Apple has rolled out two new AI‑powered editing tools—Extend and Reframe—in the Photos app for iOS 27. Unlike traditional cropping, which merely cuts away parts of an image, these features can generate new background content or shift the perspective of a photo after it has been captured.
How Extend works
Extend lets users add extra space around the edges of a picture. If a subject’s head is too close to the top of the frame or you simply need more breathing room, Apple Intelligence creates additional background that matches the original scene. The tool is available on iPhones that support Apple Intelligence and are running iOS 27 or later.
How Reframe works
Reframe goes a step further by allowing users to change the point of capture after the fact. You can move the subject, zoom in, rotate, or adjust the perspective, and the AI fills in the newly exposed areas with generated content. This can be especially helpful when a subject is awkwardly positioned or when the photographer wishes they had taken the shot from a slightly different angle.
Things to watch for
Because Extend and Reframe rely on generative AI, the added portions may sometimes contain odd details, particularly around faces, hands, text, or complex backgrounds. Users should review the final image closely, especially for letters, numbers, or intricate patterns, to ensure the AI has not introduced errors.
Both tools can be undone at any time, allowing you to revert to the original edit state. Apple notes that availability may vary by language, region, and device model; older iPhones that can install iOS 27 but lack Apple Intelligence will not receive these features.
Android alternatives
Samsung’s Galaxy line offers a similar experience through Galaxy AI Photo Assist. Its Move tool lets users reposition, rotate, or resize parts of an image, with AI filling in the background created by those changes. The standard Gallery editor also provides aspect‑ratio adjustments, rotation, and angle controls.
Google’s answer is the Auto frame feature in Google Photos, which can recompose a tightly cropped shot and generate missing background areas. Users should keep the Google Photos app up to date, as rollout may be gradual and dependent on device, account, and region.
Practical tips
- Start with the clearest original image possible; AI works best on well‑exposed photos.
- Make modest edits—adding a small amount of space around the edges often looks more natural than dramatically expanding the whole frame.
- Zoom in on the edited version and check faces, hands, hair, jewelry, and clothing for any unexpected changes.
- Pay special attention to any text or numbers in the scene, as AI can misinterpret these elements.
- Save edited versions as copies so the untouched original remains available.
While these AI tools provide a convenient way to rescue a shot that might otherwise be discarded, they are not a substitute for good composition at the moment of capture. Nonetheless, they give iPhone, Galaxy, and Pixel owners a valuable safety net, helping families and hobbyists preserve memories without needing a second take.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
