iOS 27 finally gets a basic feature Android has had for years

Yes, you read that correctly. All this time, iPhone users have had a single volume slider on their smartphones. That slider would control the ringer volume, media volume, and alerts volume.

By contrast, Android users have had individually adjustable volume controls for so long that it’s almost funny to see it become a “feature” in iOS 27.

And yet it is a feature. iOS 27 finally allows users to set different volume levels for incoming phone calls, alarms, timers, and system sounds. The feature can be found inside. Settings > Sounds and haptics. Users can disable the “Match ringtone volume” option to get two additional sliders for alarms and alerts.

Within the new user interface, Apple also adds certain clarifications: the alarm volume slider will not affect the volume of the “Alarm Clock” alarm. That volume is controlled independently from the “Bedtime” settings.

It also explains that notifications for incoming text messages and system sounds, such as the camera shutter sound and keyboard clicks, are included in “System Alerts and Sounds.”

Only Apple can tell us why it took so long to deliver such a useful feature that has existed on Android for years and years. It clearly prioritized AI in previous years. But at least this time it appears to offer some of the AI ​​features you’ve talked about.

I still remember WWDC 2024, with the promise of Apple Intelligence – one that was never fully fulfilled. So forgive me if I take Apple’s promises with a grain of salt this time. But I’m glad to finally have independent volume controls on my iPhone.