Editing photos on iPhone and Mac could see a noticeable upgrade with the next major software update.
Apple is reportedly preparing a new set of AI-powered editing tools for the Photos app, expected to arrive with iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27. The update builds on the company’s existing Apple Intelligence features, which so far have been limited in scope.
What’s coming to the Photos app
According to Bloomberg, the Photos app will include a new “Apple Intelligence Tools” section within the editing interface.
This section is expected to introduce three main features:
- Extend: It will allow users to expand an image beyond its original frame by filling in missing areas when cropping or zooming out, effectively generating additional background content.
- Enhance: Builds on the existing auto-edit option, making small adjustments to lighting, color, and other details automatically, just with a bit more control behind the scenes.
- Reframe: Aimed at spatial photos, giving users the ability to adjust perspective after the image has been captured.
Still a work in progress
These tools are still under development, and not everything may be ready in time for release. Reports suggest features like Extend and Reframe could be delayed or limited if they don’t meet Apple’s quality standards.
Apple’s current AI editing tool, Clean Up, already shows where the challenges lie. While it can remove unwanted objects, it still struggles with filling in missing parts of an image compared to similar tools from other companies.
This doesn’t look like a big shift, more like Apple layering new AI tools over time, while others have already gone further in this space.
iOS 27 release timeline
iOS 27 is slated to be showcased at the WWDC 2026 keynote on June 8. The first developer beta is expected to be released right after the keynote, followed by the public beta sometime in July. And as with every major software update, Apple will release the stable version of iOS 27 one week after the new iPhone 18 series launch in September.
Would you use AI tools like Extend and Reframe, or stick to manual editing? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
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