iOS 17.4: New iPhone Features, Security Updates & More

March 21, 2026 Rachel Kim – Technology Editor Technology

Apple is poised to release iOS 26.4 for the iPhone, likely within the next 48 hours, bringing with it a range of enhancements including a fresh AI-powered playlist generator and eight new emoji characters. The release candidate build, made available on Thursday, signals a final stage of testing before public deployment, according to multiple reports.

A key feature of the update is Playlist Playground, an Apple Music function that allows users to generate playlists based on text prompts. Users can describe a mood, activity, or even a nonsensical concept, and the AI will curate a corresponding tracklist. This builds on Apple’s increasing integration of artificial intelligence into its core services.

Alongside Playlist Playground, iOS 26.4 introduces a dedicated widget for the Ambient Music feature, providing quicker access to curated soundscapes designed for Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing. The update similarly expands the emoji library with additions including a trombone, treasure chest, distorted face, hairy creature, fight cloud, orca, landslide, and ballet dancer.

Apple is also addressing user experience concerns with the update. A new “Reduce Bright Effects” setting aims to mitigate the intensity of Liquid Glass animations, a visual style introduced in iOS 26 that proved divisive among users. The setting, alongside enhancements to Reduce Motion, offers greater control over the interface’s visual intensity.

The update includes a fix for a keyboard bug in iOS 26 that caused typos during fast typing. Family Sharing functionality is also improved, allowing adult members to use separate payment methods for purchases, a change welcomed by users managing shared expenses. This addresses a long-standing frustration for families utilizing Apple’s shared purchasing system.

CarPlay users will gain access to third-party chatbot applications, with Apple providing the framework for companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google to integrate their services. However, developers will need to update their apps to support the new CarPlay functionality.

The Podcasts app receives native support for video episodes, utilizing HLS streaming and offering options to switch between audio and video formats, as well as offline video downloads. This brings the Podcasts app in line with other video streaming services and provides a more comprehensive listening experience.

The release of iOS 26.4 comes ahead of iOS 26.5, which is currently in beta and expected to introduce the first Gemini-powered Siri and Apple Intelligence features. Apple has detailed the 13 enhancements included in the iOS 26.4 release candidate, signaling a near-final version of the software.