This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.
The rumors about iOS 27 were even more exciting than what we got. | Image by PhoneArena
Just as expected, Apple had a flurry of announcements during WWDC 2026, including iOS 27, the supercharged Siri AI, and many features that never made it to the keynote. While that makes the software that will power the iPhone 18 Pro and the foldable iPhone Ultra feel like a great step forward, there was a lot missing.
Leading up to the event, we saw and heard a staggering amount of leaks about the potential improvements to some key aspects of iOS. Some of the rumors were truly exciting but still are not among Apple’s announcements.
At least some of the rumors were probably completely wrong, but hopefully there are others that just came at the wrong time. Here are the three most intriguing features that Apple didn’t announce, but I hope will arrive alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Ultra in September.
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1. Siri AI’s rumored third-party AI extension tools
Choose your own model
Siri AI has access to what’s on the screen. | Image by Applе
Siri AI was undoubtedly the star of the show, just like it dominated the leaks before it. What Apple didn’t even mention was the rumored “Extensions” feature. This one was supposed to allow users to replace the default AI models used in iOS 27 with the third-party AI chatbot of their choice.
That change was supposed to work after Apple allowed companies like OpenAI and Anthropic to add “Extensions” support to their apps. This feature would’ve allowed users to switch to the likes of ChatGPT or Claude inside Siri AI and use them across the rest of the Apple Intelligence features.
What Apple chose to talk about were its own Gemini-backed models that power Siri AI and run on infrastructure fully committed to protecting user privacy. There’s still a chance for “Extensions” to launch in the final version of iOS 27, probably with some scary warnings about user privacy.
2. The overhauled Apple Health experience
Bring the AI coach
Apple Health and watchOS were barely mentioned at WWDC 2026. | Image by PhoneArena
This year’s WWDC 2026 didn’t have a dedicated segment for any of Apple’s OSs, including watchOS 27, and even Apple Health was only briefly mentioned. That was in stark contrast with both Tim Cook’s dedication to health and some of the most exciting Apple rumors of the last year or so.
Leaks suggested that Apple was to launch a new Health+ service with iOS 27, which would combine the health and fitness tracking data collected by the iPhone and Apple Watch with AI. Among the rumored health features were also improved calorie tracking, the opportunity to create workout programs, and even an AI coach and doctor feature.
What we got were rather minor features such as perimenopause support and Workout Buddy improvements, alongside a minor redesign of the Apple Health app on the iPhone.
Which feature would you like to see the most in iOS 27?
3. The long-overdue Camera app customization options
Fingers crossed for a Pro mode
Leaked iOS 27 Camera app interface. | Image by Bloomberg
It’s true that iOS 26 came with an overhaul for the Camera app, but iOS 27 was supposed to make it even better. Apple was rumored to finally allow extended customization and greater control inside the app itself.
That was supposed to happen through so-called widgets, available from an “Add Widgets” panel and sitting at the top of the interface. Each capture mode was said to come with its own set of widgets, organized in several categories.
While not quite like the pro mode most Android smartphones have, these widgets were supposed to greatly improve the Camera app experience, especially for more advanced users. Instead, we got Siri mode in Camera, which practically brings Visual Intelligence to the app.
Not all hope is gone yet
iOS 27 may still get some new features in September. | Image by Apple
These are not all the rumored features we didn’t hear of at WWDC 2026, but they’re the ones that can still launch with the public release of iOS 27. Some of these we’ve seen in too great of a detail to be completely wrong, while others simply make sense.
Either way, iOS 27 already shapes up as a very exciting update for the iPhone. It comes with performance upgrades, it will power phones as old as the iPhone 11, and the early impressions of Siri AI are positive.
Adding the rumored improvements the iPhone 18 Pro is supposed to bring to the table, and we may have another great year for Apple products.
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Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.
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