The Bloomberg Report That Changed Everything
Yesterday, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman published an extensive report detailing upcoming design changes for iOS 27. The report covers everything from a redesigned Siri to an upgraded Camera app. One detail that caught my attention could be great news for the Liquid Glass change I have been hoping for. Apple is redesigning iOS 27’s Liquid Glass tab bars, which might solve my biggest complaint about the current design. iOS 27’s unveiling is just a few weeks away, and leaks about new features continue to surface. Gurman wrote that the next major iPhone software update will include noticeable design changes across several areas, including the Siri digital assistant, system search, and apps such as Safari, Image Playground, and Weather. Apple is also planning systemwide changes, such as new animations and redesigned tab bars. These systemwide changes are what especially caught my eye.
Previously, Gurman indicated that iOS 27 would bring refinements to Liquid Glass. This latest report has concrete details on new systemwide designs. For example, he mentions a new animation when the on-screen keyboard loads. It will show the keys sliding up from the bottom of the iPhone’s interface. Regarding tab bars in apps, he writes that Apple is tweaking the tab bar across the bottom of several apps to combine the search tab with the rest of an app’s tabs. This idea of redesigned tab bars is what excites me the most. That is because tab bars in iOS 26 are my biggest complaint about the Liquid Glass design. iOS 26’s tab bars feel like a regression, and iOS 27 could fix them. The ios 27 design leaks from Gurman suggest a meaningful shift in how Apple approaches interface consistency.
27 Design Changes I Am Watching Closely
Based on Gurman’s reporting and my own observations from using iOS 26 daily, here are 27 specific design features and changes I hope iOS 27 delivers. Each one addresses a pain point or introduces an improvement that could reshape how we interact with our iPhones.
1. Tab Bars That Stay Visible While Scrolling
In iOS 26, tab bars in several apps collapse into a single icon in the bottom-left corner when you scroll. Every day, many times each day, I find myself needing to tap that minimized tab bar to get it to reappear, then tap again to get to the tab I want. This extra tap, required for the very common act of switching tabs, feels regressive. I like how Liquid Glass tab bars look, but this behavior seems a step back from iOS 18. My hope is that integrating search back into the tab bar means iOS 27 will undo the tab bar collapsing feature. Based on Gurman’s report, the most likely outcome is that I get my wish, and tab bars across all apps stay visible even while scrolling.
2. A New Keyboard Animation
Gurman reports that iOS 27 will feature a new animation where keyboard keys slide up from the bottom of the iPhone’s interface. For someone who types dozens of messages and emails daily, this visual cue could make the keyboard feel more connected to the screen. The animation might reduce the cognitive jarring that happens when the keyboard suddenly appears. Apple has not used this kind of sliding keyboard animation since the early days of iOS, and bringing it back could be the most visually impactful systemwide change for daily users.
3. Search Integrated Back Into the Tab Bar
iOS 26 split search into a standalone button, separating it from the main tab bar. This created fragmentation across apps. Some apps kept search inside the tab bar, while others moved it to a separate position. Gurman’s report suggests iOS 27 will combine the search tab with the rest of an app’s tabs. This consolidation means fewer taps to find what you need. The integration of search into the main tab bar might solve the fragmentation introduced in iOS 26. Both the App Store and Games already reintegrated search into the tab bar in iOS 26.4, and neither app minimizes the bar. That precedent gives me confidence that iOS 27 will follow the same pattern.
4. Siri’s Visual Redesign
Gurman specifically calls out the Siri digital assistant as one area receiving noticeable design changes. The current Siri interface uses a glowing orb animation that fills the screen. A redesign could make Siri less intrusive and more context-aware. Imagine Siri appearing as a subtle bar at the bottom of the screen instead of taking over the entire display. For someone who frequently uses Siri for hands-free tasks like setting timers, sending messages, or checking weather, a less disruptive interface would speed up the interaction significantly. The ios 27 design leaks suggest Siri will feel more like a natural extension of the interface rather than a separate app.
5. The Upgraded Camera App Interface
Gurman mentions an upgraded Camera app as part of the iOS 27 overhaul. For a photographer who relies on the Camera app, this could signal a better shooting experience. The current Camera app has become cluttered with modes and controls. A redesign might simplify the layout, moving less-used options into a collapsible menu. Changes could include larger shutter buttons, easier access to ProRAW settings, or a redesigned mode selector. Systemwide changes like new animations matter more than app-specific updates for the overall feel of the OS, but the Camera app redesign is where many users will notice the difference first.
