Apple details more than 250 new features in iOS 27, macOS and its entire ecosystem

Apple took advantage of the 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) to present an extensive list, with more than 250 innovations, which will be distributed among its main products and operating systems. Therefore, the iOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, watchOS 27, tvOS 27 and visionOS 27 platforms will receive a series of new features in updates that are already available in beta versions for developers. This volume of new features reflects an effort to comprehensively improve the user experience, integrating improvements throughout the company’s ecosystem.

New features expand iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate at WWDC 2026

The elements highlighted by the technological giant bring significant improvements to several of its devices. Examples include the ability to switch between two iPhones using the same number in iOS 27 and the inclusion of Live Activities in Dynamic Island in landscape mode. The expectation is that all these functionalities will be incorporated into the final version of the systems, which is scheduled to be released to the general public in September this year.

Significant improvements come to iPhone, iOS 27 and iPadOS 27

Several enhancements were revealed for Apple’s mobile systems and tablets to optimize usability and efficiency:
• Fluidly switch between two iPhones using the same number.
• Smoother transitions when switching between Wi-Fi and cellular networks.
• Live Activities now present on Dynamic Island in landscape mode.
• Increased energy efficiency in the Safari browser on iOS.
• Faster responses for Voice Control on iOS.
• Implementation of extra-large widgets on iOS.
• Simplified setup for Touch Accommodations on iOS and iPadOS.
• Live Activity for Precise Search with Friends.
• More fluid scrolling within the App Library.
• Smoother unlocking on iPhone screen.
• Option to undo and redo Home Screen edits on iPadOS.
• Extra-large widgets available in Today View on iPadOS.
• Faster closing of windows on iPadOS.
• Faster browsing and transfers in the Files app on iPadOS.
• Faster access to the menu bar in iPadOS.
• Resizing iPhone apps on iPadOS.
• Apple News+ audio support on iPadOS.
• Faster window switching on iPadOS.
• Optional persistent menu bar on iPad.
• App names visible in the iPad status bar.
• Dual camera feature in FaceTime.
• Faster Lock Screen switching.
• The Lock Screen remains active when scrolling notifications.
• Most energy-efficient Personal Hotspot on N1 devices.
• Expanded touch support in Sidecar.
• Independently configurable alarm volumes.
• Smoother camera switching when zooming in videos.
• More fluid pagination between Home Screen pages.
• Smoother scrolling in Control Center and Control Gallery.
• Easier to access Camera Experience.
• Orientation of photos with greater precision.
• Faster and more reliable NFC reading.
• Quick Start with recovery contact option.
• Pairing and handoff improvements for Made for iPhone hearing aids.
• Faster entry and exit from Assisted Access and Guided Access modes.
• Proactive digital car key configuration.

Key innovations transforming macOS 27

The operating system for Macs also receives a series of new features and optimizations, improving the user experience on several fronts:
• Most relevant suggestions presented in Spotlight.
• Faster indexing of shortcuts and actions within Spotlight.
• Drawing functionality now available in the Notes app on macOS.
• Updated experience for video podcasts on macOS.
• Improved energy efficiency for the Safari browser on macOS.
• Sidebars that extend from edge to edge.
• Colorful icons integrated into the sidebar.
• Updated icons in the menu bar.
• Standardization of toolbars.
• Consistent corner radii across the interface.
• Faster user account creation on macOS.
• Ethernet status visible in the menu bar.
• Enhanced RDMA through Thunderbolt technology.
• Support for Mac mirroring in 5K resolution.
• More high-resolution and high-refresh rate modes for external displays.
• Swipe down to update gesture on macOS.
• Smoother scrolling in the Safari browser on macOS.
• Resizing apps in iPhone Mirroring.
• DRM video support in iPhone Mirroring.
• Drawing functionality in the Freeform app on macOS.
• Smoother animations in Mission Control and Spaces.
• Visible edges for greater accessibility on macOS.
• HDR support in the system interface on macOS.

Updates enhance the Apple TV and tvOS 27 experience

Apple’s entertainment platform was also not left out, receiving improvements that aim to make use more fluid and responsive:
• Faster AirPlay connections to Apple TV.
• Implementing smart downloads on Apple TV.
• AppleCare details now accessible in Settings on tvOS.
• Control Center with greater responsiveness on tvOS.
• Podcasts app with redesigned design on tvOS.
• Option for larger text sizes on tvOS.
• Smoother animations and app launches on tvOS.

New features elevate the performance of Apple Watch and watchOS 27

The company’s smartwatch gains several features focused on battery optimization, precision and new interactions:
• Improved battery efficiency on Apple Watch.
• Step counting with greater accuracy.
• More efficient water detection.
• Improved Wi-Fi connectivity in watchOS.
• Guest keys now in Apple Wallet on watchOS.
• Unified Search app on watchOS.
• Faster opening of app extensions on watchOS.
• New tap gesture on Apple Watch.
• Faster media playback on watchOS.
• Dynamic app grid on watchOS.
• Parked Car Widget on Smart Stack.
• Apple Watch app with redesigned settings.
• Support time zone changes in Sleep function.
• Viewing card balances in Wallet on watchOS.
• Transport cards and IDs in the Smart Stack.
• New smart suggestions in the Smart Stack.

