Apple TV app now shows a profile selection screen at launch, updating the playback queue, watch history, and recommendations based on the selected user, while child profiles follow the content age limits that have been set.
Body
iPadOS 27.2 arrived this week as the latest noteworthy iPad software update, here are two new features it includes.
#1: Siri AI contextual popup and more improvements
Siri AI is a major improvement over the old Siri, and I’m using it all the time on my iPad—often with a CMD + Space keyboard shortcut since Siri and Spotlight are now integrated.
In iPadOS 27.2, Apple added another convenient way to interact with Siri that first debuted on the Mac in macOS Golden Gate.
When you select text in iPadOS 27.2 via a trackpad or mouse, there’s a new Siri contextual popup that appears to the left of your selection. If you hover over the Siri icon with your cursor, it instantly expands to offer an ‘Ask Siri’ text field.
This makes it quick and easy to ask Siri about whatever you’ve highlighted. And if you’re in the writing process, the Siri popup even has suggestions like ‘Proofread,’ ‘Rewrite,’ and ‘How does this sound?’ so you can get help with just a click.
Siri AI also includes several new upgrades that make it more capable. Per Apple’s release notes:
Siri AI can recall your past conversations, so you can ask Siri about something it told you before, like the restaurants it recommended last week
Siri AI can draw from more sources to give you a great answer, including photos attached in Messages, Calendar event attendees, your voicemails, and better results from Safari history and Reading List
#2: Profiles in Apple TV app
iPads make great video devices whether you’re an adult or a kid. And if you share an iPad with a partner or child, the Apple TV app has a welcome new addition: user profiles.
iPadOS 27.2 brings over the same profiles feature that tvOS already offered on Apple TV 4K.
When you open the Apple TV app on iPad, you’ll see a new profile selection screen at startup. From here, you can choose who’s watching and the TV app will automatically update its queue, playback history, and content recommendations based on your selection.
If you’re a parent, profiles will take content restrictions into account. So when your child’s profile is active, they’ll only see films and TV shows that match the age settings you’ve previously set.
And if you don’t want to use profiles, it’s easy to disable them from showing on startup with a quick tap.
For more new features available in iPadOS 27.2, see our coverage here.
*Buy iPad with 15% discount from Apple refurbished
Best iPad accessories
AirPods Pro 3 (now only $199, down from $249)
100W USB-C fast charging power adapter
tomtoc Tablet sleeve bag for protection and style
Baseus 10ft USB-C cable for extended reach
Apple Pencil Pro