Apple highlights 13 improvements coming to iPhone with iOS 26.4

Apple released the company first iOS 26.4 RC buildIt highlights 13 improvements coming to the iPhone, and that means three things.

First, iOS 26.4 will probably be released to the public next week. Second, iOS 26.5 with the first Siri and Apple Intelligence features controlled by Gemini is next in the beta period. Third, Apple shared detailed release notes about what’s new in iOS 26.4.

iOS 26.4 release notes

Here are the official release notes for iOS 26.4, detailing the 13 improvements coming to your iPhone:

This update introduces Playlist Playground and Concerts in Apple Music and 8 new emoji, along with other features, bug fixes, and security updates for your iPhone.

Apple Music

• Playlist Playground (beta) creates a playlist from your image, complete with title, description and tracklist
• Concerts helps you discover nearby shows by artists in your library and recommends new artists based on what you’re listening to
• Offline Music Recognize in Control Center identifies songs without an internet connection and automatically returns results when you’re back online
• The Ambient Music widget for Sleep, Chill, Productivity and Health brings playlists to the home screen
• Full screen backgrounds give album and playlist pages a more impressive look

Accessibility

• The Reduce bright effects setting minimizes bright flashes when you touch elements such as buttons
• Subtitle and title settings are available in the subtitles icon when viewing media, making them easy to find, customize, and preview.
• The Reduce Motion setting reduces Liquid Glass animations more reliably for users sensitive to screen motion

This update also includes the following improvements:

• The Emoji Keyboard includes 8 new emojis, including an orca, trombone, slide, ballet dancer, and distorted face.
• Freeform joins Apple Creator Studio to gain advanced image creation and editing tools and a library of premium content
• Mark reminders as urgent from the Quick Toolbar or by tapping and holding and filter urgent reminders in your Smart Lists
• Purchase Sharing allows adult members in Family Sharing groups to use their own payment methods when making purchases without relying on a family organizer
• Improved keyboard accuracy when typing quickly

iOS 26.4 is available as a release candidate for beta testers starting today. The official release will probably be next week. You can see 9to5Mac’s full hands-on coverage of iOS 26.4 features here.