Apple has officially released iOS 18.4, introducing an exciting array of updates, including seven new emojis and enhanced Apple Intelligence features. The tech giant had previously promised a rollout by April, and they met that commitment this time around.
New Emojis
The latest update brings a fresh set of emojis to iPhone. Here’s what you can look forward to with iOS 18.4:
- Leafless tree
- Splatter
- Shovel
- Root vegetable
- Face with under-eye bags
- Fingerprint
- Harp
These new emojis are ready for use once you download and install the update.
Enhanced Apple Intelligence Features
iOS 18.4 also introduces several new features aimed at improving user experience. Key additions include:
- Priority Notifications: This feature prioritizes important notifications, displaying them in a dedicated section on your lock screen. To enable it, navigate to Settings > Notifications > Priority Notifications.
- Visual Intelligence: Available for iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, this feature enhances visual recognition capabilities.
- Sketch Style in Image Playground: A creative tool for users to explore artistic styles in their images.
Additionally, users will find Ambient Music, a new Vision Pro app, improved filtering options in the Photos app, and various security fixes.
iOS 18.4 is compatible with all devices running iOS 18, but some features are exclusive to devices that support Apple Intelligence.
Apple Intelligence Expansion
Apple has also announced the global expansion of its personal intelligence system, Apple Intelligence, coinciding with the release of iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4. Starting Tuesday, users can access Apple Intelligence features in several new languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and simplified Chinese, as well as localized English for Singapore and India. This rollout makes the features available in nearly all regions worldwide.
For the first time, iPhone and iPad users in the European Union can utilize Apple Intelligence functionalities. Additionally, the system is now accessible on a new platform, Apple Vision Pro, which introduces an initial set of features in U.S. English. Vision Pro users can enhance their communication and creativity with tools such as:
- Writing Tools: Proofread, rewrite, and summarize text, and even compose original content using ChatGPT.
- Image Playground: Explore new visual expression methods.
- Genmoji: Create personalized emojis for any conversation.
The update also includes additional features to enhance user experience, such as Priority Notifications for managing time-sensitive communications, the ability to create a memory movie on Mac by simply typing a description, and a new Sketch style in Image Playground for producing detailed academic sketches.
Apple Intelligence emphasizes user privacy, employing on-device processing to protect personal data. For tasks requiring access to larger models, the Private Cloud Compute feature extends privacy and security into the cloud, unlocking even greater intelligence capabilities.
