Apple is reportedly preparing a major upgrade for its AI image generation tools in iOS 27, with big improvements expected for Genmoji and Image Playground.
Quick Summary – TLDR:
- Apple is reportedly improving the visual quality of Genmoji and Image Playground in iOS 27.
- The company may also add support for more third party AI image models inside Image Playground.
- Current Apple Intelligence image tools have faced criticism for low quality output.
- Smarter Genmoji suggestions based on users’ photo libraries are also expected.
What Happened?
Apple is reportedly working on major improvements for its Apple Intelligence image generation models ahead of iOS 27. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company is giving its in-house AI image tools a significant visual upgrade after criticism surrounding the current quality of AI generated images.
The improvements are expected to benefit both Genmoji and Image Playground, two Apple Intelligence features introduced with iOS 18.2.
Also in Power On: iOS 27 will include image quality improvements for Apple’s visual AI models, improving Image Playground and Genmoji. https://t.co/cCoTAqHVoU
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) May 24, 2026
Apple Wants Better Looking AI Images
When Apple launched Genmoji and Image Playground, the reaction from users was mixed. While Genmoji received a somewhat positive response for allowing users to create custom emoji using AI prompts, Image Playground struggled to impress many users.
The feature often produced cartoon like images that lacked detail and realism compared to AI image generators from competitors. Many users pointed out that Apple’s image tools felt far behind platforms like OpenAI’s image generation systems and Google’s AI offerings.
Now, Apple appears ready to close that gap.
In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said Apple’s image models are receiving a “big boost” in visual quality this year. While exact technical details were not shared, the report suggests Apple is heavily improving the quality of images generated by its own AI systems.
Gurman wrote:
Third Party AI Models May Expand Inside Image Playground
Another major part of the reported upgrade is Apple’s plan to support more third party AI image generation models inside Image Playground.
Currently, Apple allows ChatGPT integration for certain AI features. However, the company reportedly wants to go beyond OpenAI and bring support for additional AI providers as well.
Reports suggest Google’s AI models could eventually become part of the experience. Earlier rumors also hinted that Apple and Google reached agreements related to Gemini integration for Siri improvements.
There is also speculation that Apple may support more external AI image tools over time, giving users access to multiple image generation engines directly within iOS.
This could make Image Playground much more useful and flexible for users who want higher quality AI generated visuals.
Apple Still Faces Challenges With On Device AI
One reason behind the lower image quality in current Apple Intelligence features may be Apple’s focus on on device processing. Unlike many cloud-based AI tools, Apple has emphasized privacy focused AI that runs directly on supported iPhones and iPads.
While this approach offers better privacy and faster local processing, it can also limit the complexity and quality of AI generated images compared to more powerful cloud systems.
It remains unclear whether Apple’s upcoming image quality improvements will continue relying entirely on on device models or shift more processing to cloud based systems.
Either way, Apple clearly understands that users expect much better AI image quality in 2026, especially as competition in generative AI continues to grow rapidly.
Smarter Genmoji Features Are Also Coming
Apart from visual upgrades, Apple is reportedly preparing smarter Genmoji suggestions as well. Future versions may use information from users’ photo libraries and personal context to suggest more relevant custom emoji creations automatically.
This could make Genmoji feel more personalized and useful in daily conversations.
More details about Apple’s AI upgrades are expected to appear closer to the official iOS 27 announcement.
SQ Magazine Takeaway
I think Apple needed this upgrade badly. Image Playground simply did not feel competitive when compared to modern AI image tools from OpenAI or Google. The quality gap was obvious from day one. Apple entering the AI race with weaker image generation hurt the overall impression of Apple Intelligence.
If these reports are accurate, iOS 27 could finally make Apple’s AI image tools feel polished and worth using regularly. Support for multiple AI models inside Image Playground could also be one of the smartest decisions Apple makes because users want flexibility, not limitations.
