You could describe Apple One like a meal deal. No, you don’t get a sandwich, a drink, and a packet of crisps for the starting price of $21.95/£18.95, but you do get a few things bundled in. Much like a meal deal, the bundle of services (rather than sandwiches) makes it feel like you’re saving money, even if you’ve never opened Fitness+ in your life and have never even heard of Apple Arcade.
With iOS 27 landing, the meal deal is about to get a little better, too – think of it as an extra couple of cookies thrown in. Here are the new features coming with the software update.
Your AI allowance
The first of the extra cookies is your AI daily usage limits. Apple Intelligence itself is getting a glow-up with iOS 27, not only with the introduction of Siri AI, but also with better image generation and clever editing tools in Photos. Clean Up will see significant improvements, and there are also two new tools, including Reframe and Expand.
The catch is that some of the Apple Intelligence features that rely on Apple’s servers rather than just your iPhone’s processing power will have daily usage limits. A bit like a data cap when you travel abroad, but rather than for opening WhatsApp, the cap will be for asking Image Playground to add a top hat to your dog.
Apple said in a press release at WWDC, when the iOS 27 features were announced: “Some Apple Intelligence features, including image generation, have daily usage limits because they rely on powerful server models. Increased access is available with most iCloud+ subscription plans.”
Apple hasn’t yet released the AI usage limits, but according to a 9to5Mac report, evidence from iOS 27 beta testing suggests Apple One subscribers will receive higher allowances, with usage limits increasing as you move up the tiers.
Smarter cameras
The second extra cookie requires you to have HomeKit-compatible cameras, so if you don’t, you can skip this part. If you do, four new tricks are coming with iOS 27. Compatible cameras will stream and record in 4K, which is great if you want a detailed view of next door’s cat and your bin having a stand-off.
More helpfully, the Home app will also generate written descriptions of what happened in a clip, allow you to search footage for a specific moment, such as a parcel or a person, and automatically surface noteworthy moments so you don’t have to watch three hours of footage just for the 60 seconds of your neighbours arguing.
All four features will be available to Apple One subscribers (though it might be tier-dependent) with the new software, but as I mentioned, you will need a home hub and a HomeKit camera that supports 4K. Basically, you need a unicorn.
Apple Music improvements
The third extra cookie comes in the form of Spotify rival Apple Music. The changes are arguably less flashy than the HomeKit Secure features, but for anyone who doesn’t have HomeKit-compatible cameras, these are likely the changes you’ll appreciate more.
Artist and album pages have been revamped for iOS 27, while Now Playing now works in landscape on iPhone (a previously baffling omission). AutoMix, which is a little like a DJ that’s just learning the ropes, gets smoother transitions with iOS 27, and the feature expands to Apple TV and HomePod too, so the party won’t grind to a halt between tracks if you’re using either of those platforms.
If you have a living room setup capable of distinguishing between Hi-Res Lossless and standard definition, tvOS 27 brings that support too. Elsewhere, Lyrics Translation and Pronunciation are expanding their reach to include several new language pairings, so you can finally work out what you’ve been mumbling in the shower and even sing it back correctly.
Lastly, a few playback bugs have been fixed, which should mean fewer stutters, faster loading, and maybe fewer arguments with HomePod when a song refuses to start.
How much does Apple One cost?
Sure, these extra features might not be enough to make you sign up to Apple One if you weren’t already considering it, but if you are already a subscriber, who doesn’t like an extra few features bundled in? In terms of pricing, Apple One starts at $21.95/£18.95 a month for an Individual plan, rising to $27.95/£24.95 for a Family plan and up to $39.95/£36.95 for Premier.
The Individual plan bundles 50GB of iCloud storage, Apple TV, Apple Music and Apple Arcade. The Family plan offers the same services, but with 200GB of iCloud storage and the option to share with up to five people. The Premier plan adds Apple News+ and Apple Fitness+, while increasing iCloud+ storage to 2TB.
Read more: iOS 27 system requirements: will Apple’s upcoming software run on your existing iPhone?
Read the full article here
