iOS 27: Apple plans customizable camera app and radical Siri overhaul
of Nils Ahrensmeier 
on May 12, 2026, 22:02 am | Write a comment
Apple is planning extensive interface changes for the upcoming iOS 27, which will primarily focus on... proThe changes are intended to offer professional users more flexibility in their daily lives. According to a recent Bloomberg report, the in-house camera app will become fully customizable, while the Siri voice assistant will be transformed into a permanently active AI assistant with its own chatbot interface.
Camera app: Modular widgets and pro features
Apple is breaking with the previously rigid structure of its camera software. Users will now be able to choose which controls are placed on the screen. While the app still starts with a familiar default layout for resolution, night mode, flash, and Live Photos, it can be switched to an expanded layout.
A transparent menu ("Add Widgets"), accessible from the bottom of the screen, allows you to add specific controls for each shooting mode. In Photo mode, controls for depth of field and exposure are available. These new widgets are divided into the categories "Basic," "Manual," and "Settings." The timer and photo styles can also be easily swapped, while new grid and horizon options are integrated directly.
In addition, the switch for displaying all available control tools has moved from the upper right corner to the right side, directly next to the digital shutter button. A new "Siri mode" located next to the classic photo and video modes provides expanded functionality. This allows quick access to Apple's visual AI (Visual Intelligence) to, for example, identify plants or translate text directly in the viewfinder.
Siri becomes an AI agent with a chatbot interface
With iOS 27, Apple is moving away from the classic, purely voice-based assistant. Siri is being transformed into a permanently active agent running in the background, with access to personal user data and the ability to perform complex tasks across multiple apps. When activated via a wake word or the power button, a large, pill-shaped Siri animation appears directly in the Dynamic Island at the top of the display.
Interactions can be switched to a text-based chatbot view by swiping down, visually reminiscent of ChatGPT or Google Gemini. Results for weather, upcoming appointments, or notes are displayed here as interactive mini-app cards directly within the chat history. A system-wide search ("Search or Ask") can be opened by swiping down from the center of the screen. Through this interface, users can choose with a tap whether they want to use Siri or third-party services like ChatGPT and Gemini for general web queries.
For the first time, Siri also gets its own app interface. On the home screen, a grid of rounded rectangles lists past conversations, allowing for seamless continuation of chats. A plus symbol allows users to start new conversations and upload documents and images for AI analysis.
Detailed improvements for Safari, weather and the system
The design changes are intended to refine the "Liquid Glass" design language introduced last year. Several standard apps are receiving functional adjustments. The Safari browser's home screen will now be divided into four tabs by default, allowing for faster switching between favorites, bookmarks, the reading list, and history. The weather app will get a new "Conditions" panel on a city's main page, enabling users to cycle through parameters such as rainfall and wind speed without having to open a subpage.
The AI-powered image generation tool Image Playground receives a streamlined interface with a rounded square design and a new "describe a change" option for selectively editing existing images via text input. Apple is also testing optimized models for more realistic results. In the system interface, the search function in the Podcasts, TV, Music, Health, and News apps is now permanently integrated into the bottom tab bar—a change Apple already implemented in the App Store with iOS 26.4. A new slide-up animation is introduced when opening the keyboard, and dedicated undo/redo buttons are now available for customizing the home screen.
Presentation at WWDC in June
Apple is expected to officially unveil iOS 27 and the revamped Siri infrastructure on June 8th at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The pressure in the AI segment remains high: Android recently presented its own updates with Android 17 and "Gemini Intelligence," including automated widget creation via AI and a new dictation mode that filters filler words in real time.