Before iPadOS 27.3, reaching Visual Intelligence on iPad required more steps than pointing a camera and asking a question. The beta update adds a Siri tab directly inside the Camera app, moving the entry point to a more immediate and obvious location.
The addition follows a feature Apple introduced in iOS 27 for iPhone 15 Pro and newer, according to MacRumors. Beta users on supported iPads can switch to Siri mode inside Camera and point at an object or scene to surface information through Visual Intelligence.
Apple Pencil support gives iPad owners a more deliberate version of that workflow. After photographing something, users can circle or highlight a specific object with Apple Pencil before submitting a query. That step directs Visual Intelligence toward a specific element rather than the full frame.
The distinction is worth drawing clearly: the Camera integration is a new entry point, not a new analytical engine. Visual Intelligence was already available on iPad through screenshots and selected screen content; iPadOS 27.3 adds a camera-based access path inside an app most users open daily. For anyone who photographs objects, landmarks, products, or text and wants immediate context, the new tab trims the steps required to get there.
Hardware eligibility follows Apple’s existing Apple Intelligence requirements. iPad Pro and iPad Air models with M1 or later qualify, as do iPad mini models carrying the A17 Pro or A20 Pro chip, according to MacRumors and Apple’s support documentation. Apple’s general guidelines describe the threshold as A17 Pro or later for iPad mini and M1 or later for other iPad models.
Availability is not universal. Apple Intelligence requires a supported language and region, and Apple notes that some features remain unavailable in certain markets. Users outside supported regions or on older hardware will not see the Siri tab in Camera.
For iPad owners who qualify, the practical change is a shorter path to a tool they may not have known was already there. Someone identifying a plant, reading a sign in an unfamiliar language, or researching a product can open Camera, switch modes, and get a result without navigating away. The Apple Pencil option adds a layer of precision useful for isolating one item in a busy image.
Because iPadOS 27.3 remains in beta, the final behavior, device support list, language coverage, and release timing could all change before public availability. MacRumors reported the feature during the beta period; Apple has not provided a specific public release date for iPadOS 27.3.
