Apple isn’t waiting for WWDC to set expectations. Details about iOS 27 are already surfacing, and they point to a more deliberate shift toward user control and interface refinement rather than sweeping reinvention.
Camera App Gets a Customizable Overhaul
The biggest change in iOS 27 centers on the Camera app, which is set to become significantly more flexible. Users will be able to choose which controls they want visible options include flash, exposure, timer, depth of field, photo styles, and resolution.
These controls will appear as widgets that can be arranged freely at the top of the interface. A transparent widget tray will slide up from the bottom, allowing users to pick and organize tools based on preference. Apple is grouping these widgets into categories such as basic, manual, and settings.
The default Camera layout remains unchanged for simplicity, retaining quick-access toggles for features like flash, Live Photos, and Night Mode. However, the new customizable layout is positioned as an advanced mode aimed at more experienced users.
Different shooting modes including photo and video will have their own widget configurations. Apple is also preparing a new Siri-powered camera mode that integrates Visual Intelligence features currently tied to the Camera Control and Action buttons.
Navigation within the app is also being adjusted. The expanded controls view, currently accessed from the top-right corner, is moving closer to the shutter button for easier access. Additional grid and level tools are also being introduced.
Weather and Safari Get Targeted Improvements
The Weather app is gaining a new Conditions panel, designed to simplify switching between key metrics like temperature, rain, and wind. The interface mirrors the existing module-based layout but brings it into a more centralized view.
Safari is also receiving a refreshed start page. The new design introduces four tabs at the top: Favorites, Bookmarks, Reading List, and History, making navigation between saved content more direct.
Liquid Glass Design Tweaks Continue
Apple is continuing to refine its Liquid Glass design language across the system. In apps such as Apple Music, Podcasts, News, and Apple TV, the tab bar is being reworked to merge search back into the main navigation area. This reverses a previous design choice where search was separated into its own section.
The on-screen keyboard is also getting a visual update, with a new animation that shows keys sliding up from the bottom of the display. Additionally, Apple is adding redo and undo options when editing Home Screen layouts, making it easier to manage icons and widgets.
Launch Timeline
iOS 27 is set to take the stage at WWDC on June 8, where Apple is expected to lay out the full vision behind these changes. On the surface, the update leans into customization and cleanup but taken together, it signals a quieter course correction in how Apple wants the iPhone experience to feel day to day.