Apple updates iOS 27 apps with new Wallet and Maps features

Apple is introducing a broad range of new features across its iOS 27 ecosystem, focusing on utility upgrades for everyday apps and services. The updates, which will enter public beta next month, bring significant functional changes to Apple Maps and Apple Wallet. Apple Maps is receiving refreshed Flyover visuals—a feature providing immersive 3D views of cities and landmarks—with more detailed visuals and smoother navigation. Additionally, Apple is launching Local Lists, a recommendation feature designed to help users discover and save trending spots like restaurants and attractions. These additions could position Apple to compete more directly with third-party platforms like Google Maps, Instagram, and TikTok for local exploration.

The update introduces several utility enhancements across payment, location, and media services:

• Apple Wallet: Powered by Apple Intelligence, the app will allow receipt scanning via the iPhone camera to automatically split bills. The feature identifies individual items on a receipt, calculates each person’s share of taxes and tips, and facilitates repayment through Apple Cash.
• Apple Pay: Redesigned checkout experiences will allow users to swipe between cards. Later this year, Apple plans to let users add funds directly to eligible debit cards during checkout or through Wallet.
• Find My: Beginning this fall, the service will allow custom location sharing durations, ranging from a few minutes to specific dates, alongside the ability to temporarily pause sharing with individual contacts.
• Apple Music: The service is expanding its Lyrics Translation feature to support seven additional language pairings, including English translations for songs in French, German, Italian, Korean, Spanish, and Japanese. Its Lyrics Pronunciation feature will also add five new language pairings to help users sing along phonetically.
• Fitness+: The service is launching “Strong Through Menopause,” a three-week program featuring guided Yoga and Strength workouts designed to help people navigating perimenopause and menopause build strength, improve mobility and balance, and manage stress. The launch includes a new episode featuring actor Busy Philipps.

These updates reflect Apple’s broader strategy to increase user retention by enhancing the utility of its native apps, effectively reducing the need for third-party alternatives.

Why it matters

Apple is updating its core iOS 27 apps and services with new features like smarter bill splitting in Wallet and improved location sharing in Find My, aiming to keep users within its ecosystem. By enhancing the utility of its native applications, the company seeks to reduce user reliance on third-party alternatives.