Apple unveils extensive Photos app upgrades for iOS 27 and teases larger iPhone 18 Pro camera

Apple is set to introduce a suite of new features to the Photos app with iOS 27, scheduled for release at the end of summer. The update adds searchable keyword tags and five‑star ratings for photos and videos, expanded album organization tools, and enhanced shared‑album capabilities that let Android and Windows users contribute. Shared albums can now be filtered by media type, set to expire after 30 days, and include activity logs and emoji reactions. New utility folders – “Taken by Me” and “Identity Documents” – help categorize recent shots and ID images. A “Sync Immediately” toggle prioritises instant iCloud upload, while AI‑driven editing tools become available on devices supporting Apple Intelligence.

Separately, a leak suggests the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will feature a noticeably larger primary camera module—over 2 mm thicker—to accommodate a variable aperture system. This hardware change would allow the lens to open wider in low light and close in bright conditions, marking a shift from Apple’s recent focus on computational photography toward more substantial sensor upgrades.