Full Breakdown
iOS 27 Lets Shared Albums Keep Full-Resolution Photos and Videos
By Drooid · · How we work
What’s New in iOS 27
Apple’s latest operating system removes the long-standing resolution cap on Shared Albums. Previously, photos were limited to 2,048 pixels on the long edge and videos to 720 p. The upgraded experience stores newly added photos and videos in iCloud in their original formats at full resolution, provided iCloud Photos is enabled. Items already in an album before the upgrade remain at the reduced size; only future additions benefit from the change.
Enabling and Using the Upgraded Shared Albums
To activate the feature, users must turn on iCloud Photos, then enable Shared Albums in Settings -> [Name] -> iCloud -> Photos. Creating a new Shared Album automatically uses the upgraded format: open Photos, tap Collections, select Shared Albums, tap +, name the album, choose items, set sharing options, and tap Done. Participants can join via a link, and Apple notes that friends without an Apple device can view and contribute through a web interface. When saving a shared item, the user can tap the Share button and choose “Save Image” or “Save Video,” though some metadata may be omitted.
Full-Quality Sharing on Android Devices
Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones offer Quick Share, which transfers the original file without the compression typical of messaging apps. Users open the Gallery or Google Photos, select the media, tap Share -> Quick Share, choose a nearby device (or generate a QR code), and complete the transfer. Quick Share also works with compatible Apple devices when the iPhone’s AirDrop is set to “Everyone” for ten minutes. Files sent via Quick Share are end-to-end encrypted and remain downloadable for 24 hours.
Storage Implications
Storing full-resolution media consumes significantly more iCloud space. A typical smartphone photo can be several megabytes, while RAW files and high-definition video run into hundreds of megabytes. New items added to an upgraded Shared Album count against the album owner’s iCloud quota, whereas legacy items and temporary albums do not. Users should monitor iCloud usage in Settings to avoid unexpected limits.
Practical Takeaway
Apple’s iOS 27 update resolves the quality loss that plagued earlier Shared Albums, making it suitable for preserving photos intended for printing, detailed cropping, or long-term archiving. For cross-platform transfers where original quality is critical, Android’s Quick Share provides a reliable alternative. However, the convenience of full-resolution sharing comes with higher storage demands, so users should weigh the need for original detail against available iCloud capacity.