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Alongside the new operating systems, Apple is also significantly upgrading its services. From a sharper Flyover feature in Maps and more flexible location sharing in Find My to splitting bills via Apple Cash, a common thread runs through the announcement: more convenience, more intelligence – and in some areas, a clear difference between the US and Europe.
Apple has unveiled a comprehensive package of service updates, which will be released this fall with upcoming software updates. It affects virtually the entire service portfolio: Apple Maps, Find My, Apple Wallet, Apple Pay, Apple Podcasts, iCloud, Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Fitness+. Many of the new features closely mirror the revamped Apple Intelligence introduced with iOS 27—for example, splitting bills, local recommendations in Maps, and higher daily limits for AI features. Other improvements are classic convenience updates that have long been on many users' wish lists.
Apple Maps: sharper flyover and local lists
Maps is getting an improved flyover feature that combines aerial imagery with artificial intelligence to display selected cities worldwide in significantly greater detail. Anyone planning a trip or wanting to explore a city from a new perspective will thus get a sharper and more lifelike view.
In addition, there are local lists that suggest relevant collections of places based on current trends – from trendy restaurants to family-friendly destinations. Apple emphasizes that the underlying insights are gathered with data privacy in mind and are never linked to individual users. However, these local lists will initially only launch in the US.
“Where is it?”: flexible sharing and a bundled Watch app
Location sharing gives users significantly more control. In the future, users will be able to share their location for a self-selected duration – a few minutes, hours, or days – or set a fixed end time. This is particularly useful for events or weekend trips. Additionally, sharing can be paused for individual people until the end of the day, ensuring that surprises – from gift shopping to parties – don't get spoiled.
On the Apple Watch, a new, unified "Find My" app replaces the previously separate apps for devices, items, and people. The map-centric interface brings together the most important actions—directions, sound alerts, contact information—in one place and is one of the new Watch features that watchOS 27 overall. Also new is the precision search feature in the app, which allows you to pinpoint the location of a paired iPhone, a second-generation AirTag, and AirPods Pro 3. This requires a newer Apple Watch Series 9 or later (Ultra 2) and an iPhone 15 or later (excluding the iPhone 16e and 17e).
Apple Wallet and Apple Cash: Splitting bills, adding cards
Apple Wallet will soon allow users to split bills using Apple Cash and Apple Intelligence. Simply scan a receipt with your iPhone camera or take a photo of it – this can be done in Messages, Wallet, or via Apple's visual intelligence. The new Siri mode in the Camera app recognizes the individual items, automatically calculates the respective share including tax and tip when selected, and suggests paying with Apple Cash. This feature is currently only available in the US and requires an Apple Intelligence-enabled device with the new Siri.
Regardless, iPhone and Apple Watch users can create their own passes from physical cards – such as loyalty or membership cards. Using Siri mode in the Camera app, simply point your iPhone at a card with a barcode or take a screenshot of a digital version; the pass can then be saved to Wallet. Once saved, it's available as a barcode or QR code on your iPhone and Apple Watch and can be added to the Smart Stack on your watch.
In addition, Apple is expanding the key function in Wallet: At participating hotels and resorts, guests will not only be able to access rooms and facilities via iPhone or Apple Watch, but will also be able to see travel details, information about booked activities and available services all in one place.
Apple Pay and Tap to Pay with a new payment experience
Apple is introducing a redesigned interface for online and in-app payments with Apple Pay. Users can switch between cards with a swipe gesture and, for eligible cards, see additional information such as bonus balances, account balances, or installment options directly during the payment process. Later this year, it will also be possible to load funds onto a compatible debit card via Apple Pay – directly in Wallet or during the payment process.
Tap to Pay on the iPhone, which allows merchants to accept contactless payments without additional hardware, is now available in over 50 countries. This fall, Tap to Share will be added: With a simple tap, customers connect to a participating merchant's iPhone and can securely transmit information such as email address, delivery address, or loyalty card details, track their shopping cart in real time, and then pay without having to tap the screen a second time. Tap to Share is not yet available in the European Economic Area.
Apple Podcasts: Video on Mac and tvOS
On Mac, video podcasts can now be played in an expanded view, including picture-in-picture for working simultaneously. Transcripts, time-controlled links, and chapter markers are all conveniently located in one place. Apple Podcasts in tvOS receives a complete redesign with video playback, a new sidebar for navigation, and support for episode and show artwork created by the podcasters. Additionally, a new in-show search function helps users quickly find the right episode on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision Pro, and the web.
iCloud: revamped shared albums and more for iCloud+
Shared albums in iCloud are getting a major overhaul: content can now be shared in full resolution, more file types are supported, and emoji reactions and revamped activity histories for each album have been added. New temporary albums are available for short-term projects that don't use up permanent iCloud storage. Even people without an Apple device can join albums on the web and contribute photos.
Most iCloud+ plans will offer higher daily limits for Apple Intelligence features, including image generation, as well as Apple Intelligence support for compatible cameras on the home network.
Apple Music: Translated lyrics and improved AutoMix
Song lyrics translations are being expanded to include seven new language pairs, such as English to French, German, Italian, Korean, and Spanish, as well as French to English and Japanese to English. Machine learning, supplemented by refinement from language experts, is intended to preserve the emotion and cultural nuance of the original lyrics. The pronunciation guide for singing along is being added with five more pairings, including English to Hangul and to Katakana.
AutoMix provides smoother transitions between tracks with improved transitions and will soon be available on Apple Music in tvOS and on HomePod. Additionally, Apple is bringing high-resolution lossless audio and regular lossless audio to tvOS, allowing music to be enjoyed in studio quality through compatible external speakers on Apple TV 4K.
Apple TV and Apple Fitness+
In the sports sector, Apple TV is further expanding the experience surrounding leagues and major events, such as Friday Night Baseball, Major League Soccer, and Formula 1 in the US. Through the free Apple Sports app, fans receive results, statistics, and standings in real time – now in over 170 countries and regions, including more than 90 newly added markets.
Apple Fitness+ is also launching the three-week "Strong Through Menopause" program, featuring weekly yoga and strength training sessions designed to specifically support women in perimenopause and menopause in building strength, balance, and stress reduction. It complements the cycle tracking feature introduced with iOS 27 that tracks these life stages. Actress Busy Philipps contributes a new episode of "Time to Walk," sharing personal stories.
Availability and schedule
The new features can be tested immediately through the Apple Developer Program, with a public beta following next month via the Apple Beta Software Program. The new features will be released as a free update for all users this fall. Apple notes that some features may not be available in all languages or regions and may be subject to change depending on local laws.
For the EU, the small print remains crucial
As broad as the package is, the regional restrictions are striking. The smarter convenience features – splitting bills with Apple Cash, local lists in Maps, or Tap to Share – are initially launching only in the US or excluding the European Economic Area. Some of this is directly tied to the new Siri: where a feature requires an Apple Intelligence-enabled device with Siri AI, the same hurdle applies in the EU that is currently limiting Siri AI on iPhones and iPads within the Union. For European users, it's therefore worth checking the footnotes for each of these new features – because whether a feature actually catches on here depends less on the technology itself than on regulation and availability. (Image: Apple)
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