Apple’s artificial intelligence plans took centre stage at its annual developer conference, but iOS 27 will also bring a series of practical updates to services used daily by millions of iPhone owners.
Apple Wallet is receiving some of the most notable changes. Users will be able to photograph a restaurant receipt and rely on Apple Intelligence to identify individual purchases, calculate tax and tips, and determine how much each person owes. Friends can then settle their share through Apple Cash using Wallet or Messages.
The app will also allow physical loyalty and membership cards to be added by scanning their barcodes. These passes can appear on Apple Watch and be placed in the Smart Stack for quicker access. Digital hotel keys are also becoming more useful, with participating properties able to provide booking details, activity schedules, service information, and live updates alongside room access.
Apple Pay will introduce a cleaner checkout experience for online and in-app purchases. Shoppers will be able to move between cards while reviewing rewards, account balances, and instalment options. A new Tap to Share function will also let customers provide selected loyalty, delivery, and contact details to participating retailers.
Find My is gaining more flexible privacy controls. Users can choose precisely how long to share their location, ranging from a few minutes to several days or a specific deadline. Sharing with an individual contact can also be paused until the end of the day without permanently removing that person.
Apple Maps will feature improved three-dimensional views of cities and landmarks, while Local Lists will highlight popular restaurants, attractions, and other nearby destinations. The feature could strengthen Apple’s position against platforms increasingly used for local recommendations, including Google Maps, Instagram, and TikTok.
Apple Music is expanding lyric translations and phonetic pronunciation tools across more language combinations. Its song-transition feature, AutoMix, will also reach Apple TV and HomePod, while compatible Apple TV 4K systems will support Hi-Res Lossless Audio.
Elsewhere, Apple Podcasts will add video support on Mac and Apple TV, as well as searches within individual programmes. Shared Albums will support full-resolution images, additional file types, emoji reactions, temporary collections, and web uploads from people without Apple devices.
Fitness+ will introduce Strong Through Menopause, a three-week Yoga and Strength programme focused on mobility, balance, and stress management. Developers can test the software now, with a public beta expected next month.