What to Expect From iOS 26.4

[MacRumors]

iOS 26.3 is shaping up to be a relatively minor update, with only a couple of notable new features, but iOS 26.4 is expected to be much more significant.

We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a few weeks away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public at some point in March or April.

Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.4 features so far.

Personalized Siri

Earlier this month, Apple and Google announced that Google Gemini will help power a more personalized version of Siri coming this year.

The more personalized version of Siri is expected to be introduced with iOS 26.4, following a lengthy delay. The new capabilities will include better understanding of a user's personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls, but some of this functionality might not be available until iOS 27 later this year.

For example, all the way back at WWDC 2024, Apple showed an iPhone user asking Siri about their mother's flight and lunch reservation plans based on info retrieved from the Mail and Messages apps.

Looking ahead, Apple is reportedly planning to launch a full-out Siri chatbot on iOS 27, allowing users to have ChatGPT-like conversations with Siri.

New Emoji

Last year, the Unicode Consortium previewed some of the new emoji that are expected to be added to the iPhone with iOS 26.4.

Here are nine of the new emoji:

• Trombone
• Treasure Chest
• Distorted Face
• Hairy Creature (aka Bigfoot or Sasquatch)
• Fight Cloud
• Apple Core
• Orca
• Ballet Dancers
• Landslide

Apple most recently added new emoji to the iPhone with iOS 18.4, an update that came out in March last year. iOS 17.4, iOS 16.4, and iOS 15.4 also introduced new emoji over the years, so the timing has become predictable by this point.

More

Macworld's Filipe Espósito last month leaked some other potential iOS 26.4 features:

• If you have credit card information stored in Apple's Passwords app, you will be able to AutoFill those details in third-party apps.
• You will be able to create folders in the Freeform app.
• Apple is apparently working on a new sports tier for the Apple TV app, but the report did not offer any further details about this.
• There are signs of "a new validation system that will check the integrity of the device before logging into Apple ID and iCloud."
• A new "Precise Outdoor Location" feature for AirPods in the Find My app.

Of course, there will be additional iOS 26.4 features that are still unknown, so stay tuned.

Article Link: What to Expect From iOS 26.4

 

[N0ughtsAndCr0sses]

I can’t wait for this, those emojis will make my life whole again.

 

[mnls]

The Sasquatch is a much needed emoji. I can recall hundred of times that I had to type Sasquatch like a caveman instead of using the emoji.

 

[GuruZac]

That fight cloud looks like atomic energy symbol lol.

I welcome a better Siri but less than enthusiastic Apple partnered with Google of all companies to do it.

 

[Genelec8341]

I'd like to order some new features con carne with a side of fresh bugs please, and the wife will have the same.

 

[DocMultimedia]

We won't get more liquid glass? Smoother and more transparency! Especially for bigfoot. 🦶

 

[Astuces iOS]

What to expect : More bugs and the end of Apple !

 

[Blackstick]

MacRumors got their own emoji!

 

[Plutonius]

What to expect : More bugs and the end of Apple !

Certainly more bugs but I doubt the end of Apple.

 

[macos9rules]

The Sasquatch is a much needed emoji. I can recall hundred of times that I had to type Sasquatch like a caveman instead of using the emoji.

Same! Last time I saw one in the mountains I was so shocked I couldn’t remember how to spell the word.

 

[delsoul]

This is just embarrassing by now. I've said it before, and I have no problem saying it again. Fire the entire software department at Apple, including the managers, the department heads, etc...just everyone. And hire an all new clean slate. This is just ridiculous. You know those people get paid huge paychecks at Apple and this is the best they can come up with? They should seriously be ashamed.

 

[Astuces iOS]

Certainly more bugs but I doubt the end of Apple.

Cause of Gemini !

 

[monkey6]

Somethings off with the Apple Core emoji. If it's representing Apple these days, it should be rotten to the core.

 

[B-Mc-C]

Ummm the upgraded Siri has been delayed until fall of this year. Pretty sure MacRumors reported on this a few days ago when Gurman broke the news, but maybe they missed it.

 

[ELman]

Hairy Creature AKA-Mother In-law

 

[Dark-Signature]

It would be a truly positive innovation if Apple were to eliminate all emojis except for, say, 10, and then make them all yellow-skinned, just like when it all began!

 

[darthaddie]

Emoji's seem to be the most requested update. "AppleReallyCares" about the 0.00000001% of the population.

 

[capamac]

Wow, new emoji. Too bad Steve Jobs died.

 

[Taq'aix]

Wow, major update. New emojis. I can barely wait! What a clown show Apple has become.

 

[tennisproha]

How many bug fixes can we expect in iOS 26.4?

 

[Genelec8341]

Apparently, Apple considers the opinion of adolescent Snapchat know-nothings over the adults who make the purchases.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

You guys forgot to list something.

• Disappointment

 

[BarrettF77]

Based on how many times MR keeps posting the same thing and how few betas Apple has had kinda tells how little they have to offer and how poor the QC is internally. Leaning on google, inability to make Siri work, Hardware woes, high level exodus.

Probably will come back in a couple weeks and see if MR has anything new to report. The last several weeks have been littered with “I feel” posts and. Nothing we haven’t read back in October or earlier.

Hoping Apple will get some engineers actually doing stuff again.

 

[Rafagon]

So to summarize the Friday news,

More fees, more ads, everything is more expensive, and everything is a subscription.

iOS updates are always relatively minor, and new emojis are the standout feature.

Now I'm just waiting for Apple Savings Account APY to be lowered again.

 

[CarAnalogy]

The Sasquatch is a much needed emoji. I can recall hundred of times that I had to type Sasquatch like a caveman instead of using the emoji.

The Sasquatch is really appropriate in this update.

It's as elusive and mythical as Apple Intelligence Siri, which was also rumored to be in this update despite the fact that no one credible has ever seen it!