6. Liquid Glass Refinements Across the System
Gurman previously said iOS 27 would bring refinements to Liquid Glass. This visual language, introduced in iOS 26, uses translucent backgrounds and blurred layers to create depth. The refinements could include more consistent transparency levels across apps, better contrast for readability, and smoother transitions between glass layers. One of my favorite details about the latest report is that these refinements might finally make Liquid Glass feel cohesive rather than experimental.
7. Safari Tab Bar Changes
Gurman lists Safari among the apps receiving design updates in iOS 27. The current Safari tab bar on iPhone can feel cramped, especially when you have multiple tabs open. A redesigned tab bar could show more tabs at once, use smaller favicons, or introduce a new way to switch between pages. For someone who keeps 15 to 20 Safari tabs open at any given time, even a small improvement in tab management would save seconds every hour.
8. Image Playground Gets a Visual Refresh
Image Playground, Apple’s AI-powered image generation app, is also on the list of apps getting design changes. The current interface uses a simple grid layout with generation controls at the bottom. A redesign could introduce a more immersive editing workspace, better preview tools, or integration with the Liquid Glass aesthetic. Since Image Playground is relatively new, seeing Apple iterate on its design so quickly signals that the company is serious about making AI tools feel native to the iPhone experience.
9. Weather App Layout Improvements
The Weather app in iOS 26 already looks beautiful, but it suffers from information density issues. Key data like precipitation probability and UV index can be buried behind multiple taps. A redesign in iOS 27 could surface the most important metrics on the main screen while keeping detailed graphs and maps one tap away. For someone who checks the weather multiple times each morning before heading out, a cleaner layout would reduce friction.
10. Systemwide Animation Consistency
Gurman reports that Apple is planning systemwide changes such as new animations. Currently, animations across iOS 26 vary in speed, easing curve, and responsiveness. Some apps use quick fade transitions while others use slide animations. A unified animation system would make the entire OS feel more coherent. When you open an app, close a notification, or switch between tabs, the animation should feel consistent regardless of which app you are using.
11. Photos App Tab Bar Fix
The Photos app is one of the worst offenders when it comes to the minimized tab bar in iOS 26. When you scroll through your photo library, the tab bar collapses to a single icon. To switch from the Library tab to the Albums tab, you must tap that icon, wait for the bar to reappear, then tap Albums. In iOS 27, keeping the full tab bar visible while scrolling would save me dozens of extra taps per day. The ios 27 design leaks strongly suggest Apple is addressing this exact frustration.
12. Music App Tab Bar Behavior
Apple Music suffers from the same tab bar collapsing issue as Photos. When browsing your library or searching for new music, the tab bar shrinks to a single icon. This is especially annoying when you want to jump from the Listen Now tab to the Search tab quickly. Since search is being reintegrated into the tab bar in iOS 27, it makes sense that Apple would also keep the tab bar visible. Otherwise, search would be hidden when you scroll, which defeats the purpose of bringing search back into the bar.
13. Podcasts Tab Bar Consistency
The Podcasts app follows the same minimizing pattern as Photos and Music. I listen to podcasts daily, and I frequently switch between the Listen Now, Browse, and Library tabs. Each time I scroll through an episode list, the tab bar collapses. iOS 27 needs to treat Podcasts the same way it treats News, Books, and TV, which all keep the full tab bar visible when scrolling.
14. News App Sets the Standard
Interestingly, the News app in iOS 26 does not minimize the tab bar when scrolling. It keeps the full bar visible at all times. This shows that Apple already knows how to implement tab bars correctly. iOS 27 should simply apply the News app’s behavior to every other app. There is no technical reason why Music and Photos cannot use the same approach. The inconsistency between apps is what makes the current design feel unfinished.
15. Books App Tab Bar Visibility
Like News, the Books app keeps its tab bar fully visible during scrolling. In iOS 27, this behavior should become the default across all system apps. Apple has a template for what works, and Books and News prove that visible tab bars do not interfere with the browsing experience. If anything, visible tab bars make navigation faster and more intuitive.
16. TV App Maintains Full Bar
The TV app also avoids the collapsing tab bar issue in iOS 26. Whether you are browsing movies, TV shows, or your library, the tab bar stays put. This consistency within the TV app makes it easy to switch between sections without extra taps. iOS 27 should extend this behavior to every app that uses a tab bar.
