Mark Gurman Reveals iOS 27 Plans: Performance Over Visual Changes
iOSSunday, 15 February 2026 at 17:26
Mark Gurman dropped iOS 27 details in his newest Bloomberg newsletter. Forget big flashy features this time around—Apple's doing something different. They're cleaning up old code and making batteries last longer instead. iOS 27's biggest job? Cleaning house. Gurman's sources say Apple wants to "streamline and clean up" everything. Years of iOS updates left behind code fragments that don't do anything useful anymore. These bits slow phones down and cause weird bugs.
Apple engineers are digging through the entire system now. They're finding old chunks of code that serve no purpose. Once spotted, these pieces get deleted completely. No patches, no workarounds—just gone. Think of it like clearing junk from your closet.
Key Points:
- iOS 27 focuses on code cleanup and system optimization over new features
- Apple engineers removing legacy code fragments accumulated over years of development
- Interface receives minor tweaks only with no major visual redesign planned
- Legacy built-in apps getting efficiency upgrades to improve operational performance
- Battery life improvements expected alongside continued AI feature development
Looks Stay Mostly the Same
Don't expect iOS 27 to look wildly different. Gurman specifically said "minor tweaks to the interface, no major redesign." Apple's making small adjustments here and there. Nothing dramatic.
This feels different from past updates. Remember when iOS got Control Center redesigns? Or lock screen customization? Or those major widget changes? iOS 27 skips all that. The current look stays put with just tiny refinements.
Old Apps Get Better
Several built-in apps are getting "implicit upgrades" focused on "improving operational efficiency." Not new features—just making them run faster and smoother.
Which apps exactly? Gurman didn't specify. But iOS comes loaded with dozens of Apple apps. Calculator, Compass, Voice Memos, Stocks—lots of these haven't changed much in years. They're probably first in line for efficiency work.
Battery Life Gets Attention
While code cleanup happens, Apple engineers are also working on battery improvements. Removing background processes that waste power should help. Optimizing how apps talk to the system helps too.
Modern iPhones already handle battery life pretty well. But every iOS update usually adds features that drain a bit more juice. An update focused purely on efficiency might actually reverse that trend temporarily.
AI Still Getting Love
Performance focus aside, iOS 27 won't skip AI completely. Gurman mentioned Apple will "focus on upgrading AI features" throughout the system.
Specifics remain murky. Siri improvements seem obvious. Maybe photo recognition gets smarter. Text prediction could improve. Automated suggestions might get better. All without huge interface overhauls.
Why It Matters
Apple does this occasionally. They take a year to consolidate instead of piling on features. Snow Leopard did this for Mac computers back in 2009. iOS 12 focused heavily on performance in 2018.
These "boring" updates actually matter more than people think. They fix problems before they explode. They help older devices keep running smoothly. They extend how long phones stay supported.
Nobody gets excited about code cleanup. But your phone working better tomorrow beats a flashy feature today.
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