We’re not getting new Siri Apple Intelligence options in iOS 18.4 as anticipated, however the upcoming replace does have fairly a number of new additions that shall be price upgrading for. We have rounded up the 5 finest options to sit up for, and in case you’re not working the beta, you may anticipate to get entry to those in early April.
Precedence Notifications
When you’ve got an iPhone or iPad that helps Apple Intelligence, iOS 18.4 provides help for Precedence Notifications, one of many options that Apple introduced when introducing Apple Intelligence on the June 2024 WWDC occasion.
Precedence Notifications show your most essential messages first, highlighting them in a particular part on the Lock Display. Apple makes use of Apple Intelligence to determine which notifications deserve precedence standing, and it is sometimes messages notifications that have to be considered or responded to imminently.
Upcoming deliveries are highlighted, for instance, as are conferences which can be taking place, calendar alerts for occasions which can be arising that day, reminders which can be due, and messages that appear like they want a fast response, resembling a dinner invitation.
Precedence Notifications might be turned on for all apps, or arrange on a per-app foundation within the Notifications part of the Settings app. Within the beta, Precedence Notifications just isn’t on by default, and it must be enabled, however that might change earlier than iOS 18.4 is launched to the general public.
Apple can be including new languages to Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.4, together with French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese language (simplified), together with localized English for Singapore and India.
Visible Intelligence Updates
For iPhone 15 Professional customers, iOS 18.4 brings Visible Intelligence, a function that was beforehand restricted to the iPhone 16 fashions. Apple initially restricted Visible Intelligence to iPhones with a Digicam Management button, however with the iPhone 16e, Apple added an Motion Button activation possibility, and that is what’s used for the iPhone 15 Professional, too.
Visible Intelligence might be activated by linking it to the Motion Button, however there’s additionally a brand new Apple Intelligence part in Management Heart that features a Visible Intelligence button as a substitute technique to launch it.
The Motion Button and Management Heart choices for Visible Intelligence can be used on iPhone 16 fashions, so if in case you have an iPhone 16 and do not just like the Digicam Management lengthy press to activate Visible Intelligence, now you can use these options.
New Emoji
There are a handful of recent emoji characters which can be obtainable in iOS 18.4, and that is at all times a giant deal for emoji followers. The brand new emoji characters embody baggage beneath eyes, fingerprint, leafless tree, root vegetable, harp, shovel, and splatter.
Ambient Music
iOS 18.4 has an Ambient Music toggle that may be added to Management Heart. You may select from 4 completely different sound classes, together with Sleep, Chill, Productiveness, and Wellbeing. Deciding on one of many Ambient Music classes performs a random number of sounds or music from that class.
There isn’t any devoted Ambient Music app and you may’t select what’s enjoying from Management Heart, however in case you play a class after which faucet into the Dynamic Island on the high or entry the Now Taking part in widget, you may skip songs and see the title of what is enjoying.
App Retailer Downloads
In iOS 18.4, while you obtain an app from the App Retailer, you may pause the obtain proper from the replace record. It is a small change, however one that’s helpful in case you’re in a scenario the place you could have low sign and must do one thing else whereas an app obtain is in progress.
Prior to now, you would solely cease and restart an app set up from the App Retailer interface.
Apple additionally added App Retailer evaluation summaries, which makes it simpler to see what individuals consider an app at a look.
Bonus for Imaginative and prescient Professional Customers: Visitor Mode Controls
Apple added an iPhone app for the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional in iOS 18.4, and it may be used to view data concerning the Imaginative and prescient Professional, discover content material to observe, and obtain apps to the headset. Total, it isn’t tremendous thrilling.
What is helpful, although, is an possibility to manage Visitor Mode out of your iPhone or iPad if somebody is utilizing your Imaginative and prescient Professional. When somebody that is not you picks up your Imaginative and prescient Professional and places it on, you will see a pop up in your iPhone. From there, you may select what apps and experiences the particular person will view, and you need to use AirPlay mode to information them by means of their Imaginative and prescient Professional expertise.
Extra Options
For a full record of all of the options we have present in iOS 18.4 to this point, ensure to take a look at our iOS 18.4 roundup.
Launch Date
We’re on the fourth beta of iOS 18.4, and there are possible a pair extra to go. Apple plans to launch iOS 18.4 in early April alongside iPadOS 18.4 and macOS Sequoia 15.4.
