iOS 27 brings customizable Camera app with AI features and a ChatGPT-like Siri overhaul

Apple Plans Fully Customizable Camera App in iOS 27

Apple is preparing to overhaul the iPhone's Camera app in iOS 27 with a fully customizable interface, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman 1

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. Users will reportedly be able to decide which camera tools appear on-screen and where they sit, including controls for flash, exposure, timer, and resolution 2

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. This major design overhaul aims to give iPhone photographers easier access to the controls they actually use, rather than digging through settings or working around Apple's default layout.

The customizable camera app will introduce a new widget system that allows users to swap out existing controls and add new rows of settings 2

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. Each capture mode—Photo, Video, Portrait, and others—will have its own set of widgets organized into categories such as basic, manual, and settings 1

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. Users can replace night mode and flash with more advanced tools like depth-of-field and exposure controls, or stick with basic options like a timer and photo styles 2

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. The Camera app will still open with familiar default controls, but switching to a more advanced set of options or picking custom controls will be straightforward 1

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AI Integration Brings Visual Intelligence to Camera

The Camera app is gaining significant AI features through a new Siri mode that taps into Apple's Visual Intelligence capabilities 3

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. This mode will make it easier to identify objects, translate text, or get information about something in the camera's viewfinder 1

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. Rather than having a separate interface for Visual Intelligence accessible only through the Camera Control button, Apple is integrating these AI enhancements directly into the Camera app 3

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. This brings functionality similar to Google Lens, allowing for object identification and text translation directly within the camera interface 2

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Beyond the camera, AI image editing tools are coming to the Photos app with rumored features including Enhance, Extend, and Reframe capabilities 4

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. These AI-powered tools would allow users to apply suitable color edits, stretch an image beyond the frame, and change its perspective—additions that mobile photographers will especially appreciate 4

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ChatGPT-Like Siri Overhaul with Standalone App

Apple is rebuilding Siri in iOS 27 to act more like an always-on AI agent, with the ability to use personal data and take action across apps 1

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. The Siri overhaul will bring support for more back-and-forth text conversations, making it function more like a chatbot and bringing Siri closer to the AI chat apps people already use 1

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. For the first time, Siri will get a standalone app with past conversations displayed in a grid and an "Ask Siri" input bar for new queries 1

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The redesigned Siri will live partly in the Dynamic Island, the pill-shaped interface area Apple introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro in 2022 1

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. When activated, Siri will appear as a large animation at the top of the screen 2

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. Users will be able to swipe down from the top center of the iPhone to open a new "Search or Ask" bar, which will handle Siri queries, system search, and third-party AI options like ChatGPT and Google Gemini 1

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. The assistant will pull up personal data stored on your iPhone, understand on-screen elements, execute in-app actions, and build Shortcuts using natural language 4

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Updates to Key Apps Including Safari and Weather

Apple is planning design changes across several apps beyond the Camera 1

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. Safari will get a new start page with tabs for favorites, bookmarks, reading list, and history 1

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. The Weather app will add a new Conditions panel that makes it easier to view rain, wind, and other data without having to jump to another page 1

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. Image Playground, Apple's image-generation app, is expected to get a cleaner interface and more lifelike image models 1

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Systemwide changes include tweaks to the bottom navigation bars in apps including Podcasts, TV, Music, Health, and News, with search folded back into the main row of app tabs 1

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. The iPhone keyboard may also get a new animation, and users could get undo and redo controls when customizing the home screen 1

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User Interface Customization and Liquid Glass Refinements

Following last year's substantial Liquid Glass redesign, iOS 27 is believed to focus on implementing AI tools and optimizing performance and reliability 4

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. While Apple wants to "streamline" the Liquid Glass design language, most changes appear focused on the positioning of on-screen elements and the addition of new features rather than drastic visual overhauls 5

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. The operating system may offer a slider that controls the intensity of Liquid Glass universally, making the design more flexible and allowing users to opt for whichever system-wide appearance they prefer 4

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Apple is expected to unveil iOS 27 at WWDC 2026, which will run online from June 8 to 12, with an in-person special event at Apple Park on June 8 1

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. The update represents a shift toward giving users more control over their iPhone experience while integrating AI capabilities throughout the operating system. With user interface customization at the forefront and performance optimization happening behind the scenes, iOS 27 aims to make the iPhone both more personal and more intelligent.