Apple to remove ‘scraps’ of old code with iOS 27, report claims

Apple is planning a behind-the-scenes clean-up of iOS with its next major software update, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

iOS 27 is expected to be unveiled at WWDC this summer and is widely tipped to be a more restrained release, focused on refinement rather than sweeping new features or design changes.

In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said Apple engineers are planning to strip out what he described as “scraps” of old code from the operating system.

The aim of the changes is to improve performance, stability and efficiency across iPhones, rather than introduce headline user-facing features.

Gurman says Apple hopes the underlying code work will result in smoother performance and better battery life, effectively giving users “more juice” without requiring new hardware.

It is not yet clear whether Apple plans to actively market these improvements or simply allow them to arrive as a quiet benefit of tidying up the system.

The report aligns with earlier claims that WWDC 2027 will be a relatively muted event, with Apple prioritising polish, reliability and long-term platform health as it continues to roll out Apple Intelligence features introduced in earlier releases.