Expanding Vision Pro capabilities with visionOS 27

Apple’s spatial computing platform also receives important updates, aiming for a more immersive and interactive experience:
• Possibility of using panoramas as Environments in visionOS.
• Extra‑small widget option in visionOS.
• New curved windows in visionOS.
• Improved Control Center in visionOS.
• Look and tap to view and respond to notifications in visionOS.
• Spatial scene support for panoramas.
• Faster startup and Wi‑Fi connection in visionOS.
• Widget for Mac Virtual Display on visionOS.
• Multiple tab views in Safari on visionOS.

Optimizations for Home and HomePod devices

Apple’s smart home products will have improvements that promote greater connectivity and agility in management:
• Faster AirPlay connections with HomePod.
• Improved connectivity for Thread accessories.
• Faster updates for smart accessories.
• Faster pairing of HomeKit accessories.
• HomeKit camera storage with greater reliability.

New features in the CarPlay system

Apple’s vehicle system will receive improvements focused on navigation, audio and connectivity:
• Advance and rewind audio on the Now Playing screen.
• Better accuracy in navigation and GPS.
• Improved reliability in wireless CarPlay.
• Audio MiniPlayer in CarPlay.

Innovations in organizing and editing the Photos app

Apple’s photo and video app gains tools that make it easier to manage and personalize multimedia content:
• Filtering photos and videos in Shared Albums.
• Adding keywords to photos and videos.
• Improvements in album organization.
• Slideshow customization.
• Creation of the “Captured by Me” collection.
• Possibility to save any slideshow as a video.
• Choose a specific pet in Photo Shuffle.
• Search for photos and videos using more metadata.
• The search returns nicer photos of people and pets.
• Option to prioritize syncing with iCloud Photos.
• Easier saving of photos from Shared Albums.
• Inclusion of your own photos in Photo Shuffle.
• Faster rendering in the Collections tab.
• Selection view in the Photos app.
• Creation of the Identity Documents collection.
• Faster loading of new captures.
• Video frame saving as photo.
• Star rings in the Photos app.
• Full-resolution photos and videos in iCloud Shared Albums.
• Additional permissions for participants.
• Option to expire your Shared Albums.
• Viewing recent activity in Shared Albums.
• Reaction with any emoji.
• Participation in Shared Albums on Android and Windows.
• Easier invitations in Shared Albums.

Substantial improvements to the Messages app

Apple’s messaging app will have new features that improve communication and content management:
• Drawing app now integrated with Messages.
• Tool to find downloaded media in Messages.
• Failed messages will automatically attempt to resend.
• Continuous sending of photos, videos and texts.
• Consolidated notifications for multiple Tapbacks.
• Thumbnails displayed for downloaded media.
• Search for conversations using number or nickname.
• Faster addition of recent camera captures.
• Improved syncing across devices.

What’s new in Apple Music and Podcasts audio services

Apple’s music and podcast streaming services gain features that optimize the playback and browsing experience:
• Most reliable streaming on Apple Music.
• New AutoMix transitions.
• Album pages with renewed design.
• Faster loading of the Now Playing screen.
• Artist pages with renewed design.
• Search functionality within episodes on Podcasts.
• Custom EQ available on AirPods.
• Faster start of playback on Apple Music.

Important optimizations in Mail management

Apple’s email app receives improvements that make searching, loading and formatting more efficient:
• Best Top Results in Mail.
• Faster message loading.
• Search indexing with greater reliability.
• Improved list formatting.
• Improved accuracy on the unread stamp.

Ongoing improvements to Maps app navigation

Apple’s Maps app is updated with features that make exploration and guidance more accurate:
• Places visited with greater precision.
• Guides available in more regions.
• Improved Flyover functionality.
• Improvements to Offline Maps.
• Search for routes in natural language.

Expanded functionalities in Health, Fitness and Journal

Apple’s apps dedicated to well-being and personal organization are enriched with new tools and more precision:
• Sorting Fitness+ workouts by completed.
• Faster data updates in the Health app.
• Support for perimenopause and menopause.
• Recording perimenopause and menopause symptoms.
• Increased attachment limit in the Journal app.
• More accurate route maps after training.
• iCloud sync status for Journal entries.
• Improved distance accuracy on treadmills.
• Step count synchronized between Health and Fitness.
• Quicker start of workouts in the Workout app.
• Timestamp on Journal entries.
• Specific Fitness+ workouts for perimenopause and menopause.
• More intuitive writing sequences.
• GymKit integration on iPhone and AirPods Pro 3.

Additional features for the Notes app

Apple’s notes app gains new features that expand its organization and editing capabilities:
• Links to specific sections in Notes.
• Styled notes from third-party Calendar accounts.
• Option to copy and paste as Markdown.
• Inclusion of dividing lines in Notes.

Improving automation with the Shortcuts app

Apple’s Shortcuts app receives updates that expand its automation and data management options:
• Support for “else if” condition.
• Support group conversations.
• Expanded “Get What’s on Screen” capabilities.
• Data storage in Shortcuts.
• Redesigned Shortcuts Editor.
• Automation of screenshots and notifications.