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17. App Store Search Integration as a Model
The App Store already reintegrated search into the tab bar in iOS 26.4, and it does not minimize the bar when scrolling. This update gave us a preview of what iOS 27 could look like systemwide. The App Store’s tab bar now shows Search as a permanent tab alongside Today, Games, Apps, and Updates. This design works well, and Apple should use it as the template for iOS 27’s tab bar redesign across all apps.
18. Games App Follows the App Store
The Games app, which is essentially a subset of the App Store, also received the search integration in iOS 26.4. Its tab bar does not collapse when scrolling. This gives me confidence that Apple is testing the behavior that iOS 27 will standardize. If both the App Store and Games apps work this way, there is no reason for Music, Photos, and Podcasts to behave differently.
19. Tab Bar Transparency Adjustments
In iOS 26, Apple made tab bars more transparent than in previous versions. While this looks modern, it sometimes reduces readability, especially in apps with light backgrounds or busy content. iOS 27 could adjust the transparency level to balance aesthetics with usability. A slightly less transparent tab bar would make icons and labels easier to distinguish at a glance.
20. Scrolling Behavior Harmonization
Currently, different apps handle scrolling and tab bar behavior differently. Some apps hide the tab bar, some keep it visible, and some show it only when you scroll to the top. iOS 27 should standardize this behavior. A single, predictable pattern for how tab bars respond to scrolling would reduce confusion and make the OS feel more polished.
21. Standalone Search Button Removal
iOS 26 introduced a standalone search button in several apps, separating search from the main tab bar. This created an extra step: you had to tap the search button, then type your query. Integrating search back into the tab bar means one less tap. Based on Gurman’s report, iOS 27 is removing the standalone search button and returning to the iOS 18 model where search sits alongside other tabs.
22. User Feedback as a Design Driver
Apple is pretty good at iterating on designs based on user feedback. The company has a history of walking back unpopular changes after hearing from customers. The tab bar minimization in iOS 26 generated enough negative feedback that Apple is addressing it in iOS 27. This responsiveness is one reason why I remain optimistic about the upcoming update. The ios 27 design leaks show that Apple listens to how people actually use their devices.
23. The Risk of Hiding Search Behind Minimization
If Apple keeps minimizing the tab bar in iOS 27, search will start being hidden too. That would make the new integrated search tab useless because every scroll would hide it. I would be very surprised if Apple makes tab bars worse in the new update. The logic of integrating search into the tab bar only works if the tab bar stays visible. Otherwise, there would seemingly be no point in reverting to the integrated iOS 18 design.
24. Consistency Across Third-Party Apps
Apple’s design guidelines influence how third-party developers build their apps. If iOS 27 establishes a clear pattern for tab bar behavior, developers will follow suit. Imagine opening a social media app or a news reader and seeing the tab bar stay visible while scrolling. That consistency would make navigating between different apps feel seamless. For a developer who builds apps with tab bars, the new systemwide guidelines would clarify how to adapt.
25. How the Changes Compare to Previous WWDC Announcements
Looking back at past WWDC keynotes, Apple often previews design changes months before they ship. The iOS 27 design leaks from Gurman mirror the kind of pre-WWDC reporting we saw before iOS 18 and iOS 19. Typically, the features that get leaked end up being accurate about 80 percent of the time. If that pattern holds, then the redesigned tab bars, new Siri interface, and upgraded Camera app are all but confirmed for the official unveiling.
26. What the New Keyboard Animation Means for Typing
The keyboard animation showing keys sliding up from the bottom is more than a visual gimmick. It provides a spatial cue that the keyboard is emerging from the edge of the screen, which could make the interface feel more grounded. For someone who types long emails or writes notes throughout the day, this animation might reduce the disorienting pop-in effect of the current keyboard. It is a small detail, but systemwide changes like this add up to a more polished overall feel.
27. The Big Picture: iOS 27 as a Design-Focused Update
With the unveiling just weeks away, these leaks set expectations for a design-focused update rather than a feature-heavy one. Apple is concentrating on refining the user experience rather than adding dozens of new capabilities. That approach often leads to a more satisfying upgrade cycle because it fixes existing frustrations instead of introducing new ones. My biggest hope is that iOS 27 makes the iPhone feel more coherent, with every app following the same navigation rules. Based on Gurman’s report, the most likely outcome is that I get my wish, and my biggest current Liquid Glass complaint will be addressed.
What new changes do you hope Apple makes to the design in iOS 27? The next few weeks will tell us how many of these 27 predictions become reality.
