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Five New iPhone Features Rumored for iOS 27

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Though it's been just a few months since iOS 26 launched, we're already hearing rumors about the next-generation version of iOS, iOS 27. iOS 27 will be introduced at Apple's June WWDC 2026 event before it launches in September 2026.

iOS-27-Mock-Quick.jpg

We don't know all of the details about iOS 27 yet, but we do have some information about what to expect.

"Snow Leopard" Update

iOS 27 will apparently focus on bug fixes and under-the-hood improvements to boost performance rather than new features. It's been referred to as a "Snow Leopard" update, because that was a version of macOS that Apple famously claimed had "zero new features" because it was all about fixing the existing software.

Apple engineers are reportedly going through iOS 26 to look for bloat, bugs, and any other issues impacting performance that can be fixed in iOS 27.

iPhone Fold

In 2026, Apple plans to launch the first foldable iPhone, a device rumors have taken to calling the iPhone Fold. The iPhone Fold is expected to have a ~5.4-inch display when folded, and a ~7.7-inch display when it's opened up like a book. It will be shorter and wider than other foldables on the market, with a 4:3 aspect ratio. At around 5.4 inches when closed, the iPhone Fold's outer display will be the smallest we've had since the iPhone 13 mini.

With Apple going back to a smaller display and simultaneously introducing a 7.7-inch display that's larger than any iPhone display to date, we're going to need some updates to iOS. iOS 27 will focus on introducing new interfaces and experiences for a larger display and a display that shifts between multiple sizes.

We haven't heard specifics on how Apple will tweak iOS to accommodate the iPhone Fold, but we could see some iPad-like options such as side bars and perhaps even multitasking views with support for multiple windows.

Liquid Glass

iOS 27 will likely include refinements for the Liquid Glass design that Apple introduced with iOS 26. There have already been some changes in the iOS 26.1 and iOS 26.2 updates, but iOS 27 will provide Apple with the opportunity to make larger adjustments to respond to customer feedback.

Apple Intelligence

We're supposed to get the much smarter version of Siri in an iOS 26.4 update planned for spring 2026, but it's likely even more Apple Intelligence capabilities will follow in iOS 27.

We don't know specifics yet, but several existing Apple Intelligence features could expand to additional apps.

Apple is also working on a "World Knowledge" Siri search feature that would provide information on general search queries, which will likely be included in Siri's iOS 26.4 update. If it's not in iOS 26.4, the add-on Siri feature could instead come in iOS 27.

Siri

With iOS 27, Apple could update Siri's design. Siri will get its major overhaul in iOS 26.4, but a new visual look is supposedly planned for iOS 27. There are no specifics about what the redesign might entail, but rumors linked to Apple's upcoming tabletop robot suggest that the company might introduce a version of Siri that's more animated, similar to the Mac Finder logo. That more animated version of Siri could also come to the iPhone and iPad, and we could see it first in iOS 27.

Health+

Apple is developing a paid Health+ service with nutrition planning and medical suggestions, and we could see that introduced as part of iOS 27.

The medical tool would explain different health metrics and trends from the Health app, offering up personalized guidance for health improvement.

New Satellite Features

Apple is working on several new satellite features for the iPhone, and it's possible some features could be introduced as soon as iOS 27. Timing on Apple's satellite improvements is unclear, though, and behind-the-scenes updates from Apple's satellite partner Globalstar are required.
Rumored features:
  • Apple Maps via satellite
  • Photos in Messages via satellite
  • Satellite API framework for third-party apps
  • Satellite over 5G
  • Satellite connectivity without the need for a view of the sky
Some of these features might require new hardware, but options like Apple Maps via satellite would not require components beyond what's available now.
Launch Date

New versions of iOS, macOS, and Apple's other software platforms will be previewed in June at WWDC before launching in September just ahead of when new iPhone models come out.

Article Link: Five New iPhone Features Rumored for iOS 27
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/01/07/five-iphone-features-rumored-ios-27/
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Maps via satellite would be awesome. Really hope they do that one. They could easily integrate it with offline maps so that it takes little actual live data but would be incredibly useful in remote areas.

Other than that just please like I wish every year, fix the bugs. Stop with new features, especially "features" like Liquid Glass. I hope they are already planning a "de-design" to fix that abomination and bring us back to classic Apple design principles. "Programmer talk" as Dye called it.
 
