Apple is preparing a meaningful update to the Photos app with iOS 27, introducing a new set of Apple Intelligence photo editing tools aimed at making everyday edits faster and more capable. The update is expected across iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, with a redesigned editing interface that adds a dedicated “Apple Intelligence Tools” section.
This builds on the existing Clean Up feature, which uses AI to remove unwanted objects from images. With iOS 27, Apple is expanding beyond that single use case into a broader toolkit that focuses on improving composition, lighting, and framing in just a few seconds. All of this is expected to run on device, staying consistent with Apple’s privacy-first approach to AI.
The Apple Intelligence photo editing tools in iOS 27 will reportedly include three main options: Extend, Enhance, and Reframe. Extend will let users expand an image beyond its original frame by generating additional background content, which can be useful when adjusting crops or widening a shot. Enhance will automatically improve elements like lighting, color, and clarity using AI, acting as a smarter version of existing auto-adjust tools. Reframe will allow users to shift the perspective of spatial photos after capture, offering more flexibility for immersive images.
That said, these features are still in development. Reports indicate that Extend and Reframe have not been fully reliable in internal testing, which means Apple could delay or limit them depending on how the underlying models improve. This cautious rollout would not be surprising, especially since Clean Up still struggles with filling in missing details compared to similar tools from competitors like Google and Samsung.
If these Apple Intelligence photo editing tools ship as expected, they would bring Apple closer to competing AI photo features already available on other smartphones. However, Apple’s approach remains more restrained, focusing on subtle, practical improvements rather than heavy image manipulation.
iOS 27 is set to be unveiled at WWDC on June 8, 2026. In addition to updates to the Photos app, the release is also expected to include improvements to Siri along with a broader focus on performance and stability.
(via Bloomberg)
