Apple Releases iOS 27 Beta 4: A Major Boost for the Photos App
Apple has released the fourth beta of iOS 27, addressing an ongoing issue: the storage demands of modern media formats. The new build (24A5390f) released on July 20 brings a host of features aimed at helping users better manage high-resolution images and storage space.
Live Photos—a mix of still images and short video sequences—consume significantly more space than traditional photos. While a standard JPEG usually occupies around 3 to 4 megabytes, a Live Photo can quickly take up 8 to 15 megabytes, more than doubling the space required.
iCloud+: More Storage, Higher Costs
To tackle the storage issue, Apple primarily relies on its cloud services. iCloud+ plans start at 50 gigabytes for just €0.99 per month. Heavy photographers might opt for larger packages: a 6-terabyte plan costs €29.99, while 12 terabytes go for €59.99 monthly. Users will also enjoy extras like HomeKit Secure Video and Private Relay.
For those who wish to avoid ongoing costs, alternatives exist. Third-party apps offer lifetime licenses starting at around €30. These applications help in identifying duplicate files and compressing large media, providing a one-time purchase solution instead of a monthly fee.
Photos App: A Radical Speed Boost
The real star of iOS 27 Beta 4 is the revamped Photos App. Initial tests indicate that it loads up to 70 percent faster than its predecessors, an improvement that should particularly benefit users with extensive collections.
The final version of iOS 27 will also introduce new organizational tools, including:
- Ratings and Tags for better categorization
- Automatic Categories like “ID Documents” or “Taken by Me”
- Siri in Camera Mode for object recognition and contextual assistance
- Single Image Extraction from videos, making it practical for Live Photos
Privacy: Removing Location Data from Live Photos
As Live Photos gain popularity, awareness of their privacy risks is also on the rise. Each moving image contains not just the still photo, but also the associated video track, which often includes GPS coordinates.
Recent technical documentation from July 20 showcases how developers can remove these location data before uploading. The PHAssetResource API enables the deletion of GPS information from both components—an essential step for privacy-conscious users and app developers.
Preparing for the Major Update
Apple is also facilitating a smooth transition. On July 20, the Release Candidate of iOS 26.6 was made available—this final pre-release version optimizes the Spotlight index. Users will not have to wait days for data indexing upon upgrading to iOS 27, a common inconvenience experienced by early beta testers, some of whom faced delays of over a week.
Manual Storage Management: What Helps Right Now
For those not yet on the beta, proactive management can be beneficial. Apart from clearing the “Recently Deleted” folder in Photos and Notes, Apple recommends deleting the Safari history and resetting personalized recommendations in App Store settings.
The “Offload Apps” feature remains the top choice for freeing up storage without losing data. For cross-platform users, activating Google’s “Storage Saver” mode can limit photo resolution to 16 megapixels, greatly reducing cloud storage demands.
Conclusion
Apple’s latest iOS 27 Beta 4 not only enhances the speed and functionality of the Photos App but also offers robust solutions for managing storage. With privacy updates and various organizational tools on the horizon, users can look forward to a more efficient and safer experience. As the final version approaches, it’s essential to stay informed and prepare for the updates to get the most out of your Apple devices.
