Apple's WWDC 2026 keynote devoted significant time to Apple Intelligence, Siri AI, and child account protections, according to TechRadar. That meant 21 features coming to iOS 27 were left out of the spotlight. With the first developer beta now available, enterprise IT teams can start evaluating changes that may affect device management, productivity, and user experience ahead of the full rollout, expected in September.
Core functionality upgrades
Several improvements target everyday device use. As reported by 9to5Mac, the lock screen now lets users swipe away the now playing widget, an Android-like behaviour. Extra-large widgets have been added to the Today view and home screens, which TechRadar notes points toward a future foldable iPhone. Separate volume controls for alarms, a long-requested feature, will debut. Markdown formatting now works in Notes, and the Photos app gains the ability to extract video frames as still images.
Communication and collaboration
MacRumors collected details from a brief screen shown during the WWDC keynote. Dual phone numbers will allow using the same number on two iPhones. FaceTime gains dual-camera support. AirPlay and AirDrop receive speed improvements. A new drawing app appears in Messages. The Find My app now has a "Hide Location" button that stops sharing without notifying the other person, as spotted by Aaron Perris on X. A redesigned AirPods settings page and the ability to temporarily disable alarms during recognized holidays were also found in the developer beta.
Productivity and health
The Health app adds dedicated perimenopause and menopause support, including "notifications about cycle deviations inclusive of perimenopause," per Apple's official press release. The Weather app gets a new Highlights view. Apple Music features redesigned artist pages and an AutoMix update with AI-generated transitions (9to5Mac). iCloud+ subscriptions will include higher AI usage limits after upgrading to iOS 27.
New features at a glance
| Category | Feature | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Lock Screen | Swipe away now playing widget | 9to5Mac |
| Home Screen | Extra-large widgets | 9to5Mac |
| CarPlay | Watch videos when parked | TechRadar |
| FaceTime | Dual-camera support | MacRumors |
| Find My | Hide location without notifying | Aaron Perris / X |
| Health | Perimenopause & menopause support | Apple press release |
| Photos | Slideshows from any photos/videos | MacRumors |
| Apple Music | Redesigned artist pages, AI AutoMix | 9to5Mac |
Hidden Siri AI feature and other findings
Aaron Perris uncovered hidden code in the beta suggesting the new Siri AI will recommend that users take breaks after prolonged conversation. This feature is not yet active. Additionally, the Photos app gains a long-awaited slideshow creator that allows customization of slide duration, transition style, and music, and can save as video.
TechRadar notes that more changes, bug fixes, and security patches are expected before the final release. While iOS 27 is still in beta, these 21 unannounced features provide enterprise IT teams with concrete details to plan testing and deployment for employee devices.
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