Apple released iOS 27 this week, focusing on refining its flagship operating system and addressing bugs. Despite this focus, numerous additional features are available for exploration, highlighted by Apple's new context-aware Siri, re-tooled for the generative AI era. iOS 27 is available now on supported iPhone models as a free update, downloadable from the Settings app under General Software Update.

Extend Your Photos and Lock Screen Wallpaper

A new wallpaper extension feature uses Apple Intelligence to automatically expand a photo beyond its original boundaries. If a photo is cropped too tightly or leaves empty space on the Lock Screen, iOS 27 can generate additional image content around the edges. The system analyzes the existing image and creates matching background details that blend naturally, eliminating the need for aggressive cropping. This option is also accessible within the Photos app.

Organize Your Safari Tabs

Safari utilizes Apple Intelligence to automatically organize open tabs into related topics. For instance, tabs for shopping a new refrigerator while planning a vacation are grouped into separate collections. Users can enable this by opening Tab View, tapping the three-line icon in the top-right corner, and turning on Automatically Create Topics.

Use Natural Language for Reminder and Calendar Entries

The Reminders app now supports natural language input, allowing Apple Intelligence to automatically fill in details such as date, time, and location. Typing "Pick up Dad at 6 p.m. tonight" extracts relevant information automatically. The Calendar app similarly identifies people, dates, and locations as users type, offering suggested information for quick event addition.

Inline Reply to Messages From Android Users

The Messages app introduces the ability to long press on a specific message from an Android user (indicated by a green chat bubble) to reply inline. This contrasts with iOS 26, where inline replies were limited to blue iMessage bubbles.