Apple this week released iOS 26.4, the latest version of its mobile operating system. This introduces several new features, including AI-powered playlist generation in Apple Music, support for video content in the Podcasts app, and end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages.
This update is currently in public beta and is expected to be generally available sometime in March or April.
Apple Music AI playlist
One of the most notable improvements is in Apple Music. iOS 26.4 introduces a new AI-powered Playlist Playground feature powered by Apple Intelligence. This feature allows users to generate custom playlists of 25 songs, such as “Upbeat Workout Mix” or “Calm Night,” from a text prompt. Users can also narrow down their results further and select matching cover art.
Additionally, the Apple Music user interface itself has been updated to display album and playlist artwork in full screen.
concerts near me
Additionally, Apple Music has added a new Concerts Near Me section to help users find live shows from their favorite artists. You can filter this section by date and genre, or switch locations if you’re traveling.
Apple Podcast video episodes
Following Spotify’s commitment to video, Apple’s Podcasts app now makes it easier to switch between audio and video episodes with this release. Creators can publish video podcasts using HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), and listeners can seamlessly switch between audio and video playback within the same episode, moving to a full horizontal view if needed.
At launch, video episodes will be integrated with other Apple Podcasts features, like audio podcasts, including personalized recommendations and editorial curation in new tabs and category pages.
HLS also has an automatic quality adjustment feature that improves video playback regardless of whether the listener is using Wi-Fi or a mobile phone. Additionally, users will be able to download video episodes for offline viewing. At launch, HLS is supported by Acast, Amazon’s ART19, Triton’s Omny Studio, and SiriusXM, including SiriusXM Media, AdsWizz, and Simplecast.
Creators can also dynamically insert video ads into their podcasts, including spots read by the host. Apple doesn’t charge creators to distribute podcasts, but starting later this year, participating ad networks will have to pay an impression-based fee for serving dynamic ads on HLS videos.
Encrypted RCS messaging
Messaging is also receiving a significant upgrade with encrypted Rich Communications Services (RCS), which begins testing in iOS 26.4. End-to-end encryption of RCS conversations will one day allow messages between iPhone and Android users to be as secure as iMessage.
Currently, Apple is only testing this among iPhones in beta. These conversations are labeled as encrypted and cannot be read while in transit between devices. The company says the feature will be generally available in a future software update for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS, and the beta version is not available on all devices or carriers.
Stolen device detection is turned on by default
Improved security is another highlight of iOS 26.4. Stolen device protection is now enabled by default and adds an additional layer of biometric authentication for sensitive actions such as accessing saved passwords and changing certain accounts. By requiring Face ID or Touch ID authentication in more scenarios, Apple will reduce the risk of unauthorized access if your device is stolen and your passcode is compromised.
CarPlay adds in-car video playback
Drivers using Apple CarPlay will also notice the change. CarPlay currently supports in-car video playback for some apps, including the Apple TV app, but only when the vehicle is parked to ensure safety. This enhancement introduces new entertainment options when passengers are stationary or waiting in the vehicle for a certain period of time. (Hail to all the parents waiting in line to pick up their children from school!)
Third-party AI services come to CarPlay
For the first time, CarPlay provides access to third-party AI services such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude.
Camera app audio zoom
Meanwhile, the camera app introduces audio zoom. When recording video, zooming in will focus the microphone on your subject, reducing background noise and improving clarity. This feature makes it easy to capture speeches, performances, or interviews without using external audio equipment.
Additionally, the Ambient Music feature is now accessible through a widget, allowing you to instantly play soundscapes designed for focus, sleep, and relaxation directly from your home screen, rather than from the Control Center as before. First introduced in iOS 18.4, the feature added a variety of ambient sounds to stream across categories such as sleep, relaxation, productivity, and health.
“Urgent” reminder
The Reminders app also has a new “Urgent” section that lets you group high-priority tasks and trigger more prominent alerts when deadlines approach. Setting a reminder to “Urgent” adds an alarm so you never miss an event.
moreover…
Other small features include:
- A new unified Apple Account hub for the App Store, Apple Music, and other Apple apps. It replaces the previously used “Profile” functionality.
- New animation in the Messages app when drafting a message.
- Updated wallpaper gallery that categorizes different categories in a new way. A similar design also appeared in the Apple Watch Face Gallery. The new version includes sections such as Weather, Astronomy, and Emjoy, among other changes.
- Apple Music lets you add songs to multiple playlists at once.
- The Health app now has a new metric, Average Bedtime, that shows you your average bedtime over the past two weeks. The vitals section has also been updated to include blood oxygen levels in the daily graphs.
- Freefrom adds a content hub for Creator Studio subscribers, providing access to new AI features and high-quality art. The icon has also been updated.
- The Personal Hotspot feature now includes a data usage section that shows you how much data has been sent to your device and which Apple and non-Apple devices have used the data.
- Added support for Chinese (Taiwan) to the language options for live captions.
- Added new “Set Battery Charging Limit” action to shortcuts.
- The App Store search bar is back at the top of the screen.
- The link to iCloud.com will appear in a large Featured section within the iCloud section of the Settings app. Previously, there was only a toggle button for “Access iCloud Data on the Web.” Now it’s like a big ad for iCloud.
This release specifically does not include the next-generation Siri experience. Apple has hinted at further AI ambitions for its voice assistant, but those big changes won’t make it to iOS 26.4, which has reportedly been delayed yet again.
