Updated on March 31 with complete details about the release and instructions on how to get it.
Apple has officially rolled out its next major iPhone update, iOS 18.4, on Monday, March 31—earlier than anticipated, as the company had initially indicated a release would happen in April. However, today was always a possibility, as noted in the final paragraph.
iOS 18.4 introduces new Apple Intelligence features specifically for the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the newly launched iPhone 16 series, including the iPhone 16e. While there isn’t a significant upgrade for Siri in this release, there are new emojis (including one that you’re likely to find quite useful) and a new app for Vision Pro. Here’s everything you need to know.
The latest iPhone software, iOS 18, is compatible with all models starting from the iPhone Xs released in 2018. This includes the iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, iPhone Xr, and all subsequent models, including the second- and third-generation iPhone SE. All models from the iPhone 16 series are also included, up to the iPhone 16e.
To get the update, open the Settings app on your iPhone, select General, and then tap on Software Update. Next, choose Download and Install. The update is substantial, coming in at 3.76GB on my iPhone 16 Pro Max, and the download and installation took about 10 minutes.
There’s a lot to unpack in this update. Let’s begin with the Apple Intelligence features, which apply to the iPhone 16 models, including the iPhone 16e, as well as the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
The standout feature is Priority Notifications. This functionality organizes messages and notifications, ensuring that important ones are highlighted, so you won’t miss out on crucial updates amidst the noise.
A new addition to the Image Playground called Sketch complements existing options like Animation and Illustration, offering you yet another creative outlet.
From this release on, Apple Intelligence will support eight additional languages, including French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish, along with English tailored for speakers in India and Singapore.
The update also brings a variety of new emojis, including a Smiley with bags under its eyes (which is likely to become quite popular), a fingerprint, a splatter, a root vegetable, a leafless tree, a harp, a shovel, and the flag for the island of Sark.
If you own an Apple Vision Pro, your iPhone will automatically download a new companion app designed to help you discover new content for the headset or access information about your Vision Pro.
In the Photos app, you’ll see enhancements such as new sorting options, new filters to manage items in the Library view, and new album sorting choices. You’ll also have the ability to disable recently viewed or shared items, reorder collections, and set consistent filtering options, such as sorting by oldest or newest first. Notably, photos in the Hidden section won’t be included for import to a Mac or PC if Face ID is enabled.
If you subscribe to News+, there’s an increased focus on food, featuring recipes from various publishers, a new Food section highlighting stories about restaurants, kitchen tips, and a Recipe Catalog to search for and save your favorite dishes.
This update also enhances recent search suggestions in Safari, making it easier to revisit previous topics while starting a new search. The setup process for a Child Account is now more streamlined, allowing parents to enable child-appropriate default settings even if they opt to complete the setup later. Additionally, kids will find that the loophole for uninstalling and reinstalling apps to bypass Screen Time limits has been closed.
You can now pause an app download in the App Store and resume it later without losing progress. The Ambient Music feature for iPhone is now more accessible directly from the Control Center, adding convenience.
If you have a Matter-compatible robot vacuum cleaner, you can control it through the Home app and include it in various scenes and automations.
A new Podcasts widget has been introduced, including one called Followed Shows, which helps you keep track of your favorite programs. There’s also a Library widget that allows quick access to your most-used sections, such as latest episodes or saved downloads. Additionally, Apple Fitness+ collections can now be added to the Library for added utility.
Hints from Apple about the release date indicated that early April was likely, and the arrival of a second Release Candidate beta on March 28 suggested they were ahead of schedule. It was initially expected to be released on Tuesday, April 1, at 10 a.m. Pacific, but with Apple’s recent trend of launching software on Mondays, Monday, March 31 was also a possibility. Ultimately, that’s the date Apple chose for the release.
For more insights on iOS 18.4, including new emojis that are sure to be a hit, stay tuned!
