Apple is reportedly working on a new suite of AI-driven photo editing features scheduled to be released with iOS 27 later this year as part of a broader effort to counter Android’s advanced image tools.
Mark Gurman said these tools will be integrated into Apple’s ecosystem under the Apple Intelligence framework and will extend to iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27. These features rely on on-device AI processing, allowing users to edit images within seconds without sending data to the cloud.
A future update will introduce a dedicated “Apple Intelligence Tools” section within the Photos app. The main features are:
Enhancement: Uses AI to automatically improve lighting, color, and overall image quality.
Augment: Use generative AI to extend images beyond their original boundaries.
Reframe: Designed for spatial photography, allows users to adjust perspective after capturing an image.
Cleanup: An improved version of Apple’s object removal tool intended to fix current inconsistencies.
Apple’s move appears to be a direct response to rivals such as Google and Samsung, which are already integrating advanced AI editing tools into their devices. Features like Magic Eraser and generated image enhancements are standard on many Android smartphones.
Despite ambitious plans, development was not completely smooth. Reports suggest that some features are still not performing consistently, particularly Extend and Reframe. However, Apple still has several months to improve these tools before their official release later this year.
It remains unclear whether these new features will incorporate Google’s model, especially as the two companies continue to work together, which could lead to a more advanced Siri experience.
