When Apple unveiled iOS 27, the AI-powered features and the enhanced Siri stole the show, which was entirely expected. But as Apple has always shown, the real fun lies in the details; there are plenty of great little changes and features that didn't get the attention they deserved at the main event, but which will change how we use our iPhones every day. In a detailed press release, Apple highlighted 12 new features coming to your favorite apps like Maps, Find My, Wallet, Apple Music, and many more. Let's take a closer look and analyze them.
Apple Maps and Location Services: Visual intelligence and greater freedom in sharing your location
The first notable upgrade comes in Apple Maps, which has received a stunning visual refresh thanks to artificial intelligence and AI-powered visual features. The popular Flyover feature now offers incredibly detailed information for supported cities, allowing you to see even the smallest details, from the shape of individual trees to the way light reflects off the glass of skyscrapers.
In addition, US map users get the “Local Lists” feature, which intelligently suggests popular places such as restaurants and destinations suitable for families and children.
The Find My app has finally gotten rid of its annoying old limitations. Previously, you were restricted to sharing your location for only three specific options: one hour, until the end of the day, or indefinitely. In iOS 27, you can now set a custom duration with any precision you want—for example, you can share your location for exactly 4 days and 6 hours! And that's not all; you can now pause location sharing with specific people until the end of the day without having to completely disable and then re-enable it later.
Apple Wallet and Smart Payments: Goodbye to complicated billing calculations between friends
Have you ever gone out with friends and been stuck trying to figure out who gets to cut the bill? Apple offers a solution in iOS 27 with its Smart Bill Splitting feature, powered by Apple Cash and artificial intelligence. By simply pointing your iPhone camera at the paper bill using the new Siri mode, the system will automatically recognize the items and prices. All you have to do is select your items, and the system will calculate your share with pinpoint accuracy, including taxes and tips, and then pay instantly, saving you from complicated calculations.
The Apple Wallet app has also received features that make your daily life easier; you can now create custom passes by simply scanning any physical card containing a barcode or QR code using the camera and Siri mode, instantly turning it into a digital card ready to use in your wallet.
The digital hotel key experience has also been enhanced to provide you with continuous details and updates about your trip, booked activities, and available services during your stay.
When shopping online, you’ll notice a completely new design for the Apple Pay payment process that allows you to quickly swipe through your different cards while displaying detailed information such as reward balances, debit accounts, and available after-payment options.
For small business owners, the new Tap to Share feature allows secure sharing of shipping information, email, and loyalty points simply by bringing the iPhone close to the merchant's device.
Photos and entertainment: Unrestricted shared albums and better musical harmony
In the Photos app, iCloud Shared Albums has received a long-awaited upgrade; it now supports sharing photos in full resolution and various file types, with support for emoji interaction.
Most importantly, your friends who do not own Apple devices can now easily join and contribute to these shared albums via the web without any technical obstacles preventing them from documenting moments with you.
Music and podcast lovers will also benefit greatly; the new “search within the program” feature in the podcast app allows users to find specific episodes with amazing speed.
In the Apple Music app, the AutoMix feature has been upgraded to deliver smoother, more professional-looking musical transitions, similar to those produced by professional DJs, for a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience. And to broaden cultural horizons, the lyrics translation feature has been expanded to include seven new language pairs, allowing you to understand global music more deeply.
iOS 27 is currently available as a developer beta, with the public beta scheduled for release in July. The final official update is expected to reach all users in September, as usual, with the release of new iPhones.
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