Apple iOS 27 adds smarter Wallet, Maps, Find My and Podcast features

Apple is using iOS 27 to make several of its everyday apps more useful, with new features coming to Wallet, Find My, Maps, Music and Podcasts. The update is already available to developers, while Apple says a public beta will follow next month.

One of the most practical additions is coming to Apple Wallet. Users will be able to scan a receipt with the iPhone camera and split the bill through Apple Cash. The system uses Apple Intelligence to recognize individual items, calculate tax and tip, and help users send payment requests through Messages or Wallet.

Wallet is also being expanded beyond payments. Apple says users will be able to digitize physical membership and loyalty cards, while hotels and travel-related information will get broader support inside the app. Apple Pay is also receiving a redesigned payment flow for the web and apps, with easier card switching and clearer access to rewards balances, debit accounts and buy-now-pay-later options.

Apple Maps is getting a visual upgrade as well. Flyover, Apple’s 3D city and landmark viewing feature, will offer sharper detail and smoother navigation. The company is also adding Local Lists, a discovery feature designed to help users find and save recommendations for restaurants, attractions and other places that are currently popular.

Find My is becoming more flexible with new location-sharing controls. Starting this fall, users will be able to choose how long they share their location, ranging from a few minutes to multiple days or a specific date and time. Apple is also adding a pause option that temporarily stops location sharing with selected contacts until the end of the day.

Apple Music will expand lyric translations and phonetic lyric views, while Podcasts is adding search within individual shows and video podcast support on Mac and Apple TV. Apple also confirmed improvements for photo sharing and a new Fitness+ program called Strong Through Menopause, aimed at people going through perimenopause and menopause.

Taken together, the update is less about one headline feature and more about removing small daily friction points: splitting a restaurant bill, finding a place to go, controlling who can see your location, or managing more of your cards in Wallet. For Apple users already deep in the ecosystem, iOS 27 looks like a service-focused update rather than a flashy redesign.