These new features will soon land on Apple’s iPhones

Apple is preparing to launch iOS 26.4. The upcoming iPhone update brings a number of new features such as intelligent playlist creation, expanded theft protection and improved podcasts. We summarize the most important innovations.

iOS 26.4: This is what the next iPhone update will bring

After renewed problems with Siri, Apple released the first beta version of iOS 26.4 in mid-February. The third test version of the mobile operating system has now been released. This creates an increasingly clear picture of the new functions that will land on users’ iPhones with the final update. From artificial intelligence in the music app to tightened security measures, there are a number of adjustments. One of the most important changes concerns the security of smartphones.

The “Stolen Device Protection” feature is expected to be further optimized with the update. The feature enforces biometric authentication via Face ID and introduces a time delay for critical actions when the iPhone is not in a familiar location such as home or work. Users can now set in more detail when this delay takes effect.

Music and podcasts are getting smarter

In the entertainment sector, the group is increasingly relying on AI support. As 9to5Mac In summary, the new Playlist Playground feature allows users to create playlists using text descriptions generated by Apple Intelligence. It also makes it easier to find nearby concerts and tour dates for artists in your library. The application for podcasts also receives useful additions.

In the future, the system will automatically generate transcripts for English-language programs, allowing for audio content browsing. Listeners can tap on a specific word in the text and playback jumps to the corresponding location. The display of the transcripts is similar to the tried and tested lyric view in the music app and runs synchronously with the spoken word.

New emojis, battery health and CarPlay

Traditionally, the spring update also brings fresh icons to iPhones. The Unicode standard has been expanded so users can look forward to new emojis. These include, among other things, nodding and head-shaking faces, a phoenix and a lime. Such graphical additions are often the most visible part of the update for the general public, even if they are not very complex. But technically interested users also benefit. You get more insight into the condition of your hardware.

After the update, the battery health menu will show the exact number of charging cycles in more models. Until now, this was reserved for the very latest devices. Apple is also preparing the system for the next generation of CarPlay. iOS 26.4 contains references to new connection types that should enable deeper integration into modern vehicle cockpits.

Starting soon

The stable version is expected to be released to all users in late March or early April. Until then, additional betas could reveal additional new features that will be available to iPhone users in the future. However, the big Siri update is still a long time coming.