Apple unveils foldable iPhone Duo starting at $1,999
Apple has recently introduced its foldable iPhone Duo, generating considerable interest among consumers, even with its substantial starting price of $1,999. On the show ‘Varney & Co.’, Taylor Riggs discussed the device’s distinctive dual-screen feature and sleek design. Host Stuart Varney revealed his intention to buy this premium smartphone, which can reach prices up to $3,000 for the model equipped with two terabytes of storage.
What changed with Shared Albums in iOS 27
Before iOS 27, Apple’s Shared Albums limited photo resolution—photos were confined to about 2,048 pixels on the long edge, while videos topped out at 720p. With the new update, however, recently added photos and videos in upgraded Shared Albums will be stored in iCloud at their original full resolution. So, if you share new content, it won’t get diminished like before.
There’s a catch, though. New items you add to an upgraded Shared Album will count against the album owner’s iCloud storage, including contributions from other participants. Items already in the album prior to the upgrade won’t count toward storage, and neither do temporary Shared Albums.
How to turn on Shared Albums on iPhone
To begin, ensure that Shared Albums are enabled on your iPhone.
For devices running iOS 27:
- Open Settings
- Tap your name
- Tap iCloud
- Under Saved to iCloud, select Photos
- Ensure iCloud Photos is activated
- Scroll down and tap Shared Albums
- Activate Shared Albums
Apple requires that iCloud Photos be enabled for the new Shared Albums features in iOS 27.
How to create a full-resolution Shared Album
Any new Shared Album you set up in iOS 27 will automatically incorporate the upgraded experience for full-resolution photos and videos.
To create one:
- Open the Photos app
- Select Collections
- Scroll down to Shared Albums
- Tap Shared Albums
- Press the + button
- Name your album
- Select the photos or videos you want to include
- Tap Sharing Options to manage access
- Select Done
For the new album, all added photos and videos will retain their original formats at full resolution. Friends and family can join via a link even if they do not have an Apple device or account.
What if you already have an older Shared Album?
Albums created prior to iOS 27 will remain in the old format unless upgraded. The owner can choose to upgrade an existing Shared Album to the new experience, allowing for high-resolution future uploads. But remember, this upgrade won’t restore previous uploads to their original resolution; it only applies to new additions. So, if you have a cherished family album, upgrading makes sense for preserving future pictures.
How to save a full-resolution photo from a Shared Album
If someone shares a photo via an upgraded Shared Album, it can be saved to your library.
- Open Photos
- Tap Collections
- Find and open the shared album
- Select the desired photo or video
- Tap the Share button
- Select Save Image or Save Video
While photos in the new Shared Albums can maintain full resolution, keep in mind that saved content might not include all details from the original file. They enhance quality but still, I’d suggest keeping the original file if complete archival accuracy is your goal.
Why texting a photo can still reduce quality
Shared Albums fix one aspect of photo sharing, but they don’t guarantee that every image sent from your iPhone will remain unharmed. The method you choose for sharing impacts what the recipient gets; messaging services can still compress images based on various factors. We’ve previously discussed methods to send high-quality photos from an iPhone, and usually, sending the actual file using a file-sharing tool is a more reliable option than relying on a messaging app to keep every pixel intact.
How to send full-quality photos from Samsung Galaxy
Samsung Galaxy phones offer Quick Share, a feature that allows quick file transfers to nearby devices without compressing images as messaging apps might. This makes it a solid choice for preserving photo quality.
To share a photo through Quick Share:
- Open the Gallery app
- Select the photo or video to send
- Tap Share
- Select Quick Share
- Choose the nearby device
- Have the recipient accept the transfer
How to send full-quality photos from Google Pixel
Pixel phones also utilize Quick Share for file transfers to nearby devices.
Here’s how to send a photo:
- Open Google Photos
- Pick the photo or video you want to share
- Tap Share
- Select Quick Share
- Choose the nearby device
- Wait for the recipient to accept the transfer
Android can now share with some Apple devices too
This month, Google’s Quick Share feature has made it easier for devices in mixed environments of Android and Apple. Certain Pixel models and some Android phones can use Quick Share with compatible Apple devices via AirDrop, as long as AirDrop is set to “Everyone” for 10 minutes when the transfer occurs.
On Android, the process is:
- Open the photo or video
- Tap Share
- Tap Quick Share
- Select the nearby iPhone, iPad, or Mac
- Wait for the recipient to accept
Full resolution can use a lot more storage
Compressing images has been the norm for a reason—full-resolution files take up a significant amount of space. A smartphone photo could be several megabytes, while RAW files can get even larger. In iOS 27, new additions to an upgraded Shared Album will count against the album owner’s iCloud storage, including new items from others. Regularly checking your iCloud storage is wise if you’re working with large albums.
Do you always need the original-quality file?
Not necessarily. For quick snapshots sent to friends, they might not notice quality loss. But if you’re planning to print a photo or use it significantly, sticking with full quality is wise. It’s much the same concept for videos; smaller copies are fine for quick messaging but keeping the original is better for editing or larger viewing experiences. Think about your end use when selecting how to share files.
Kurt’s key takeaways
This change in iOS 27 is a good move, as the previous resolution limits for Shared Albums could really hinder preserving high-quality photos. Upgraded full-resolution sharing is great for new uploads. Galaxy and Pixel users already benefit from features like Quick Share to send files without compression. It’s all about how you send your photos if quality matters. Sure, there’s a storage trade-off at full resolution, especially with videos, but when it comes to important memories, retaining that original detail is, in my opinion, worth it.
