[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong (홍진주)] Apple will roll out iOS 27.2 next week and add new features to six default iPhone apps. The update focuses on usability improvements centred on Messages, Apple TV, FaceTime, Home, Apple Podcasts and the Games app.

According to IT media outlet 9to5Mac on Oct. 20 (local time), the most noticeable change is a "suggested actions" feature in Messages. It suggests follow-up tasks under messages based on the conversation. Typical examples include creating a calendar event, adding a reminder and saving a note. Apple included the feature in an iOS 27 beta this summer but did not put it in the public release, and has applied it again in an improved form in iOS 27.2. Users can also fine-tune what types of suggestions they see.

The Apple TV app also changes. In iOS 27.2 and iPadOS 27.2, iPhone and iPad users will get a new profile selection screen. The move is designed to separate viewing history and recommendations even when multiple users share one account. A profile selection screen appears when the app launches, and users can turn it off so it does not appear again. Apple has expanded a feature previously offered on tvOS to mobile devices.

FaceTime has expanded support for dual capture. Dual capture, first added in iOS 27, lets users turn on the front and rear cameras at the same time during a call. From iOS 27.2, the feature can also be used in group FaceTime calls. On iPhone 17 and later, pressing the camera switch button sends both camera views at the same time by default.

The Home app has strengthened automation for smart locks. A newly added "lock after door closes" setting automatically locks the door after a set time once it is closed. Previously, auto-lock could be set only based on elapsed time after unlocking. A "door left open" alert is also added. With compatible locks, the Home app automatically sends a notification if the door remains open for more than a set time.

Apple Podcasts will split the Home tab play queue into two. "Play Next" is now divided into "New Episodes" and "Continue Playing". New Episodes includes only the latest instalments of shows the user subscribes to, while Continue Playing gathers episodes the user has started but not finished. It simplifies playback management by separating checking new content from resuming listening.

The Games app has also adjusted parts of the Home tab. It will show games that were recently downloaded but not yet launched directly on the Home tab. Previously, it mainly displayed games with actual play history. Achievement progress and leaderboard score displays will change to make them easier to track.

Rather than a large-scale design overhaul, the update focuses on refining repeated-use flows in each default app. Messages follow-up suggestions, Apple TV user separation, FaceTime group-call expansion and stronger Home app automation are all changes users can feel immediately in real-world use. As a result, iOS 27.2 is likely to be seen as an update that polishes app-by-app usage context rather than one defined by the number of added features.