Optimized performance in the Freeform app

Apple’s digital whiteboard tool receives improvements aimed at smoother, more collaborative performance:
• Faster frame previews.
• Right-to-left text editing with greater reliability.
• Smoother frame performance.
• Dark Mode adaptive screen.
• Implementation of collaborative folders.

New capabilities and speed in the Safari browser

Apple’s native browser will have a series of optimizations that promise greater speed and fluidity in browsing:
• Faster homepage loading.
• Better performance for web applications.
• Smoother animations and graphics.
• Faster JavaScript handling.
• More fluid resizing of the home page.

Simplified management in Apple Wallet and Apple Pay

Apple’s payment and digital wallet solutions receive enhancements focused on ease of use and order tracking:
• Simplified card selection and payment management.
• Wallet order tracking now available in Australia and Canada.

Find My app interface improvements

The application for locating Apple devices and people gains features that offer greater flexibility in sharing and visual improvements:
• More flexible sharing options.
• Improvements to the Find My interface.

Improvements to Home app features

The Home app, which manages smart home devices, receives features to improve camera monitoring:
• Support 4K recordings in the Home app.
• Simultaneous viewing of compatible cameras.

Optimized navigation and organization in Calendar

Apple’s calendar application is undergoing updates that make event management more practical and the interface more fluid:
• Possibility of modifying multiple events.
• Details of most organized events.
• Smoother scrolling in Calendar.

New tools expand systems accessibility

Apple continues its commitment to accessibility by introducing features that make it easier to use for a wider audience:
• Reading and editing PDFs easier with VoiceOver.
• Improved PlayStation Access controller support.
• Simplified Assisted Access configuration.

System optimizations, performance and various features

A wide range of general improvements aim to improve performance, energy efficiency and user experience in several aspects:
• Updated Liquid Glass.
• Liquid Glass customization.
• Faster opening of applications.
• Web audio does not interrupt system audio.
• Faster PDF saving.
• Faster AirDrop transfers.
• Faster AirDrop recipient discovery.
• Improved Bluetooth power management.
• Better FaceTime quality on poor connections.
• Faster network file browsing.
• Support media sharing by third-party apps.
• More document formats in Preview.
• More efficient emergency alert monitoring.
• More consistent persistence of windows on external monitors.
• Improved game control settings.
• Improved battery insights.
• Improved Game Overlay navigation.
• Improved performance on Apple News.
• All options displayed in Camera settings.
• Password help accessible from the Lock Screen.
• The Camera uses less power in Low Power Mode.
• Faster Camera opening in Low Power Mode.
• Richer iCloud collaboration link previews.
• Access requests for items shared via iCloud.
• Faster Text Recognition in photos and documents.
• Updated app icons.
• Optimized CPU scheduler.
• Automatic adjustment and reset of columns.
• Faster opening of full screen view by Photos widget.
• Faster access to content shared on iCloud.com.
• Smoother animations in News and Stocks articles.
• More accessible iCloud sharing link.
• More distinct active windows.
• Real-time updates for widgets when the app is open.
• Faster Return to Service.
• Updated hourly and 10-day views in Weather.
• Faster start of uploading to iCloud Photos.
• Option‑click for secondary sorting.
• Recipient suggestions based on content when sharing photos and links.
• Faster loading of emoji and sticker keyboards.
• Smoother scrolling in the widget gallery.
• Easier access to Apple Account recovery codes.

Expanded support for regional languages ​​and features

Apple expands its language support and optimizes regional features, making its systems more inclusive and globally adapted:
• New interface language for English (Canada) and English (Philippines).
• New keyboard layout for Slovenian and Estonian.
• Automatic punctuation when typing on multilingual keyboards.
• Natural language time formats for Chinese and Hindi.
• Call Recording Transcription for Traditional Chinese, Japanese and Brazilian Portuguese.
• New keyboards for languages ​​such as Afrikaans, Basque, Baybayin, English (Philippines), Galician, Guarani, Luxembourgish, Xhosa and Zulu.
• New keyboards for indigenous languages ​​like Blackfoot, Comanche, Cree, Kiowa, and Tsuu’tina.
• Faster multilingual text processing for handwriting.
• Chāizì typing.
• Smart language and keyboard suggestions.
• QuickPath and typing suggestions for VNI Vietnamese keyboard.
• Multilingual grammar check.
• Holiday-sensitive alarms in China.
• Punctuation suggestions when typing in Chinese.
• Alternative calendars for India that track time zones when traveling.
• Language expansion for Shopping List in Reminders.
• Improved conversion of phonetic scripts like Pinyin and Kana.
• Live Voicemail Transcription for English (Singapore) and Japanese.
• Places Visited on Maps available in more markets.
• Scribble supports Hindi and Marathi with Apple Pencil.
• On-screen context for more relevant suggestions in Chinese and Japanese.
• Expanded language support for automatic categorization in Reminders.
• Live FaceTime Subtitles for Traditional Chinese.