Safari 27.3 beta adds vertical tabs and adaptive dark mode across Apple devices
Safari is getting vertical tabs and a way to darken websites that lack their own dark theme. Apple has included both features in developer betas
Safari is getting vertical tabs and a way to darken websites that lack their own dark theme. Apple has included both features in developer betas of iOS 27.3, iPadOS 27.3 and macOS 27.3.
The changes reshape everyday browsing: tabs can move from a horizontal strip to a column at the left of the screen, while Safari can render a dark version of some bright websites. The update also ties tab organization to Apple Intelligence, though the beta details describe that connection through automatic tab sorting.
Tabs down the side
Vertical tabs are available on iPhone, iPad and Mac, including Apple’s iPhone Duo. They appear as icons by default to save space. Users can widen the column to see website titles, a useful option when several tabs are open.
The layout works with Tab Groups and Topics. Topics are created when automatic Apple Intelligence tab sorting is enabled, and existing functions such as pinned tabs and switching between Tab Groups remain available. On Mac and iPad, users can turn on vertical tabs from Safari’s View menu; the setting is also available in Safari settings.
Moving tabs to the side follows a feature now found in other browsers, including Chrome. On Apple devices with larger displays, the column can keep open pages visible without crowding the top of the window.
A darker web, with limits
Adaptive Dark Mode targets sites that do not offer a dark design themselves. When a user has Dark Mode enabled and opens a bright page, Safari can offer a “Try” option to display a dark version. The feature addresses a familiar mismatch: dark browser controls surrounding a page that remains glaringly light.
Apple’s developer betas are available now, with a public beta expected to follow. The features are part of the 27.3 software line for iPhone, iPad and Mac; the reports do not establish a public release date for the update.
For now, automatic Apple Intelligence tab sorting is the AI-related browser feature described alongside the redesign. The beta information does not detail how that sorting works or what data it uses. Vertical tabs and Adaptive Dark Mode are both in the developer betas of iOS, iPadOS and macOS 27.3.
