Apple is introducing a new on-device index that will power a persistent catalog, enabling unified search across Mail, Spotlight, and Photos.

Developer betas for the upcoming OS versions have already been released ahead of the public launch.

Hardware compatibility will determine eligibility for advanced AI features in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27.

iOS 27 will overhaul Mail search to fix years of inconsistent results and deliver more reliable findings.

Search will shift toward intent-based results, with an Expanded Search Results banner signaling the change.

A new ranking system for Mail will prioritize relevance over recency to surface the most pertinent emails.

Search suggestions may return emails even when exact keywords aren’t present, such as finding a dentist email when you search for 'dentist.'

iOS 27 is expected to launch this September, alongside new devices like the iPhone 18 Pro and rumors of a folding iPhone.

The index will be rebuilt to be more stable, efficient, and comprehensive for both existing content and new material.