Apple’s latest iOS update, version 18.4, is set to roll out to compatible iPhones in early April 2025. This update introduces several new features and improvements, with a focus on enhancing the Apple Intelligence ecosystem and user experience. Let’s dive into the key additions and changes coming to your iPhone.
Priority Notifications: Smarter Alert Management
One of the standout features in iOS 18.4 is Priority Notifications, a new Apple Intelligence capability that helps users manage their incoming alerts more effectively. This feature uses on-device machine learning to identify and highlight the most important notifications, displaying them prominently at the top of your notification list.
How it works:
- The system analyzes notification patterns and user interactions
- It learns which apps and types of notifications are most relevant to you
- Priority notifications are displayed in a dedicated section on the Lock Screen
- Users can fine-tune priorities on a per-app basis in Settings
This feature aims to reduce notification fatigue and ensure you don’t miss crucial information amidst the constant stream of alerts.
Expanded Language Support for Apple Intelligence
iOS 18.4 significantly broadens the reach of Apple Intelligence features by adding support for 8 new languages and 2 additional English locales:
- French (France and Canada)
- German
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Portuguese (Brazil)
- Simplified Chinese
- Spanish (Spain, Latin America, and US)
- English (India and Singapore)
This expansion allows more users worldwide to benefit from Apple Intelligence capabilities in their native languages, improving accessibility and user experience across diverse markets.
Image Playground Gets Artistic with Sketch Style
The Image Playground feature, introduced in earlier iOS 18 versions, now includes a new “Sketch” style option. This addition allows users to generate AI-created images that mimic hand-drawn sketches, expanding the creative possibilities for visual content creation directly on your iPhone.
To use the new Sketch style:
- Open the Image Playground feature
- Select “Sketch” from the available style options
- Enter your prompt or description
- Watch as the AI generates a sketch-style image based on your input
This feature is particularly useful for artists, designers, or anyone looking to quickly visualize ideas in a hand-drawn aesthetic.
Apple Vision Pro Integration
For users of Apple’s mixed reality headset, iOS 18.4 introduces a dedicated Apple Vision Pro app. This app is automatically installed on iPhones belonging to Vision Pro owners, serving as a hub for:
- Discovering new spatial experiences and content
- Managing device settings and information
- Exploring compatible apps and games
- Accessing quick tutorials and tips for optimal use
The app aims to bridge the gap between iPhone and Vision Pro experiences, creating a more integrated ecosystem for Apple’s latest hardware offering.
Ambient Music in Control Center
iOS 18.4 introduces a convenient new feature for music lovers: Ambient Music in Control Center. This addition provides quick access to curated playlists designed to accompany various daily activities and moods.
How to use Ambient Music:
- Open Control Center (swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen)
- Look for the new Ambient Music control
- Tap to reveal options like “Sleep,” “Chill,” “Productivity,” and “Wellbeing”
- Select a category to start playing the corresponding playlist
Users can customize the playlists associated with each category, allowing for a personalized ambient audio experience tailored to their preferences.
Apple News+ Embraces Culinary Content
For Apple News+ subscribers, iOS 18.4 brings a feast of new content with the introduction of a dedicated Food section. This new category includes:
- Recipes from renowned culinary publications
- A Recipe Catalog for easy browsing and searching
- A “Cooking Mode” for step-by-step recipe instructions
- Food-related articles covering restaurants, cooking tips, and nutrition
This addition transforms Apple News+ into a more comprehensive lifestyle platform, catering to food enthusiasts and home cooks alike.
Photos App Refinements
The Photos app receives several quality-of-life improvements in iOS 18.4:
- New filtering options to show or hide items not in albums or synced from other devices
- Ability to reorder items in Media Types and Utilities collections
- Consistent sorting options across all collections
- Option to sort albums by date modified
- Toggles to disable “Recently Viewed” and “Recently Shared” collections
- Enhanced privacy for hidden photos when syncing with Mac or PC
These changes offer users more control over their photo library organization and improve the overall browsing experience.
Additional Enhancements and Bug Fixes
iOS 18.4 also includes a variety of smaller updates and fixes:
- Safari now suggests recent searches when starting a new query
- Streamlined setup process for creating child accounts
- Improved persistence of Screen Time app limits
- App Store review summaries for quick insights
- Ability to pause and resume app downloads without losing progress
- New widgets for the Podcasts app
- Apple Fitness+ Collections can now be added to Library
- Support for Matter-compatible robot vacuum cleaners in the Home app
- Addition of 10 new system languages, including several Indian languages
iOS 18.4 packs a punch with its focus on intelligent features and quality-of-life improvements. Whether you’re a power user or just looking to streamline your iPhone experience, this update offers something for everyone. Keep an eye out for the update notification in early April, and get ready to explore these new capabilities on your device.