Apple has announced that its latest software updates, iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, will be available in April. These updates will bring a variety of new features and enhancements for iPhone and iPad users. The first beta version is already accessible to developers and public testers, but the final release is expected to introduce some exciting changes, particularly for food enthusiasts alongside improvements in notifications and music.
One of the most interesting new features in iOS 18.4 is the Apple News+ Food section, which is included in the Apple News app. This feature is designed for subscribers of Apple News+ and offers access to a vast collection of recipes from well-known food publishers like Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, and Allrecipes. This new section isn’t just about recipes, though. It also contains articles about restaurants, healthy eating advice, essential kitchen tools, and much more. Users will find it easy to browse and search for recipes, thanks to a user-friendly design that highlights ingredients and provides step-by-step cooking instructions. There’s even a new cook mode that displays recipes in full screen, facilitating a smoother cooking experience. Additionally, users can save their favorite dishes for offline access.
Another important feature in iOS 18.4 is called Priority Notifications. This function uses Apple’s technology to identify the most important notifications and make them prominent on your Lock Screen. However, this feature is only available on certain models, specifically the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the iPhone 16 series.
For music enthusiasts, the update includes a new Ambient Music feature in the Control Center, allowing users to play a selection of songs selected for different moods: Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing.
Users living in the European Union can also benefit from a new option in iOS 18.4 that lets them set their default apps for maps and translation. This means you can choose to use Google Maps or another preferred app as your main navigation tool.
In addition, the update expands support for Apple’s advanced technology to more languages, including French, German, Spanish, Japanese, and simplified Chinese. There is also a new Sketch drawing style in the Image Playground feature, which adds to the previously available Animation and Illustration styles. This tool lets users create images based on text descriptions, thanks to Apple’s technology.
As part of the iOS 18.4 update, users can also look forward to a new set of emojis. Apple typically adds new characters with each major update, and while the full list has not yet been confirmed, previews from the Unicode Consortium suggest we may see new emojis like a face with bags under the eyes, a harp, and a shovel.
Finally, later in the update cycle, Apple plans to introduce a Vision Pro app for iPhone users. This app will act as a central hub for Vision Pro users to download applications, explore Apple TV content, and find helpful tips for their devices.
With these updates, Apple continues to enhance user experiences, offering new features that cater to various interests, from cooking and music to personalized notifications and language support.