The iOS 27 beta is packed with hundreds of changes and enhancements, but not all are created equal. After thoroughly testing over 200 new additions, I've curated a list of the 10 that truly stand out. From productivity tweaks to media upgrades, these features make the iPhone experience smoother, smarter, and more enjoyable.

Journal Writing Prompts

Staring at a blank page in the Journal app can be intimidating. iOS 27 addresses this with a new writing prompts feature that uses context from your photos or text to generate thoughtful questions. For example, when shown a photo of a person holding a rubber duck, the app asked a specific question about that duck in relation to the journal entry. This subtle nudge helps users overcome writer's block and encourages more consistent journaling. The prompts are generated on-device, ensuring privacy, and can be customized to focus on recent activities, locations, or people.

AirPods EQ

AirPods have long been a favorite accessory, and the new built-in equalizer brings audio customization directly to the source. In iOS 27, users can adjust low, mid, and high frequencies in real time from the settings menu. While basic compared to third-party EQs, it offers enough range to tailor the sound for music, podcasts, or calls. This feature works with AirPods Pro, AirPods 3, AirPods 4, and AirPods Max, making it a welcome addition that adds value without additional hardware. Apple continues to evolve AirPods with software, ensuring they remain among the most versatile earbuds on the market.

Section Links in Notes

The Notes app receives several improvements, but the ability to link to specific sections within a note is a game-changer for long documents. By creating anchor links to headings, users can jump directly to the relevant part of a note with a single tap. This is particularly useful for study notes, meeting minutes, or project plans. The feature integrates seamlessly with existing formatting – simply add a heading, copy its link, and paste it elsewhere. It’s a small change that dramatically improves navigation and organization.

Automatically Resend Failed Messages

We’ve all experienced that sinking feeling when a message fails to send without us noticing. iOS 27’s Messages app now automatically retries a failed send in the background. If the original attempt doesn’t go through, the system will try again after a short delay – no manual intervention needed. This ensures important messages reach their destination even in spotty network conditions. Combined with the existing send later scheduling, Messages becomes a more reliable communication tool.

Improved FlyOver in Maps

Apple Maps’ 3D flyover mode has seen dramatic visual improvements. Buildings that previously looked like “melted butter” now display crisp lines, detailed textures, and accurate shadows. In cities like Las Vegas and Austin, landmarks such as the Strip or the Texas Capitol appear with stunning realism. The improvements leverage on-device rendering and updated satellite imagery, resulting in a more immersive experience for virtual exploration. Whether planning a trip or just browsing, the enhanced flyover makes Maps a joy to use.

Apple Music Landscape Support

iOS 27 extends landscape orientation support to several apps, including Weather, Health, and Fitness. For Apple Music, the now-playing screen now rotates to landscape when the phone is docked sideways. This is perfect for desks, car dashboards, or nightstands, allowing album art and controls to fill the full width of the display. While limited to the now-playing view, it addresses a long-standing request from users who prefer a horizontal setup. The change may seem minor, but it demonstrates Apple’s increased attention to multitasking and ergonomics.

Improved Clean Up in Photos

The Clean Up tool in iOS 26 was functional but often left artifacts or required ideal conditions. iOS 27 introduces agentic image generation that intelligently removes objects while reconstructing the background. In a test, removing a mug from a shelf resulted in a seamless regeneration of the shelf surface – a task iOS 26 would have struggled with. The improvement comes from enhanced machine learning models that understand context and geometry. While not perfect, the new Clean Up is significantly more reliable and requires less manual retouching.

Photos Extend

Alongside Clean Up, iOS 27 adds two new photo editing tools: Extend and Reframe. Extend allows users to expand a photo in any direction – up, down, left, right – and have the AI fill in the missing area intelligently. Testing showed impressive results, such as extending a curtain that was slightly in the foreground, maintaining its pattern and lighting. Reframe, on the other hand, adjusts the aspect ratio while keeping the main subject intact, though results can vary. These tools, powered by on-device AI, give users more creative control without needing advanced editing software.

Custom Passes in Wallet

The Wallet app in iOS 27 becomes more versatile by letting users create custom passes from existing barcodes or QR codes. Simply scan a gym membership, store loyalty card, or event ticket – even a paper pass – and replicate it into a digital pass stored in Wallet. This eliminates the need to carry physical cards or rely on third-party apps. The process is straightforward: point the camera at the barcode, adjust the layout, and save. The feature supports most common pass formats and includes options for notifications and location-based alerts. It’s a practical addition that simplifies everyday life.

Safari Tab Topics

Managing multiple open tabs in Safari can be chaotic. iOS 27 introduces intelligent tab topics that automatically group related websites. For example, if you’re reading articles about travel and also checking flight prices, Safari may create a “Travel” topic. These groups appear in tab view, allowing you to quickly switch between contexts without manual organization. The grouping is powered by on-device machine learning and respects privacy by not sending data to servers. It’s a subtle but powerful tool for users who keep dozens of tabs open for research, work, or shopping.

These 10 features represent just a fraction of what iOS 27 offers. Many more enhancements await in apps like Weather, Health, Fitness, and system-level improvements such as better privacy controls and performance optimizations. The beta continues to evolve, and the final release later this year promises to be one of the most feature-packed updates in recent memory.

Source: 9to5Mac News