iOS 26.4 is coming: Here are my four favorite new features
Source: 9to5Mac
iOS 26.4 launches later this month, and it’s a big update for new iPhone features. Here are my four favorite iOS 26.4 features that are coming soon.
#1: Apple Music’s ‘Playlist Playground’
Apple Music gains several new features in iOS 26.4, including an AI capability: ‘Playlist Playground’.
Playlist Playground lets you build new playlists with nothing more than a text prompt. The Music app provides suggested prompts, but you can also start from scratch and write anything you want. After the playlist is created, you can refine it further or manually add or remove songs.
#2: New emoji
Apple typically adds new emoji to the iPhone once per year, and the latest batch is in iOS 26.4.
New emoji include:
- Ballet Dancer
- Distorted Face
- Fight Cloud
- Hairy Creature
- Landslide
- Orca
- Trombone
- Treasure Chest
My personal favorites so far are the Distorted Face, Fight Cloud, Hairy Creature, and Treasure Chest.
#3: Video upgrades in Apple Podcasts
Apple Podcasts has supported video podcasts for years, but the feature has been stagnant. iOS 26.4 brings a new and improved video experience. According to Apple:
In the Apple Podcasts app, users will be able to switch seamlessly between watching and listening to shows, making the experience of discovering and viewing video podcasts as simple and enjoyable as listening to audio podcasts. Users can watch video from within the app, move to a horizontal full‑display mode, and download videos for offline viewing. Automatic quality adjustment powered by HLS technology ensures smooth playback across network conditions. Video episodes integrate with existing features such as personalized recommendations and editorial curation.
The Podcasts app is already my preferred client thanks to transcripts and automatic chapters, and I’m excited to see the video experience get an overhaul.
#4: New design for Apple Music albums and playlists
Apple Music now features a new fullscreen design for albums and playlists. The Music app’s UI tints to complement the color of the album or playlist art, creating a fresh, personalized look.
For more on the new features coming in iOS 26.4, see the full guide here.
Which new iOS 26.4 features have you most enjoyed in the beta, or are you especially looking forward to? Let us know in the comments.