Abstract:
Apple released the official version of iOS 27.2 on October 26, local time, bringing Apple Pencil stylus support to its first foldable screen phone, iPhone Duo, and adding a facial fill-in function called Edge Light. In addition, this update also involves Siri artificial intelligence functions, photo applications, FaceTime video calls, and multiple system applications. Apple has also simultaneously launched software updates for macOS, watchOS, visionOS, tvOS, and HomePod.
Apple Pencil support is one of the highlights of this iPhone Duo update. Apple had previously promised to add Apple Pencil compatibility to the foldable phone later in 2026, and now with the release of iOS 27.2, this promise has been officially fulfilled. With the large display area after the folding screen is unfolded, users can use a stylus to perform writing, drawing and other fine operations, making the phone closer to a small tablet in some usage scenarios.
iPhone Duo uses a 7.6-inch internal screen and a 5.4-inch external screen. Apple has redesigned part of the control interface of iOS 27 for these two different screen sizes, hoping to allow users to obtain a relatively coherent operating experience in the folded and unfolded states. For users who require stylus input, a larger internal screen can provide more ample writing space than traditional candy bar phones, and also create more possibilities for applications such as note-taking, annotation, and graphic creation.
However, the specific scope of Apple Pencil compatibility still depends on device support and the adaptability of the application itself. The addition of a stylus does not mean that all iPad applications can run directly on iPhone Duo. Developers still need to optimize the display ratio, interaction method and system interface of the folding screen.
Apple has also added the Edge Light function to iPhone Duo this time, which is mainly used to improve the lighting effect on the user's face during video calls. This feature can produce a fill-light effect at the edge of the screen, helping users make their faces look brighter when the ambient light is insufficient. For users who often conduct video conferencing indoors, at night, or in environments with complex lighting, this feature is expected to improve the look and feel of the picture.
iOS 27.2 also further expands Siri’s artificial intelligence capabilities. After the update, Siri AI can provide suggested actions in messaging applications to help users take follow-up actions more conveniently based on message content. At the same time, Apple has expanded the range of language support for related artificial intelligence functions, adding French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish.
The Photos app and Image Playground will also gain support for Google SynthID artificial intelligence watermark technology. SynthID is used to embed identifiable markers in AI-generated content, and related detection capabilities help determine whether images contain such watermarks. However, this does not mean that the system can recognize all AI-generated images, and the detection results still depend on whether the content uses compatible watermark technology.
Other applications have also received a series of adjustments. The Apple TV app on iPhone has added a user profile feature to make it easier for different users to manage their own viewing experiences. Apple Podcasts has adjusted the original "Play Next" queue and instead highlighted the "New Show" and "Continue Playing" areas to allow users to find the latest podcasts and continue unfinished content.
Apple Music also adopts a new app logo in this update. At the same time, FaceTime group calls have added a dual-camera capture function, and users can simultaneously display the selfie screen captured by the front camera and the scene recorded by the rear camera during the call. This is especially useful for users who need to show their surroundings, physical objects, or work processes while showing their faces.
In addition to mobile phone systems, Apple has also released macOS 27.2 Golden Gate, watchOS 27.2, visionOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2 and HomePod 27.2 updates, continuing to promote software iterations for its different devices.
Overall, iOS 27.2 is not only a regular system feature update, but also an important step for Apple to further improve the iPhone Duo folding screen experience. Apple Pencil support enhances the device's potential for handwriting and creation, and Edge Light provides new capabilities for everyday scenarios such as video calls. However, whether foldable screen devices can truly take advantage of large screens still depends on the progress of application adaptation, system interaction design, and whether developers can continue to launch targeted optimizations.
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