iOS 27's Most Exciting New Features You Need to Know About

What iOS 27 Brings Beyond the AI Headlines

Apple's WWDC event this year was largely dominated by headlines surrounding the next generation of Siri and Apple Intelligence. But beneath all that artificial intelligence buzz, iOS 27 quietly delivers a robust collection of practical upgrades that will improve how millions of people use their iPhones every single day. From revamped mapping tools to smarter wallet features, here's a comprehensive breakdown of everything worth knowing.

Apple Maps Gets Smarter and More Immersive

Flyover Receives a Visual Overhaul

Apple's iconic Flyover feature — which lets users explore cities and landmarks through detailed 3D aerial views — has received a notable visual refresh in iOS 27. Navigation is smoother, and the imagery is more detailed than ever, making virtual city exploration feel closer to the real thing.

Discover Local Gems with Local Lists

Apple is also introducing Local Lists, a brand-new discovery tool built directly into Maps. Users can now browse trending recommendations for restaurants, local attractions, and points of interest curated from what's popular in their area. This feature appears to be a direct challenge to Google Maps and even social platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which many users currently rely on for local exploration and dining recommendations.

Find My Gains Flexible Location Sharing

Privacy-conscious users will appreciate the expanded controls coming to the Find My app this fall. For the first time, iPhone owners will be able to share their location for a custom duration — whether that's a matter of minutes, several hours, multiple days, or until a specific date and time of their choosing.

Additionally, users will have the option to temporarily pause location sharing with individual contacts until the end of the day. Apple notes this is particularly useful in social situations, such as organizing a surprise birthday party without tipping off the guest of honor.

Apple Wallet Becomes a Powerful Financial Hub

Scan Receipts and Split Bills Instantly

One of iOS 27's most impressive practical additions lives inside Apple Wallet. Users can now point their iPhone camera at any receipt, and Apple Intelligence will automatically scan and identify individual items, calculate each person's share of taxes and tips, and then facilitate repayment directly through Messages or Wallet using Apple Cash. It's effortless, intelligent bill splitting without the mental math.

Digitize Physical Loyalty and Membership Cards

Wallet is also stepping up as a digital card organizer. Users can scan physical barcodes or digital loyalty cards to store them directly inside Wallet. These passes will also sync to Apple Watch and can be pinned to the Smart Stack for even faster access on the go.

A Better Hotel Stay Experience

Travelers staying at participating hotels and resorts will notice a significantly improved digital key experience. Beyond simply unlocking rooms with an iPhone or Apple Watch tap, guests will now be able to access trip details, activity schedules, resort service information, and real-time updates — all from within the Wallet app.

Redesigned Apple Pay Checkout

Apple Pay's checkout interface is getting a fresh redesign for online and in-app purchases. Swiping between payment cards is now more intuitive, and users can instantly view rewards balances, debit account balances, and pay-later options in one place. Apple also plans to roll out the ability to add funds directly to eligible debit cards through Wallet later this year.

Tap to Share for Merchants

On the merchant side, Apple is expanding its Tap to Pay on iPhone functionality with a new tool called Tap to Share. This allows customers to securely exchange loyalty account details, shipping addresses, and contact information with participating merchants through a simple tap interaction.

Apple Music Expands Language Features

Music lovers who enjoy singing along to international tracks will be pleased with iOS 27's Apple Music updates. Lyrics Translation now supports seven additional language pairings, including English translations for songs originally performed in French, German, Italian, Korean, Spanish, and Japanese.

The Lyrics Pronunciation feature is also expanding with five new language pairings, helping users phonetically follow along to songs performed in languages they may not speak fluently.

Podcasts Get Long-Overdue Upgrades

Apple Podcasts is receiving several meaningful improvements in iOS 27. A new search within show feature lets listeners search for specific episodes across a particular podcast — available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision Pro, and the web. Apple is also bringing video podcast support to Mac and Apple TV, acknowledging the explosive growth of video-first podcast content.

Smarter, More Collaborative Shared Photo Albums

The Photos app is leveling up its sharing capabilities with full-resolution photo sharing, support for more file types, emoji reactions, and improved activity feeds. Users will also be able to view activity on a per-album basis for better organization.

New temporary albums are designed specifically for short-term events and group projects, allowing collaborative photo sharing without permanently consuming iCloud storage. Notably, non-Apple users will also be able to contribute photos through a web interface — a welcome step toward cross-platform inclusivity.

Fitness+ Addresses Menopause Health

Apple Fitness+ is launching a thoughtful new program called Strong Through Menopause — a three-week guided series combining Yoga and Strength workouts specifically designed for people navigating perimenopause and menopause. The program aims to help users build strength, improve balance and mobility, and reduce stress.

Apple is also adding a new Time to Walk episode featuring actress Busy Philipps, who opens up about her personal journey through perimenopause.

When Can You Try These Features?

All of the iOS 27 features outlined above are currently available for testing through the Apple Developer Program. A public beta is expected to arrive next month, with a full public release anticipated this fall.