Apple’s iOS 27 update is packed with artificial intelligence (AI) features, but one of its most useful changes may be much simpler: It could make everyday iPhone tasks faster than before.
Apple said apps can open up to 30% faster with iOS 27. Photos may appear up to 70% faster after they are taken, while sending files through AirDrop can be up to 80% faster.
Those improvements could matter more to many users than a long list of new features. Waiting a little less for an app to open, a photo to appear, or a file to transfer may not sound exciting, but these small delays add up when people use their phones throughout the day.
The good news is that the faster performance is not limited to Apple’s newest iPhones.
For its app-opening tests, Apple compared iOS 27 with iOS 26.6 on an iPhone 11 Pro Max, a model released in 2019. That suggests the update could also give some older iPhones a welcome lift, although actual results will depend on the device, its settings, storage, battery condition, and how it is used.
Apple tested the faster photo loading on an iPhone 15 containing a library of 50,000 photos. Its AirDrop claim was based on sending several photos between iPhone 16 Plus devices without connecting them to a Wi-Fi network.
iOS 27 also aims to make switching between cellular data and Wi-Fi smoother. Messages will allow texts to continue going through even while a large photo or video is still being sent over a slow connection.
These are not the flashiest parts of iOS 27. But for iPhone users who simply want their phones to feel quicker and less frustrating, they may be among the updates that make the biggest difference.
