iOS 27.2 puts six new features into next week's iPhone update
The update extends dual-camera video to group calls, restructures the podcast queue, and adds user profiles to the TV app.
By Tyler Khalil ·
Apple will ship iOS 27.2 to the general public next week, marking the next major software cycle for the iPhone.
The rollout follows a limited release of iOS 27.1 that was available only on the new iPhone Duo model. Because that version did not reach the wider device lineup, iOS 27.2 represents the first broad update since the initial iOS 27 launch.
The new version introduces three primary changes to the user interface and communication tools. The most notable expansion involves FaceTime video calling. Dual Capture, a feature introduced in the base iOS 27 release, currently allows users on compatible hardware to activate both front and rear cameras simultaneously during one-on-one calls. In the previous version, tapping the Flip button brought the rear camera online while keeping the front camera active. iOS 27.2 extends this capability to Group FaceTime sessions, allowing participants to show two views at once in multi-person calls.
Apple has also reorganized the Apple Podcasts application. The Up Next queue, which previously sat at the top of the Home tab, is being divided into two distinct lists. The first list, labeled New Episodes, will collect the latest releases from shows a user follows. The second list, Continue Playing, is a new section that sits directly below the first. It aggregates shows that a listener has started but not finished, creating a centralized view of pending content. A writer for 9to5Mac, who had previously described the old Up Next layout as cluttered, tested the new structure in the beta version and said it helps users track their listening habits more effectively.
The third major change brings user profiles to the Apple TV app on iPhone. While profiles have been available on tvOS devices for some time, this is the first time they appear in the iOS version of the app. When users first open the TV app after updating, they will see a profile selection screen. This screen can be disabled if the user prefers not to use the feature.
Once a profile is active, the app adjusts the content it displays and the recommendations it offers to match that specific viewer. If a child’s profile is selected, the app limits the visible Apple library to age-appropriate series and movies. According to 9to5Mac, this setup helps prevent children from encountering unsuitable material on a parent’s device and keeps the adult’s personal viewing queue separate. The outlet reports that iOS 27.2 adds new features to six iPhone apps in total.
The update is scheduled to arrive next week, following the limited iPhone Duo release of the previous version.
