iOS 27 Will Add Three AI Photo Editing Tools to iPhone

Apple’s gearing up to introduce three new AI-driven photo editing features in the Photos app for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS, as reported by 9to5Mac and MacRumors. These tools will be part of Apple Intelligence (their term for on-device AI features) and aim to provide iPhone users with enhanced editing options without needing any third-party apps.

What’s Coming to the Photos App

The upcoming features revolve around Apple Intelligence, which combines on-device and cloud-based AI to tackle tasks like image editing and writing suggestions. Here’s what we can expect in iOS 27:

1. Expanded Generative Editing

Currently, iOS 18 has a “Clean Up” tool that removes unwanted objects, similar to Google’s Magic Eraser. iOS 27 plans to enhance this with more generative editing capabilities. This means AI will be able to add, remove, or replace elements in a photo by creating new image data. It’s like Photoshop’s generative fill but integrated directly into your iPhone’s Photos app.

2. AI-Powered Background Replacement

There’s also a background replacement feature in the works. This will allow users to change the background of a photo, much like what Canva or Adobe Express offer, but it’ll be built right into iOS. Apple’s version will likely utilize the subject-isolation technology already available, letting you long-press a subject to “lift” it from the background.

3. Style Transfer or Visual Enhancements

The last feature is a visual enhancement tool, though details are still limited ahead of Apple’s annual developer conference. Reports suggest it will involve applying stylistic changes to photos using AI models, but we don’t have confirmation on how it’ll work just yet.

By The Numbers

Context: Apple Is Playing Catch-Up Here

Apple’s Clean Up tool, which debuted in iOS 18, received positive feedback but came years after Google integrated similar features into Pixel phones. Google Photos has long offered AI capabilities like background blur, object removal, and lighting adjustments. Samsung’s Galaxy AI suite also includes tools like Generative Edit and Photo Remaster.

With these new photo editing features in iOS 27, Apple is making it clear that AI tools for photos are becoming essential for smartphone manufacturers, not just an added bonus. For everyday iPhone users, this means less need to resort to third-party apps for basic edits.

What This Means for You

If you edit photos on your iPhone, these new features could really streamline your process. Currently, changing a background or removing an object means leaving the Photos app, opening an app like Snapseed or Photoshop Express, making your edits, and then saving the updated photo back to your camera roll. With native tools, you can skip all that hassle.

However, there’s a catch. The Apple Intelligence features will only work on the iPhone 15 Pro or later (or any iPhone 16 model). Older models won’t support these features, even with the installation of iOS 27.

Quality is another point to consider. While Apple’s Clean Up tool is effective, it isn’t flawless and can produce smeared or unnatural results in tricky backgrounds. We’ll have to wait and see if the new generative tools truly outshine what Google and Samsung currently offer.

Community Reactions

“Honestly, the Clean Up tool is already pretty impressive for casual use. If background replacement is half as good, I’m throwing out Canva.”

“Apple always announces these AI features, and then they either arrive six months late or don’t work as shown. I’ll believe it when I see it at WWDC.”

What To Watch

• WWDC 2026 (June): Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference will officially unveil iOS 27. Expect live demos of the new Photos features and insights into their functionality.
• iOS 27 beta program: After WWDC, Apple generally releases developer betas within a few days. Early feedback from developers and tech reviewers will give us a better idea of whether these tools live up to the hype.
• Fall 2026 release: iOS 27 should launch publicly alongside new iPhone hardware in September 2026. That’s when the full rollout to compatible devices will begin.
• Competing announcements: Google I/O and Samsung’s next Unpacked events will likely introduce their own AI photo updates, making summer 2026 an exciting time for mobile AI feature announcements.