Apple has released the first Release Candidate build of iOS 26.4, signaling that the public launch is likely just days away. The update packs 13 notable enhancements that touch everything from Apple Music to accessibility, and it sets the stage for even bigger changes in iOS 26.5.

What's New in iOS 26.4

The headliner is Playlist Playground, a beta feature in Apple Music that uses AI to generate custom playlists from a simple text description — complete with a title, cover art suggestion, and tracklist. Apple is also launching Concerts, a discovery tool that surfaces nearby live shows from artists already in your library and recommends new acts based on your listening habits.

Music fans who have been frustrated by Shazam failing without a signal will appreciate Offline Music Recognition. The feature identifies songs locally and delivers results automatically once you reconnect.

On the emoji front, iOS 26.4 adds eight new characters including an orca, trombone, ballet dancer, landslide, and a delightfully cursed distorted face.

Privacy gets a boost with support for testing end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging, a major step toward securing cross-platform texting between iPhones and Android devices. Apple is also enabling Stolen Device Protection by default, making it harder for thieves to change critical account settings.

Family Sharing users will welcome Purchase Sharing, which finally lets adult family members use their own payment method instead of routing everything through the organizer. Other highlights include improved keyboard accuracy, Freeform gaining advanced image tools, and the ability to mark Reminders as urgent.

Our Take

iOS 26.4 is a surprisingly feature-rich point release. Playlist Playground could change how people discover music if the AI recommendations are good enough, and encrypted RCS messaging is a genuinely important privacy upgrade that benefits both iPhone and Android users. The fact that Apple is now enabling Stolen Device Protection by default shows the company is getting more aggressive about security. The real excitement, though, is what comes next: iOS 26.5 is expected to bring the first Gemini-powered Siri and Apple Intelligence features.

Key Takeaways

  • AI-powered Playlist Playground generates custom playlists from text descriptions in Apple Music
  • End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging is now being tested for iPhone-to-Android security
  • Eight new emoji characters arrive, including an orca and a distorted face
  • Stolen Device Protection is enabled by default for all iPhones
  • Adult Family Sharing members can now use their own payment methods