iOS 27 introduces several new features to the Messages app. A new 'Drawing' iMessage app allows users to send sketches and handwritten notes using standard Markup tools, optimized for the upcoming iPhone Duo with Apple Pencil support.

RCS messaging receives significant upgrades including in-line replies and proper Tapback reactions, eliminating the "Ryan loved an image" text for Android users. These changes align with the RCS 2.7 standard, which also supports message editing and unsending — potentially arriving in future updates.

Apple Intelligence powers new one-tap suggestions that offer contextual actions like creating reminders, finding photos, or sharing relevant info based on conversation keywords, locations, and people. These suggestions appear below messages or in the keyboard row, though they were pulled from the initial release and will return in a future update.

Additional changes include a setting to disable the audio button, consolidated Tapback notifications, personalized Smart Replies, and automatic blocking of violent content for child accounts. Performance improvements cover faster loading, syncing, search by nickname, and continuous media sending.