Apple’s latest iOS 18.4 update brings new Apple Intelligence features, an updated photo app, and a fresh batch of emoji.
The big picture: The update includes a handful of features first announced in 2024.
Zoom in: A user can update their iPhone to iOS 18.4 by going to the Settings app, tapping General and then tapping Software Update.
- The update is available to all iPhone models that support iOS 18.4, including iPhone XS from 2018.
- The new Apple Intelligence features are available on all iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Priority notifications, powered by Apple Intelligence
- Priority notifications will appear at the top of all notifications on the home screen. They use Apple Intelligence to highlight “important notifications that may require your immediate attention,” according to the release notes.
- Apple Intelligence features will also be available in “many new languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified) — as well as localized English for Singapore and India,” according to an Apple press release.
New emoji
- Face with bags under eyes
- Flag of Sark
- Root vegetable
- Fingerprint
- Shovel
- Leafless tree
- Splatter
- Harp
Filtering options for Photos
- There are new options to sort by oldest or newest photos.
- Users can reorder items in the “Media Types” and “Utilities” collections.
- There are options to sort albums by date modified.
- Users have the option to disable “Recently Viewed” and “Recently Shared” collections in settings.
Ambient Music
- There’s a dedicated Ambient Music feature that is accessible via the Control Center.
- Users have the option to choose one of four playlists: Chill, Sleep, Productivity, and Wellbeing.
- If a user doesn’t see it in the Control Center after the update, they can swipe down from the top-right edge to open and tap the plus (+) icon on the top left and add Ambient Music.
Other notable updates
- Apple Intelligence is now available on Vision Pro. Apple is also launching a Vision Pro app to help users find new content and experiences for the headset.
- The “Recipe Catalog” on Apple News+ lets users browse or search to find dishes and save it to “Saved Recipes.” There’s also a “Cooking mode” that lets you follow step-by-step directions.
- If a child uninstalls and reinstalls an app, the Screen Time App Limits are still in effect.
- A new “Sketch” style for images is available in Image Playground. It allows users to create AI-generated images inspired by hand-drawn sketches.
