Last year, Apple changed its design language across all of its major software platforms with the introduction of Liquid Glass. That dramatic redesign, along with a number of groundbreaking feature releases over the past few years, has resulted in many Apple users complaining about the overall quality of Apple software.
According to today’s Power On newsletter, Apple may eventually step back from new features, and instead focus on underlying performance improvements. Let’s discuss.
iOS 27 will be a ‘Snow Leopard-style update’
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is taking a step back from launching any major new software features at WWDC26. This applies to iOS 27 and macOS 27, as well as all companies’ smaller platforms, such as watchOS, tvOS, and VisionOS.
For the first time since iOS 12, Apple will focus on software quality rather than flashy new features:
With the aim of improving the software, engineering teams are now examining Apple’s operating systems, looking for any opportunities to cut bloat, eliminate bugs, and meaningfully boost performance and overall quality. Just as Snow Leopard laid the groundwork for future overhauls and new types of Macs, iOS 27 will lay the groundwork for the foldable iPhone and other new hardware.
However, Apple will not launch ‘zero new features’ as they claimed with OS X Snow Leopard in 2009. According to Gurman, Apple still plans to release several new AI features with iOS 27, so that the company does not fall behind in the AI race.
Currently, two major AI features are rumored for iOS 27: Apple’s new AI Health Agent — the company’s first AI-powered web search feature — launching alongside a potential Apple Health+ subscription.
These new features will shortly follow the launch of AI-infused Siri in iOS 26.4, which is highly expected to be powered by a special edition of Google Gemini. The custom version of Google Gemini was said to avoid sending data to Google’s servers, thanks to a custom-built model for Apple’s private cloud compute.
wrap up
In addition to the heavy focus on software quality and other AI enhancements, Gurman also outlined three additional things worth noting with iOS 27:
- Enhancements for enterprise users
- ‘Bespoke’ features for users in emerging markets
- Design changes for liquid glass
Overall, iOS 27 is shaping up to be the update that many Apple enthusiasts have wanted for years: an update that focuses solely on polishing the software.
It remains to be seen whether iOS 27 will actually be iOS 12 or
Does the renewed focus on stability in iOS 27 excite you? Let us know in the comments.
My favorite Apple accessory recommendations:
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