iOS 26.4 may be the update many users have long been waiting for, with Apple reportedly set to introduce a more personalized Siri powered by Google Gemini, a redesigned Health app, plenty of new emojis, and more.
When Will iOS 26.4 Be Released?
Based on Apple’s annual release schedule, iOS 26.4 is expected to roll out to the public sometime in late March or April. The developer beta could launch sometime in February, with the public beta following a few days later.
iOS 26.4 Beta
Updated on February 8: Mark Gurman of Bloomberg revealed that, barring any delays, the first iOS 26.4 developer beta is expected to be released during the week of February 23.
Apple typically releases the iOS x.4 beta shortly after the x.3 version goes public. Here are the release dates for some recent iOS x.4 betas:
- iOS 18.4 Beta 1: Friday, February 21 (25 days after iOS 18.3)
- iOS 17.4 Beta 1: Thursday, January 25 (3 days after iOS 17.3)
- iOS 16.4 Beta 1: Monday, February 16 (24 days after iOS 16.3)
- iOS 15.4 Beta 1: Thursday, January 27 (1 day after iOS 15.3)
As you can see, the .4 beta usually lands between late January and mid-February, depending on when Apple releases iOS 26.3 to the public (which is currently still in beta).
iOS 26.4 is expected to introduce several major features, especially a heavily revamped Siri. Because of that, Apple will likely want as much time as possible to gather feedback on the new Siri. This would be similar to how Apple Intelligence features were tested in the iOS 18.1 beta even before iOS 18.0 was officially released.
iOS 26.4 Public Release
iOS 26.4 is expected to be officially released in late March or early April.
Here are the release dates of recent iOS x.4 updates:
- iOS 18.4: Monday, March 31
- iOS 17.4: Tuesday, March 5
- iOS 16.4: Monday, March 27
- iOS 15.4: Monday, March 14
The exact timing will likely depend on when the first iOS 26.4 beta becomes available. I’ll keep this post updated, so stay tuned.
Expected Features in iOS 26.4
iOS 26.4 will be the next major update for iOS 26. Alongside a major Siri overhaul, the update is expected to introduce several other notable features.
A More Personalized Siri
Updated on February 12: Mark Gurman recently reported that a smarter, more personalized Siri could be delayed to iOS 26.5 or even iOS 27, instead of arriving in iOS 26.4 as previously rumored. The reason is that Siri still isn’t handling requests properly and is taking longer than expected to respond to users.
Siri is finally getting a significant upgrade, as Apple moves away from its outdated architecture and replaces it with an LLM-based system. As you may have heard, Apple and Google are reportedly working together. Gemini is expected to help make Siri more personalized, while also supporting future Apple Intelligence features.
Some of the capabilities Siri may gain in iOS 26.4 include:
- Onscreen awareness
- Personal context understanding
- The ability to take actions within and across apps
In addition, The Information (via MacRumors) has shared more details about what the improved Siri could do:
- Answer real-world and factual questions in a more conversational way
- Tell more stories
- Provide emotional support
- Assist with more complex tasks, such as booking flights
- Create documents in apps like Notes using provided information, for example recipes
Health App Redesign
According to Macworld, the Health app will be redesigned in iOS 26.4. The update will include a new layout for categories and a simplified approach to logging health metrics.
Last year, Mark Gurman also reported that Apple is planning an all-new Health+ service that is expected to launch this year. This service would use AI to deliver personalized health advice, along with videos from medical professionals.
New Emoji
The Unicode Consortium has announced several new emojis coming in Unicode 17.0, and iOS 26.4 could be the update that introduces them.
Here are some of the new emoji:
- Trombone
- Treasure Chest
- Distorted Face
- Apple Core
- Fight Cloud
- Ballet Dancer
- Hairy Creature
- Orca
- Landslide
Credit Card Autofill for Third-Party Apps
Credit cards from third-party apps may be stored in iCloud Keychain. This would allow users to autofill saved card details across other third-party apps.
Freeform
There are reports that the Freeform app will soon gain folder support, and combined with Apple recently adding Freeform to the Apple Creator Studio subscription, it is starting to feel much more like a full-fledged productivity app.
RCS Upgrades
Code found in iOS 26.3 Beta 2 suggests that Apple is preparing to let carriers enable end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages. It is still unclear whether this feature will arrive in iOS 26.3. Since carriers also need to roll out RCS Universal Profile 3.0, iOS 26.4 seems like a more realistic target.
Based on current carrier bundles, only four French carriers, Bouygues, Orange, SFR, and Free, currently include this code in iOS 26.3 beta.
In addition to end-to-end encryption, RCS Universal Profile 3.0 also brings the following features:
- Inline replies
- Message editing
- Message unsending
- Full Tapback support for RCS messages, without any special workarounds
Apple TV
Apple is investing more heavily in sports content. Macworld reports that the company may be preparing to launch a new “Sports Tier” for Apple TV. This feature is reportedly targeted for spring 2026 and could arrive alongside iOS 26.4.
Extra Security Layers
iOS 26.4 may introduce an additional security layer by verifying device integrity before allowing sign-in to an Apple Account and iCloud.
This would mean that modified devices, such as jailbroken iPhones, would no longer be able to sign in to Apple accounts or use related services.
AirPods
According to code discovered by Macworld, Apple is also working on a feature called “Precise Outdoor Location.” This feature would allow more accurate AirPods location tracking within the Find My app.
This feature may be limited to the AirPods Pro 3, which are equipped with the U2 chip.
Are you excited about iOS 26.4? Which feature are you looking forward to the most? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to follow @BetaProfiles on X and Threads so you don’t miss the latest updates.
