Apple schedules iOS 27.2 launch with expanded video and media controls
The update extends dual-camera functionality to group calls and introduces user profiles to the TV app on iPhone.
By Ivan Dvorak ·
Apple will distribute iOS 27.2 to users next week. This release follows the limited rollout of iOS 27.1, which was restricted to the iPhone Duo. Consequently, iOS 27.2 represents the next major software update for the broader iPhone user base.
The update modifies how dual-camera video functions within FaceTime. Dual Capture, introduced in iOS 27, currently allows users to display front and rear camera feeds simultaneously during one-on-one calls. With iOS 27.2, this capability extends to Group FaceTime sessions. On compatible devices, tapping the Flip button activates the rear camera while keeping the front camera active for group participants.
The Apple Podcasts app receives a structural change to its queue system. The existing Up Next section at the top of the Home tab is being divided into two distinct areas. The New Episodes section replaces Up Next and lists the latest releases from followed shows. A new Continue Playing section sits below it, consolidating episodes that have been started but not finished.
The writer for 9to5Mac, who previously described the old Up Next queue as cluttered, tested the beta version of the new layout. They stated the change helps listeners better track their content. The new arrangement separates fresh releases from pending listening tasks.
The Apple TV app on iPhone gains user profiles for the first time. While profiles have existed on tvOS for Apple TV hardware, this update brings that functionality to iOS. After the update, users encounter a profile selection screen upon opening the app. This feature can be disabled to prevent the screen from appearing again.
Once a profile is active, the app tailors content recommendations to that specific user. If a child's profile is selected, the app displays only age-appropriate series and movies from Apple. This setup keeps an adult's viewing queue separate and filters unsuitable material for younger viewers on a parent's device.
According to 9to5Mac, the update includes new features in six iPhone apps in total. The changes to FaceTime, Podcasts, and the TV app constitute the primary visible updates for most users.
