Apple Adds 3 Key Messages Upgrades in iOS 27, Boosting AI Suggestions and Speed

Q: Does a simple drawing app in iOS 27 secretly confirm Apple's first foldable iPhone is finally on its way?

No. The new Drawing app in Messages is, by itself, not proof that Apple’s first foldable iPhone is imminent. What it does provide is a suggestive clue. A lightweight doodling tool would make more sense on a larger canvas, and that has fueled speculation that Apple is preparing software features that would feel more natural on a foldable “iPhone Ultra” or “iPhone Fold.” But simple sketching in Messages can also fit ordinary iPhones and iPads, especially since Apple already has related input features such as Markup and Digital Touch. The stronger evidence comes from elsewhere in iOS 27. Reports on the developer beta point to code strings such as “foldState,” “angleDegrees,” and references to multiple built-in displays. Apple also used WWDC 2026 to push developers toward apps that adapt to a wider range of sizes and aspect ratios, which aligns much more directly with foldable hardware preparation than a drawing app does. That broader software groundwork makes the foldable rumors more credible. It suggests Apple is building iOS to handle new form factors, including hinge states, resizable layouts, and multitasking behavior that would suit a book-style foldable device. So the drawing app is best read as a supporting hint, not a secret confirmation. If Apple is indeed nearing a foldable iPhone launch, the more persuasive signs are the system-level changes in iOS 27 and the beta code references, not the Messages doodle feature alone.

3 articles · Updated · 9to5Mac · Jun 10

iOS 27 gives Messages three headline changes: Apple Intelligence one-tap suggestions, a new Drawing iMessage app, and broader performance upgrades across sending, syncing and search.
Apple says the AI suggestions use conversation context to surface actions like creating a reminder or note, and can help find photos by recognizing keywords, locations and people.
The new Drawing app brings Markup-style doodling tools into iMessage, a feature that could be especially useful if Apple launches a larger foldable iPhone Ultra this fall.
Other changes include consolidated tapback notifications, Smart Reply tuned to a user’s writing style, an optional replacement for the audio button, and automatic blocking of gore or violent content for child accounts.
Apple also promises practical reliability gains, including automatic retries for failed messages, faster loading, quicker cross-device syncing, continuous media sending, and search by phone number or nickname.