Apple has finally released iOS 26.4 to the public, and while we were eagerly awaiting this update hoping to see Siri in its new form, Apple decided to keep us waiting a little longer. However, don't let the disappointment make you forget that the update is packed with features that will make your iPhone experience smarter and more enjoyable, especially in the Music app, which has received the lion's share of the new AI features.
Playlists and Music Intelligence
The most notable feature of this update is Playlist Playground (in its beta version), which allows you to create complete playlists simply by typing a brief description of what you want to listen to; the system will then handle the title, description, and selection of appropriate tracks. But Apple didn't stop there.
The Control Center also gained Offline Music Recognition, where the system will identify and save a song, notifying you of the result once your connection is restored. For those who prefer customization, the Apple Music interface now offers full-screen wallpapers that give albums a more immersive look, along with a new Ambient Music widget designed for sleep, relaxation, and productivity.
New emojis and system improvements
For those who love expressing themselves with symbols, Apple has added eight new emoji, including an orca, a trombone, a landslide, a ballerina, and a grotesque face. The Freeform app has also received advanced image creation and editing tools and has joined the premium content library in Apple Creator Studio.
A key improvement in this release is the Purchase Sharing feature, which now allows adult family group members to use their own payment methods instead of relying solely on the family organizer. You can also now mark reminders as "Urgent" directly from the quick toolbar to ensure you don't forget crucial tasks.
Ease of use and writing accuracy
Apple has always paid attention to accessibility details, and in iOS 26.4, it added a setting to reduce the glare of screen lights when pressing buttons. It also made accessing captions and subtitle settings easier while watching media through a dedicated icon, making customization and previewing faster. Additionally, the Reduce Motion feature was improved to more reliably handle the effects of Liquid Glass for users sensitive to screen motion.
For those who complain about typing speed lagging behind system accuracy, Apple has improved keyboard accuracy to keep up with your fast fingers without annoying typos, making the messaging experience smoother than ever.
Where is the improved Siri?
Herein lies the surprise; despite months of leaks suggesting that iOS 26.4 would be the launch date for the revamped Siri, it has completely disappeared from the scene. It seems we'll have to wait until the iOS 26.5 update, or perhaps iOS 27, this fall to see if Siri will finally benefit from the AI revolution or remain in "searching" mode.
How to install
As usual, you'll receive an update notification soon, but if you're impatient (like me!), you can go to Settings > General > Software Update right now and follow the on-screen instructions. Just make sure you have enough storage space and a charged battery before embarking on this software journey.
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