iCloud+ Subscribers to Get New Benefits in iOS 27, Apple Announces at WWDC 2026

New iCloud+ Features Unveiled at WWDC 2026

At the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2026, Apple announced a suite of new benefits for iCloud+ subscribers as part of the upcoming iOS 27 update. The enhancements aim to provide users with more storage, improved privacy controls, and expanded family sharing options, reinforcing iCloud+'s position as a comprehensive cloud service for Apple users.

Expanded Storage Tiers

Apple is introducing new storage plans for iCloud+ subscribers. The existing 50GB, 200GB, and 2TB tiers will be supplemented by a 4TB option, catering to users with extensive photo libraries, large document collections, and heavy backup needs. Additionally, the 2TB plan will now include a 50% discount for annual subscribers, making it more affordable for power users.

Advanced Privacy Features

Privacy remains a cornerstone of Apple's offerings. With iOS 27, iCloud+ will gain a new feature called "Private Relay Plus," which extends the existing iCloud Private Relay by masking all network traffic, not just Safari browsing. This will prevent ISPs and websites from tracking user activity across apps. Another addition is "Secure Backup Encryption," which allows users to encrypt their iCloud backups with a custom passcode that Apple cannot access, ensuring end-to-end encryption for all backup data.

Enhanced Family Sharing

Family Sharing is getting a significant upgrade. iCloud+ subscribers can now share their storage plan with up to six family members without additional cost. Moreover, a new "Family Album" feature will automatically organize photos and videos of family members into a shared album using on-device machine learning, while maintaining privacy through differential privacy techniques.

Integration with Apple Intelligence

Apple also highlighted how iCloud+ will integrate with the next generation of Apple Intelligence, announced earlier in the keynote. Subscribers will get priority access to AI-powered features such as advanced photo editing, personalized Siri suggestions, and smart home automation. These features will leverage iCloud's secure infrastructure to process data on-device whenever possible, with cloud-based processing for complex tasks.

Pricing and Availability

The new iCloud+ benefits will be available with the public release of iOS 27, expected in September 2026. Pricing for the new 4TB tier will be announced closer to launch, but Apple confirmed that existing subscribers will not see price increases for their current plans. Developers can test the new features in the iOS 27 beta starting today.

Industry Reactions

Analysts have praised Apple's move to enhance iCloud+ with more storage and privacy features, noting that it strengthens the company's ecosystem lock-in. However, some critics argue that the new features may not be enough to compete with cloud services from Google and Amazon, which offer similar storage tiers at lower prices. Nonetheless, Apple's focus on privacy and seamless integration with its hardware and software remains a key differentiator.

This article is based on reporting by 9to5Mac. Read the original article.