I’ve been testing iOS 27, and these 5 overlooked features make even older iPhones better
I’ve been testing iOS 27, and these 5 overlooked features make even older iPhones better
https://www.zdnet.com/article/ios-27-overlooked-features-improve-old-iphones/
Publish Date: 2026-06-16 10:54:00
Source Domain: www.zdnet.com
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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- iOS 27 has several smaller changes worth noting.
- Some iOS 27 updates got little or no WWDC attention.
- The beta includes practical updates beyond Siri AI.
At WWDC 26, Apple spent the majority of its time talking about Siri AI and other Apple Intelligence upgrades. Unsurprisingly, they’re the highlight of iOS 27. After all, they aim to enhance your user experience. However, certain features got a brief mention or no mention at all, and they are interesting perks, especially for older generations of iPhones.
Also: Every iPhone model that supports the iOS 27 update (and which older ones don’t)
I installed the iOS 27 Developer Beta soon after WWDC, and these are some of the relatively small features that are big improvements, depending on the way you use your iPhone.
1. Save a frame from video
Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET
There are times when I take a screenshot of a specific frame from a video to share on social media or make a funny sticker out of it. But with iOS 27, I can simply extract that frame out of the video with a few taps. I no longer need to take a screenshot, resize it to dismiss the black borders on the top and bottom, and then save it to have a usable frame.
Also: Your iPhone may support Channel Sounding via Bluetooth with iOS 27 – and it’s a big deal
On iOS 27, you can play a video, tap on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner, and select Save Video Frame as Photo. It’ll then extract the frame and save it as a photo in your gallery.
However, it compresses the image, so you aren’t getting a GoPro-like 24MP photo from the video feature. I’ve noticed screenshot file sizes ranging from 6MB to 9MB, whereas the same frame is extracted as a 500KB image. I didn’t see a major difference in quality. It is essentially saving you space while giving you a similar-quality photo.
2. Lock screen enhancements
Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET
If you’re like me and don’t like a big…
