If you’re an Android user, you know the deal. Every year, apple takes to the stage to announce a bunch of “new” features you’ve been using for years. It might be annoying if it weren’t so predictable, but it gives Android users a sense of pride knowing they’re always ahead of their iPhone-using friends.
Apple’s iOS 27 update is no exception, and I spent 2 hours of my life watching Apple’s WWDC 2026 on June 8 to see what updates you can celebrate with your friends right now.
Every year there are times when my mind wanders to one of Apple’s announcements, but it’s never for the reason they hope. On the contrary, I am constantly amazed by the features of iPhone users he didn’t there is, and it reminds me that I regularly take my favorite Android features for granted. All the features of iOS 27 on Android are now here.
Animations and transparency
Last year, Apple introduced iOS 26 with a new “Liquid Glass” aesthetic, which was quickly replaced. Liquid Glass evolved significantly from its announcement to its release, but iOS 27 finally adds a proper transparency slider that lets users customize their preferred looks.
Many Android OEMs rushed to update Android 16 released in the fall with a similar clear glowing glass aesthetic, but they’ve all either offered a way to turn off the effect entirely, and OEMs like Honor even offer a transparency slider (pictured above).
Apple also talked about improved, smoother animations in the OS, Android OEMs specially highlighted years agoand it has further halved in the last two years.
Basic features that aren’t so “basic”.
Apple gushed about how its phones could seamlessly transfer data between Wi-Fi and cellular data connections, as if it were some amazing breakthrough. I’d have to see exactly what’s different here to fully understand Apple’s angle, but Android users have had the same feature for years. It reminds me of when iPhone users couldn’t make phone calls and browse the web at the same time.
Likewise, Apple Messages probably now gets a “still sending” indicator so that your messages don’t get through to the other party. How was this not a core feature before, especially considering how many additional features the platform has over other messaging platforms? Very strange.
AirPods also now support custom EQs for users who care about such things, and I’m 100% sure I’ve been doing this on my Android phones since 2009. For example, this Motorola Razr Fold I’m currently using has built-in Dolby Atmos and offers automatic intelligent adjustments with advanced EQ options and virtual surround sound options.
Apple’s password manager can now automatically identify stolen passwords and help you change them. Meanwhile, Google Assistant was able to do it four years agoand Google Password Manager has identified stolen passwords for users for over half a decade.
The Apple Photos app now supports automatic sharing and group albums, two features Google Photos There was an app for a very long time.
Apple is also overhauling its suite of parental controls with a number of features already in Android’s Google Family Link app, albeit with a better UI than Google’s app. But I have long used the Bark app for my son’s Android phones because of what it offers away better parental controls More so than Google or Apple’s in-house solutions. Apple doesn’t allow these services to access usage data on iPhones, severely limiting the usefulness of such apps.
Siri, but make it a Gemini
Well, it’s 2026, so would you expect anything different from a company spending 40 minutes announcing new AI? Even Apple isn’t immune to this, announcing an improved Siri AI assistant with all the great features that Android users have been using for the past year or two, via Google. TwinsGalaxy AI, OnePlus AI, Motorola AI, Honor AI or any other favorite Android vendor you use.
Apple has spent a lot of time bashing other companies for violating your privacy with their AI tools, but simply saying “iPhone is more private” may not be true. After all, Apple is only introducing the new Siri AI features in the US, with other regions (like the more privacy-conscious EU and UK) available “at some point” after Apple works around regulatory restrictions.
As we heard last fall, Gemini is behind the brains the new Siri AI, and thus every new Siri feature announced by Apple, is now available on most Android phones. It all kicks off with a new customizable Siri voice that finally doesn’t sound like it was made in the AOL days, something Google is debuting. ancient Google Assistant almost ten years ago. Interestingly, Siri AI is only available in English to begin with, while Gemini currently supports 70 languages.
Now, there’s also a dedicated Siri app that keeps all your searches and other relevant information in one place for later access. It’s wild for me to have Siri now you get custom software, but hey, that’s the iPhone for you. Google Assistant and Gemini have always had their own apps, but I like Apple’s way of bringing data together. Pixel screenshots, Nothing Essential Spaceand other Android phones.
There’s even a new Siri camera mode that looks identical Google LensIt has been integrated into Android phones since 2017. Siri AI is also coming to the Apple Watch and will likely offer similar functionality to the existing Gemini app on Wear OS watches.
Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence is the catch-all term Apple uses for its artificial intelligence features separate from its Siri AI assistant. In fact, if you’re using an AI feature that doesn’t ask Siri for something, it’s Apple Intelligence. Last year, Apple’s initial Apple Intelligence launch was absolutely terrible, but the company went back to the drawing board for this year’s implementation.
Apple Intelligence will now be able to pull relevant information from certain apps on your phone, such as your airline reservation, into the phone app when you call that airline. This the same The scenario was demonstrated with Google Magic Cue In the Pixel 10 series last fall and Now nudge thanks to which the Galaxy S26 series offers the same functionality Android’s Personal Intelligence.
Apple Intelligence can also populate context-sensitive buttons when you search your screen. Like phones from late 2024 Honor Magic 7 Pro tested similar features and the Android 16 update for Honor phones improved it further. Owned by Google Circular to search also includes similar functionality, including the ability to ask for Gemini context-sensitive commands based on what you cycle through.
Apple Photos now has a ton of new AI-powered editing tools, all of them (except one). Available on Google Photos for years. You can also now use Siri to write emails, generate ideas from photos, scans or prompts, edit calendar entries using natural language, and many other similar activities. extremely Familiar to me as an Android phone reviewer. Apple also added Great AI generation warning from Google to photos.
Apple is trying to fix its terrible keyboard by improving voice dictation with Siri AI. It has integrated Google Assistant with Gboard back in 2020and as OEMs nothing and Google They also recently started rolling out natural language dictation, which is a generation ahead of what Apple is showing off today. Autocorrect may finally be welcome on iPhones as well, but we’ll have to wait and see the public verdict on it.
Apple’s Home app gets the same Apple Intelligence shine as the Google Home app upgrade. was announced last fall. This includes asking Siri about context-sensitive information in recorded videos, collecting and analyzing smart home data to deliver better notifications, and more. includes
More to come
Yes, Android users are enjoying it a lot Features that Apple users still won’t be able to use until iOS 27 launches in a few months. Even then, if history has proven anything, not all of these features will be available when iOS 27 is released to the public.
We also see some unannounced features for Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18, e.g Rumors that Android is anti-theft also already have. If you want the latest and greatest features, it’s clear that Android continues to be the best platform to have.
