Safari Gets Vertical Tabs And Adaptive Dark Mode In New Updates
New Navigation And Visual Enhancements For Safari
Apple is implementing significant updates to the Safari web browser with the release of iOS 27.3, iPadOS 27.3, and macOS Golden Gate 27.3. One of the most prominent changes is the introduction of a Vertical Tabs layout. This new design allows users to move their tabs from the traditional horizontal bar at the top of the screen to a vertical arrangement on the left side of the display. While this feature is available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, it is particularly well-suited for the larger display of the iPhone Duo. This shift toward vertical layouts reflects a growing trend in web browser design, as seen in other software like Arc, which popularized the option before its development ceased.
By default, the Vertical Tabs bar uses icons to maximize available screen space. However, users have the option to widen the bar to display full website titles. This layout integrates seamlessly with Tab Groups and Topics, the latter of which are generated through automatic Apple Intelligence tab sorting. Existing functionalities, such as pinning tabs via dragging and quickly switching between different Tab Groups, remain fully operational. Users can enable this layout through the Safari settings on iPhone—specifically by navigating to the Settings app, choosing Apps, and then tapping Safari—or via the View menu on Mac and iPad devices.
Intelligent Visual Adaptation And AI Integration
In addition to navigation changes, Apple is introducing Adaptive Dark Mode. This feature targets websites that do not natively support a dark design. When a user has system-wide Dark Mode enabled and visits a bright website, Safari will present a prompt to try the adaptive version. Upon activation, the browser renders a customized dark version of the page. This process involves darkening the background, adjusting text contrast, inverting graphics and logos, recoloring vector artwork, and rebalancing layered shadows and raised surfaces to maintain a cohesive look.
Because each website is adapted based on its specific layout to ensure readability, the exact tweaks applied vary from site to site. Users can choose to apply Adaptive Dark Mode on a site-by-site basis or enable it globally for all compatible websites. The feature will not activate on sites that already possess a native dark mode or a dark design. Furthermore, developers have the ability to add a specific tag to their websites to prevent the browser from applying these adaptive changes, ensuring the site appears exactly as the developer intended.
Beyond visual updates, the browser is receiving new Siri AI actions. Siri can now actively manage tabs and windows, allowing users to sort, move, close, and arrange them within Tab Groups using voice commands. The AI assistant also gains control over web history, enabling users to request the deletion of history for specific sites or for defined timeframes, such as the previous ten days. These capabilities streamline browser management by removing the need for manual menu navigation for common organizational tasks.
Future updates will further expand Siri’s capabilities. While Siri can currently see what is on the screen, it will soon be able to comprehend the full content of webpages, including information in non-active tabs or sections not currently in view. This will allow users to ask complex questions across multiple open websites. For example, a user shopping for a product across several tabs can ask Siri to sort the options by price or provide a summary of product details. This awareness feature is planned for a future release and is not included in the first beta.
These new Siri features require a device capable of running Apple Intelligence. The updates are currently available to developers in the latest beta versions. Following several rounds of beta testing to refine the experience and ensure stability, iOS 27.3, iPadOS 27.3, and macOS Golden Gate 27.3 are scheduled for a full public launch this December.