Technology
iOS 18.4 Update Released Early: New Features, Eligible iPhones & How to Download
Apple has released the iOS 18.4 update on Monday, March 31, which has come earlier than expected. Earlier the company had said that this update would come in April, but now it is available for all eligible iPhones. This new update includes features of Apple Intelligence, new emoji, improved notification management, and support for Vision Pro. Let’s know in detail what is new for you in this update and how to download it.
On which iPhones will iOS 18.4 be available?
Apple has confirmed that iOS 18.4 will be available for all iPhone Xs and newer models. This means that if your iPhone is from 2018 or later, then you will get this update. These models come under this:
- iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, iPhone Xr
- iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation)
- iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 series
- iPhone 16e is also included in the scope of this update
How to download iOS 18.4?
- If your iPhone is eligible for this update, then you can download it like this:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to General.
- Select the Software Update option.
- Click on Download and Install.
- Once the update is downloaded, restart the phone.
Note that this update is about 3.76GB, so make sure your phone has enough storage. The update may take about 10 minutes to install.
What’s new in iOS 18.4?
- New features of Apple Intelligence
Apple has made many improvements to its AI features. Especially users of iPhone 16, iPhone 16e, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will get the benefit of these.
- Priority Notifications – This feature will filter your notifications so that you get important messages and alerts on time.
- New “Sketch” style in Image Playground – Now you can express your creativity in new ways.
- Support of new languages – Apple Intelligence will now also be available in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish.
- New emoji updates
Some new emojis have been added in iOS 18.4, including:
- Tired smiley (with dark circles under the eyes)
- Fingerprint
- Splatter (splatter emoji)
- Root vegetable and leafless tree
- Harp, shovel and Sark Island flag
- Vision Pro support
If you have Apple Vision Pro, this update will download a new companion app on your iPhone. This app will help you discover new content and manage settings for Vision Pro.
- Big changes in Photos app
Apple has made some great improvements to the Photos app:
- New filtering and sorting options
- Hide “Recently Viewed” and “Recently Shared” sections
- “Hidden Photos” will be blocked from import to Mac or PC when Face ID setting is on
- Improvements in Safari and App Store
- Now Safari will have better search history recommendations, giving you quick access to old search topics.
- New pause and resume feature in App Store – now you can pause a download and resume from where it was later.
- Better parental controls for kids
- Screen Time will not be able to bypass – now kids will not be able to cheat Screen Time limits by uninstalling the app.
- Child Account setup has been made more simple.
- Smart Home and new widgets
- If you have a Matter-supported robot vacuum, it can now be added to the Home app.
- New widget for Apple Podcasts – You can now add Followed Shows and Library to the home screen.
- Apple Fitness+ collections can now be added to the library.
iOS 18.4 release date
Apple usually releases the update on Tuesday, but this time the company launched it on Monday, March 31 itself. Earlier, Apple had hinted at launching in early April, but this update came earlier than expected.
Conclusion: Why is iOS 18.4 important?
The iOS 18.4 update brings many new features and improvements for iPhone users. If you are a user of iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or iPhone 16 series, then you will get direct benefit of the new tools of Apple Intelligence. Apart from this, new emojis, improved Safari experience, Photos app improvements, and support for smart home devices also make this update even better.
If you have an older iPhone model (iPhone Xs or later), you will still get some great features of iOS 18.4. Install this update as soon as possible and enjoy the new experiences!
FAQs
Q. When was iOS 18.4 released?
A. iOS 18.4 was released on Monday, March 31, earlier than expected.
Q. Which iPhones are compatible with iOS 18.4?
A. iOS 18.4 is available for iPhone Xs and newer models, including iPhone SE (2nd & 3rd gen).
Q. What are the key new features in iOS 18.4?
A. The update includes Apple Intelligence improvements, new emoji, Vision Pro support, and better parental controls.
Q. How can I download iOS 18.4 on my iPhone?
A. Go to Settings > General > Software Update > Download and Install.
Q. Does iOS 18.4 improve the Photos app?
A. Yes, it introduces new sorting options, filtering features, and better privacy controls.
