iOS 27: My favorite new iPhone features (other than AI)

9to5mac.com Sep 18, 2026

iOS 27: My favorite new iPhone features (other than AI)

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 18, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Apple launched iOS 27, adding several non‑AI enhancements. The Music app’s AutoMix now features smoother transitions, while Photos’ iCloud Shared Albums support full‑resolution sharing. Users can set independent alarm volume in Clock, and new extra‑large widgets appear on the Home Screen. The Lock Screen now allows moving the clock and swiping away the Now Playing widget. Additional updates include video‑frame saving, an improved Apple Pay flow, expanded landscape support, a redesigned Find My app, clipboard paste shortcuts, and a CarPlay audio scrubber.

💡 Why It Matters

· These refinements streamline everyday tasks—improving media control, photo sharing, and navigation—making iOS 27 more user‑friendly without relying on AI.

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Siri app vs. Hey Siri: how to get more from Siri AI

Apple has released a dedicated Siri app that enhances the assistant’s ability to handle extended conversations. The app lets users revisit previous answers, continue dialogues across devices, and pin useful exchanges for quick access. Voice activation remains optimal for single‑task requests like timers, reminders, music, directions, and smart‑home controls. Siri AI has been available for developer testing since June 8 on iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, and visionOS 27, with watchOS 27 testing slated for a future beta and an English‑language beta expected in 2026.

💡 The new app shifts how users interact with Siri, offering a richer, multi‑device conversational experience that could redefine voice‑assistant workflows.

appleinsider.com · Sep 18

Apple Fifth Avenue cube changes colors for iPhone 18 Pro release

Apple’s iconic glass cube on Fifth Avenue was temporarily closed and reopened at 8 a.m. Eastern on September 18, 2026, illuminated in burgundy, silver and “glacier” – the three of four colorways for the newly released iPhone 18 Pro. The change coincided with the arrival of the first pre‑orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, which are now shipping to Apple Stores worldwide, including heavily queued locations such as Kuala Lumpur. Apple senior vice president John Ternus confirmed the visual update in a tweet, noting the cube’s new look ahead of the launch. Historically, the New York flagship opens before West‑coast stores and often hosts CEO Tim Cook for opening ceremonies, though Cook’s presence this time remains unconfirmed.

💡 The color‑coded cube turns the storefront into a live billboard, instantly signaling the iPhone 18 Pro’s palette and amplifying hype in a market where visual branding drives early demand.

industrywired.com · Sep 18

Apple’s Redesigned Health App Arrives in iOS 27.2 Beta

Apple released the iOS 27.2 developer beta, advancing its redesigned Health app. The update replaces the old list with a card‑style Browse layout, consolidates search and browse into a single bottom button, and introduces an Insights tab that aggregates sleep, VO₂ max, and other metrics into a concise Apple Intelligence summary. A Personal Guidance section offers tailored training suggestions. The redesign leverages new Apple Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4 sensors, providing more frequent heart‑rate and variability readings. Additional tweaks improve route mapping, treadmill distance tracking, and sleep focus for time‑zone changes.

💡 The overhaul tightens the Health app’s data flow, making real‑time metrics more actionable for users. It also positions Apple’s wearable ecosystem as a more precise health monitoring platform.

appleinsider.com · Sep 18

Apple’s ‘Friday Night Baseball’ broadcast will be partially captured by iPhone 18…

Apple deployed 14 iPhone 18 Pro units around Dodger Stadium to record the final “Friday Night Baseball” game between the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers. The new phones, featuring variable aperture and a private 5G link via T‑Mobile, captured footage from the pitch clock, backstop, foul pole, and both bullpens, as well as batting practice and player introductions. Apple will stream the event in immersive video on Vision Pro and Apple TV+ at 10:15 p.m. ET, building on its 2025 MLB debut.

💡 By embedding iPhones in hard‑to‑reach stadium spots, Apple expands live‑sports coverage into immersive, 360‑degree experiences, setting a new standard for fan engagement.

9to5mac.com · Sep 18

WebKit blog breaks down what’s new with Safari 27 for developers, including…

Apple’s WebKit blog details Safari 27.0, highlighting the new Safari MCP server that lets AI agents control the browser for faster development. Developers enable it via Safari > Settings > Developer, after turning on “Show features for web developers.” The MCP server offers DOM, network, screenshot, and console access, runs locally, and keeps data private. Safari 27.0 also fixes nearly 850 bugs, adds immersive visionOS support, expands the element, introduces Scroll Anchoring, and enhances Web Inspector, WebAssembly, WebGPU, and more.

💡 By granting AI agents direct, private browser control, Safari 27.0 accelerates automated testing and debugging, reshaping how developers prototype and iterate web applications.

appleinsider.com · Sep 17

Ignore stock advisor chatter about iPhone 18 Pro demand

Analysts have underestimated demand for Apple’s new iPhone Duo, the first all‑Pro model released this September, as the company skips a non‑Pro variant for the year. The Duo, priced higher than previous Pro models, is expected to capture early‑order enthusiasts, while the standard iPhone 18 is slated for a later launch. This shift disrupts the traditional preorder pattern, where Pro models dominate until holiday sales, and may extend sell‑out periods for the Duo. Apple’s strategy reflects its confidence in the Duo’s market appeal and its willingness to alter its release cadence.

💡 The Duo’s launch signals Apple’s willingness to deviate from its established preorder rhythm, potentially reshaping consumer expectations and influencing how analysts forecast quarterly sales.