May 13, 2026, 4:47 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
For years, the iPhone camera had a very rigid operation with only a few settings that users could change themselves. With iOS 26 and the new Liquid Glass interface, Apple has broken with this tradition. The camera app is now more dynamic, and many image settings can be adjusted without going through the iPhone settings. iOS 27 aims to build on this and give users the freedom to choose what appears in the app.
Freely Customizable Camera App
As reported by “Bloomberg” citing internal Apple sources, the company is moving away from preset functions in the camera app. The controls will be called widgets and can be freely placed alongside common options for resolution, night mode, flash, and live photo at the top of the screen. From there, “advanced” options such as depth of field and exposure will also be accessible.
The widget selection can also be accessed by swiping from the bottom area of the app. The individual options are divided into “Basic,” “Manual,” and “Settings” and can be individually set for each shooting mode (video, photo, slow motion, panorama, etc.). According to “Bloomberg,” these include options for timer, photographic styles, and new settings for grid and alignment guide.
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Additional Button and New Siri Mode
Until now, the overview of all camera settings could be accessed via a button at the top right of the app or by swiping up from the bottom area. Since the latter is being replaced by the widget selection, Apple is moving the camera settings to a new button directly next to the shutter.
A new Siri camera mode is also planned. This integrates Apple’s visual intelligence directly into the camera app. Previously, the AI-powered function for recognizing objects or translating text was only accessible via the control center, the action button, or by holding down the camera control button.
Further Changes in Apps and iOS
The new Siri mode is part of a complete redesign of Siri with AI support from Google Gemini. The voice assistant will soon understand personal context and be able to operate apps for users independently–all in natural language.
In the Weather app, a new overview of weather conditions for the respective location will appear. From here, users can switch from temperature to more detailed information such as rain and wind without having to change the view. Safari will also get a revamped homepage with four tabs for favorites, bookmarks, reading list, and history at the top.
Also interesting: These iPhones will no longer receive iOS 27
Additionally, system-wide design changes are planned. In apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, News, and Apple TV, the search function button will be reintegrated into the navigation bar. With iOS 26, Apple had outsourced the button in many apps, but in iOS 26.4, this change was already reversed in the App Store. The home screen will also get new buttons for undo and redo to simplify customization.