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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- iOS 27 has a number of smaller modifications price noting.
- Some iOS 27 updates received little or no WWDC consideration.
- The beta contains sensible updates past Siri AI.
At WWDC 26Apple spent the vast majority of its time speaking about Siri AI and different Apple Intelligence upgrades. Unsurprisingly, they’re the spotlight of iOS 27. In spite of everything, they goal to boost your person expertise. Nevertheless, sure options received a short point out or no point out in any respect, and they’re fascinating perks, particularly for older generations of iPhones.
Additionally: Every iPhone model that supports the iOS 27 update (and which older ones don’t)
I put in the iOS 27 Developer Beta quickly after WWDC, and these are a few of the comparatively small options which are large enhancements, relying on the way in which you employ your iPhone.
1. Save a body from video
There are occasions once I take a screenshot of a selected body from a video to share on social media or make a humorous sticker out of it. However with iOS 27, I can merely extract that body out of the video with just a few faucets. I now not have to take a screenshot, resize it to dismiss the black borders on the highest and backside, after which put it aside to have a usable body.
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On iOS 27, you possibly can play a video, faucet on the three-dot menu within the top-right nook, and choose Save Video Body as Photograph. It will then extract the body and put it aside as a photograph in your gallery.
Nevertheless, it compresses the picture, so you do not get a GoPro-like 24MP picture from the video function. I’ve observed screenshot file sizes starting from 6MB to 9MB, whereas the identical body is extracted as a 500KB picture. I did not see a significant distinction in high quality. It’s primarily saving you area whereas providing you with a similar-quality picture.
2. Lock display screen enhancements
If you happen to’re like me and do not like a giant clock occupying many of the lock display screen, you will be completely satisfied to know that it’s getting visible upgrades with iOS 27. It means that you can add a smaller lock display screen clock with the date and time displayed in a single row on the prime. You too can add widgets in a row on the backside, so it’s a cleaner look with extra of your wallpaper and fewer convoluted numbers.
Additionally: How to download the iOS 27 developer beta (and which iPhone models support it)
Plus, media playback controls at the moment are dismissible on the lock display screen. On my iPhone 17 Professional operating iOS 26, I’ve to shut the app itself (YouTube Music or Apple TV) if I don’t need to anticipate the system to mechanically take away it from my lock display screen later. With the brand new era of iOS, you possibly can merely swipe away the playback controller like notifications on the lock display screen. It’s a comparatively minor function, however I have been wanting it for years.
3. High quality-tuning the placement sharing options on Discover My
Apple will will let you share your location with others for a customized length utilizing Discover My. With iOS 27, you’ll choose a extra versatile length, like quite a lot of minutes, hours, or days. You possibly can even set a date and time for while you’d like the placement to cease being shared.
Additionally: iOS 27 envy? 4 features you can already use on an Android phone (including Samsung models)
It will be useful for instances while you’re off to purchase presents for a liked one however don’t need them to know your location for a selected a part of your day. To date, I’ve relied on WhatsApp to share my location with my household and pals, however Discover My’s versatile choices can probably convert me to make use of Apple’s personal app — pulling me additional into the ecosystem.
4. Connectivity Help
This is likely one of the most helpful upgrades on iOS 27, not less than for me, as a result of I dwell in a patchy community space. I steadily wrestle to get dependable connectivity between Wi-Fi and 5G. Usually, switching your iPhone between Wi-Fi and mobile networks requires swiping all the way down to entry the Management Middle and manually turning off Wi-Fi.
Additionally: The two biggest iOS 27 features at WWDC for me had nothing to do with Siri AI
The brand new Connectivity Help function can mechanically use mobile knowledge alongside Wi-Fi to maintain issues operating easily. It will possibly assist your iPhone get extra dependable speeds and keep a sooner connection. You possibly can allow this function by going to Settings > Wi-Fi > and deciding on Connectivity Help.
5. Further options for AirPods Professional 3
Apple introduced custom EQ support for AirPods with its new replace. It’ll allow you to fine-tune your sound for the primary time on Apple earbuds. Nevertheless, that is not the perfect improve. The corporate can also be including GymKit assist to the AirPods Pro 3.
Additionally: Everything announced at Apple WWDC 2026 – including Siri, iOS 27 dev beta, and more
This implies you’ll pair them to appropriate cardio gear, treadmills, ellipticals, and train bikes — just like the Apple Watch — making its coronary heart fee sensor extra helpful than ever. It’ll assist you hold monitor of metrics like tempo, coronary heart fee, and extra.
Apart from these 5 options, I am having fun with the brand new look of my iPhone on iOS 27. It has helped me alter the Liquid Glass transparency for a extra pleasing-looking interface. I am nonetheless utilizing the beta and can replace this story as and once I discover new, lesser-known options.
