iOS 26.4 release date: Here’s when new iPhone features will arrive

iOS 26.4 is a big update with many new features on Apple Music, Podcasts, CarPlay and more. This is when to expect its public release.

iOS 26.4 is expected to be released next week for all users

The next big iPhone update is iOS 26.4 and it’s coming very soon.

Here are the release dates for x.4 updates from the last few years:

• iOS 18.4: Monday, March 31
• iOS 17.4: Tuesday, March 5
• iOS 16.4: Monday, March 27

Based on this pattern, we were expecting a debut in mid-to-late March.

But today an interesting event occurred: the RC (release candidate) of iOS 26.4 has arrived.

The iOS 26.4 RC is available to beta testers, but is expected to offer the exact software version that ships to all users in the public release.

Since iOS 26.4 RC is here, we hope iOS 26.4a launch for all users next weekalready on March 23.

It is quite typical for a public launch to occur the week after the RC boats are built.

If Apple doesn’t need to test additional RC builds, we may see iOS 26.4 shipping on Monday, March 23. But if bugs are discovered that require a new RC first, the release could be delayed later in the week.

Either way, iOS 26.4 should be released to all users within the next week.

New features coming to iOS 26.4

Apple’s latest software update, iOS 26.3, had few new features. But iOS 26.4 offers much more for iPhone users to enjoy.

New features include:

• apple music has five new featuressuch as AI Playlist Playground tool, new layout for albums and playlists, concert information and more
• Apple Podcasts earnings an improved and modernized video experience
• carplay introduce support for AI chatbot and video playback applications
• health app add new sleep and vital data
• free form gets Exclusive features of Apple Creator Studio
• Reminders has a new ‘Urgent’ smart list
• Wallpaper gallery has been renewed

The iOS 26.4 beta too let users test end-to-end encryption for RCS, but Apple says that feature won’t ship to all users until a future iOS update.

What new features in iOS 26.4 are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments.

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