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My impression is that this liquid glass UI design looks awesome until you start using it. It's not particularly bad but there are silly design flaws here and there that piss me off. For example, distracting UI elements changing from black to white depending on the content as I scroll it. Letters that are not clearly visible until you scroll the side bar just a bit more. Non-weighted placement of sidebar(s) that seem out of place, not entirely but juuust enough to distract me.

I also understand there's an issue with consuming too much energy in order to render all those effects thus reducing battery life.

Those "Snow Leopard" upgrades should address those UI issues.

Full disclosure, none of my Macs can run Tahoe so my macOS impressions come from the time I spend at the local Apple Store, where I walk in and pretend I have enough money to buy a new 16" MBP 😁

EDIT: typos
 
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sotosoul said:
My impression is that this liquid glass UI design looks awesome until you start using it. It's not particularly bad but there are silly design flaws here and there that piss me off. For example, distracting UI elements changing from black to white depending on the content as I scroll it. Letters that are not clearly visible until you scroll the side bar just a bit more. Non-weighted placement of sidebar(s) that seem out of place, not entirely but juuust enough to distract me.

I also understand there's an issue with consuming too much energy in order to render all those effects thus reducing the batterly life.

Those "Snow Leopard" upgrades should address those UI issues.

Full disclosure, none of my Macs can run Tahoe so my macOS impressions come from the time I spend at the local Apple Store, where I walk in and pretend I have enough money to buy a new 16" MBP 😁
Click to expand...

I found the exact opposite true. Looked like garbage in all the photos and videos I watched, but a fantastic user experience actually using it.
 
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The only things they need to do is fix all the bugs and fix all the inconveniences and usability issues in the new UI. Sadly, the marketing people run the company, so I’m not sure they’ll truly focus on that. Instead, we’ll likely get more marketing buzz festers, while the reliability of the software suffers.
 
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t0rqx said:
The engineers have been working on iOS26 for 1.5 years now. Reading all the comments they cannot fix basic animations or have the liquid design glass language applied though out the whole OS...in at least 1.5 years.
Click to expand...
This is a vast misunderstanding about how software development works, especially at Apple.
It’s not like they had 26.0 as we got it 18 months previous.
They have different internal teams working on each individual component or application.
That’s why the early leaks only had bits and pieces of the new operating system.
 
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MacRumors said:
but iOS 27 will provide Apple with the opportunity to make larger adjustments [to Liquid Glass] to respond to customer feedback.
Click to expand...
As in make it a user choice in Appearances? A check box for Liquid Glass or Sonoma? Zorin has eight desktop options, Ubuntu at least five, Mint has three.

But mighty Apple can only manage one and chose to emulate their worst selling product. :rolleyes:
 
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I’m hoping Snow Leopard addresses the black screen camera bug. I’m tired of having to open the camera, lock the phone, and open the camera again for it to actually work!
 
MacRumors said:
"Snow Leopard" Update

iOS 27 will apparently focus on bug fixes and under-the-hood improvements to boost performance rather than new features. It's been referred to as a "Snow Leopard" update, because that was a version of macOS that Apple famously claimed had "zero new features" because it was all about fixing the existing software.

Article Link: Five New iPhone Features Rumored for iOS 27
Click to expand...

Actually, I remember that Snow Leopard was the update that included a very useful new feature, as mentioned in this Wikipedia article:
An option has been added to the Finder preferences that allows the user to modify search behavior. The default setting can be selected to (1) search the entire computer, (2) search only the current folder from which the search was initiated, or (3) perform the search based on the previously used scope.
Click to expand...

Searching only the current folder's contents from the Finder's search bar was a heaven-sent new feature that has helped me immensely ever since.

Also, Mac OS 10.6 "Snow Leopard" would be a great goal for Apple's software team in more ways than one: Not only was Snow Leopard a powerful and useful Operating System, but it was also one of the prettiest Operating Systems Apple has ever designed.

MacOSXSnowLeopard1.jpg
 
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sotosoul said:
It's not particularly bad but there are silly design flaws here and there that piss me off. For example, distracting UI elements changing from black to white depending on the content as I scroll it.
Click to expand...

That's by design, not a bug. If it annoys you, you can turn off transparency so it doesn't do that. The option exists in Settings.

Apple engineers are reportedly going through iOS 26 to look for bloat, bugs, and any other issues impacting performance that can be fixed in iOS 27.
Click to expand...

Good! I've submitted feedback many times using Feedback Assistant on macOS and NEVER, repeat NEVER, get an update or reply to those submissions. It's almost like they ignore them, which is a real shame, so hopefully they are taking extra time to go through and address the reported issues.
 
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