iOS 27 adds visual nutrition, perimenopause tracking and iPhone GymKit support

At a glance:

• Visual Intelligence can estimate nutrition from a photo on iPhone 15 Pro or later
• Cycle Tracking now flags perimenopause signs for users 40+ and adds menopause‑focused Fitness+ workouts
• GymKit expands from Apple Watch to iPhone, letting phones pair directly with treadmills and indoor bikes

What’s new in health and fitness

Apple’s iOS 27 brings a suite of updates aimed at making the Health and Fitness ecosystem richer and more personalized. The redesign of the Health app’s Browse section replaces the old list view with a card‑style layout, adding colour and a single bottom navigation bar that folds search and browse into one button. These visual tweaks are meant to speed up discovery of metrics ranging from heart rate to sleep stages, while the underlying data pipelines have been tuned for faster sync between Health and Fitness apps.

Visual intelligence nutrition feature

A standout addition is the Visual Intelligence nutrition tool, which lives in the new Siri mode of the Camera app. Users point their iPhone 15 Pro (or later) at a dish, snap a photo, and receive a quick assessment that tells whether the food is heavily processed, high in sugar, protein‑rich, or otherwise. The system does not deliver exact calorie counts; instead it assigns a nutritional‑value ranking from “very low” to “very high”. The analysis stays on‑device and does not sync to the Health app, preserving privacy while still giving a useful snapshot for mindful eating.

Expanded cycle tracking for perimenopause

Cycle Tracking receives a major upgrade with perimenopause and menopause support. For users aged 40 and above, the Health app now monitors long‑term cycle patterns and can send notifications when the data suggest the hormonal transition that may start a decade before menopause. Users can log symptoms, view educational resources, and even access new Fitness+ workouts designed specifically for perimenopause and menopause phases. The alerts are generated from the individual’s logged cycle history, offering a personalized health insight that was previously unavailable.

GymKit moves to iPhone

GymKit, originally limited to the Apple Watch, is now available on iPhone. This means an iPhone can pair directly with compatible treadmills, indoor bikes, and other exercise equipment without needing a watch on the wrist. The connection syncs calories, distance, speed, incline and pace, mirroring the data that previously required the watch’s sensors. The expansion broadens the audience for GymKit, especially for users who prefer to leave the watch at home or who own older Apple Watches that lack the latest sensors.

Faster data updates and step‑count sync

Behind the scenes, Apple has implemented performance improvements that make health data sync noticeably quicker. Step counts now automatically sync between the Health and Fitness apps, eliminating the occasional lag that could cause mismatched daily totals. Route maps generated after workouts in the Fitness app are also more accurate, and treadmill distance readings reflect real‑world values more precisely, giving athletes and casual users alike a more reliable record of their activity.

Availability and timeline

iOS 27 is already in developer hands, with a public beta slated for July 2026 and a full consumer release expected in the fall. Apple has hinted that the AI health service that was rumored earlier this year has been shelved for now, but the health‑focused features in iOS 27 lay a solid foundation for future AI‑driven wellness tools.