Apple this week released the first developer and public betas of iOS 26.4. The upcoming software update is a big one, with a long list of new features and changes across apps such as Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, Messages, and others.
Below, we have highlighted 12 of iOS 26.4's new features:
- Video podcasts are coming to the Apple Podcasts app. If a podcast episode has a video available, users will be able to switch seamlessly between watching and listening to the episode at any moment.
- Apple Music has a new Playlist Playground feature for generating playlists with AI.
- Apple Music now displays full-page artwork for albums and playlists.
- Apple Music now highlights upcoming concerts near you.
- iOS 18.4 introduced a new Ambient Music option in Control Center, which can help you relax or focus. iOS 26.4 expands this feature by allowing you to add an Ambient Music widget to your iPhone's Home Screen.
- In the Apple Health app, you can now view your Average Bedtime.
- Stolen Device Protection is now enabled by default. This security feature — previously opt-in — adds an additional layer of protection in the event someone has stolen your iPhone and knows the device's passcode, by strictly requiring Face ID or Touch ID authentication for sensitive actions.
- Starting with the iOS 26.4 beta, Apple is testing end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging with select Apple devices and carriers, but it will not actually be fully implemented until a later iOS version.
- In the Freeform app, Apple Creator Studio subscribers can access a new Content Hub.
- In the Reminders app, there is a new Urgent section for reminders with alarms set.
- In the Camera app, there is a new Audio Zoom setting. When this setting is turned on, recorded audio is focused on the subject when the camera is zoomed in.
- While the functionality is not live in the first beta, iOS 26.4 will likely allow videos to be streamed on CarPlay while a supported vehicle is parked. Apple first announced this feature was coming during WWDC 2025 last year.
For additional details about these features, and screenshots, check out our list of everything new in the iOS 26.4 beta so far. Unfortunately, there are still no signs of the more personalized version of Siri that Apple previewed all the way back in 2024, with recent reporting indicating those features have been pushed back until iOS 26.5 or iOS 27.
We also highlighted some iOS 26.4 features in the YouTube video below.
Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released in late March to early April. The update is compatible with the iPhone 11 and newer, but Apple Intelligence and some other features are limited to newer iPhone models.
You can sign up to test the iOS 26.4 public beta for free on Apple's website. Make sure to back up your iPhone before installing beta software.
