It’s been a little over a week since Apple’s WWDC keynote, and the iOS 27 beta is already out in the wild. While Apple spent plenty of time talking about its Gemini-powered Siri, the thing I was most excited about was getting the update onto my iPhone 16e and seeing what it was actually like to live with.
I’ve been using the beta every day since then, and one thing has become pretty clear: not every new feature lived up to the hype for me. Some felt more interesting during the announcement than they do in everyday use, while others simply haven’t found a place in my routine. But a few features have been the complete opposite. They’re the ones I’ve found myself returning to again and again without even thinking about it. After spending more than a week with iOS 27, these are the three features that have stood out the most — and the biggest reason I’m still excited about this update.
The fitness app finally feels like a fitness app
I’m a bit of a fitness nerd. Whether it’s squeezing in a workout after a long day or making sure I close my Activity rings, I’m always keeping an eye on my progress. That’s why the Fitness app is one of the apps I use the most on my iPhone, and honestly, I’ve felt for a while that it deserved a refresh. The old design wasn’t bad by any means. It was clean, familiar, and easy to navigate. But it also felt a little static, especially compared to modern fitness apps that do a much better job of making your workout data feel engaging and meaningful. There was plenty of information there, but not always in the most exciting way.
The redesigned workout experience in iOS 27 changes that. Everything feels better organized, and the information I care about is much easier to spot at a glance. More importantly, the app finally feels built around the workout itself rather than just a place to store data. For example, I went on a 10km run this morning, and one of the first things I noticed afterward was how prominently my route map was displayed. Instead of digging through menus to find it, the map was right there, front and center. It reminded me of a presentation you’d expect from dedicated fitness apps like Strava. This isn’t the biggest change in iOS 27, but it makes reviewing a workout feel far more rewarding. That’s really what I like about the redesign. The Fitness app finally feels more alive. Rather than simply showing me numbers and charts, it does a better job of highlighting the moments and milestones that make working out feel satisfying.
The cleanup tool finally cleaned up its act
I never thought I’d be talking about photo editing tools as one of my favorite parts of iOS 27, but here we are. The updated Cleanup tool and the new Reframe feature have genuinely made me spend more time editing photos directly on my iPhone 16e. And honestly, that’s saying something. Before this update, Apple’s Cleanup tool was one of those features I wanted to like but rarely used. Compared to the object-removal tools on Pixel and Samsung phones, it often struggled with anything more complex than a simple background distraction. The results were hit-or-miss, and most of the time I’d rather leave the photo alone than risk making it look worse. Thankfully, that has changed.
Over the past week, I’ve used Cleanup on everything from random objects in the background to people accidentally walking into a shot, and the results have been surprisingly good. One example that genuinely impressed me was when I tried removing a book that was partially covering my face in a photo. I expected the tool to either leave behind a blurry mess or distort my face. Instead, it removed the book cleanly and reconstructed the missing area so well that it looked like the book had never been there in the first place.
For the first time, Apple’s Cleanup tool feels reliable enough that I actually want to use it. The new Reframe feature is interesting for a different reason. Using generative AI, it can virtually adjust the framing of a photo after it’s been taken, giving you a little more flexibility if you didn’t quite nail the shot. I don’t see myself reaching for it every day, but that’s okay. It feels more like a feature you’ll appreciate when you need it, rather than one you’ll use constantly. And that’s what I like about both additions. One solves a problem I run into regularly, while the other serves as a safety net for moments when a photo isn’t quite framed the way I want.
Every “what is that?” now has an answer
Of all the new AI-powered additions in iOS 27, on-screen awareness is probably the one I’ve used the most. And yes, the moment you hear about it, you’ll probably think, “Wait, isn’t this just Circle to Search?” Honestly, that’s not a bad comparison. Circle to Search is easily one of my favorite features on my Google Pixel 10a. I use it all the time. If I’m scrolling through Pinterest and spot a chair I’d love to buy, I can instantly search for it. If I’m watching a YouTube video and notice a pair of sneakers someone is wearing, I can quickly find out what they are. Sometimes I’ll come across a landmark in a travel reel, a gadget in a review video, or even an unfamiliar dish in a food post, and Circle to Search gives me answers in seconds without forcing me to switch apps or start a new search from scratch.
That’s the same reason I’ve grown to like on-screen awareness on the iPhone. Instead of manually copying text, taking screenshots, or opening Safari to search for something, I can simply ask Siri about what’s currently on my screen. For example, while reading an article, I used it to learn more about a company mentioned in the article. When browsing online stores, I used it to identify products and compare them with similar options. I even found myself using it while planning a trip after spotting a location in a social media post and wanting to learn more about it. What makes the feature feel useful is that it understands both the visual and textual information on your screen. Siri can analyze what you’re looking at and use that context to answer questions or help you take action. Apple is also opening this up to developers through dedicated APIs, allowing apps to expose relevant information that Siri can understand and interact with. This feature removes a lot of tiny bits of friction throughout the day. And those are often the features that turn out to be the most valuable.
A week later, these are still my favorites
I’m still spending time with iOS 27 on my iPhone 16e, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past week, it’s that the best features aren’t always the ones that are advertised. Sometimes they’re the smaller additions that become part of your daily routine. For me, that’s exactly what happened with these three features. Whether it’s the refreshed Fitness app making my workout data more enjoyable to revisit, the improved Cleanup tool saving photos I would’ve otherwise ignored, or on-screen awareness helping me find information without jumping between apps, they’ve all earned a place in my everyday use.
There’s still plenty of iOS 27 left for me to explore, and I’m sure I’ll discover more favorites as I continue using the beta. But if you’re wondering which features have stood out after a week of real-world use, these are the ones I’d point to first.
