Improved Siri pending, iPhone will be more secure with new iOS

The big AI upgrade for Siri has been delayed though

It has been speculated for months that iOS 26.4 will be the platform for the launch of a completely new, smarter Siri, supported by Google’s Gemini AI models. Advanced functions such as understanding personal context by searching messages and e-mails and being aware of the content on the screen were expected. However, the latest reports suggest that Apple encountered performance issues during internal testing.

That is why these key AI capabilities are most likely postponed for one of the next versions, such as iOS 26.5 or even a major update to iOS 27. This does not mean that artificial intelligence is completely absent, but instead of transforming the digital assistant, users will only get minor improvements.

Video podcasts and music in a new guise

The biggest news in iOS 26.4 is certainly the improved experience in the Podcasts application. By introducing HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) technology, Apple has made it possible to seamlessly switch between watching a video version of a podcast and listening to only the sound. The quality of the video will automatically adjust to the speed of the Internet connection, and the possibility of downloading video content for offline viewing has been added.

The Apple Music application also experienced significant changes. The interface for albums and playlists has received a new, more modern, full-screen design. When browsing a playlist, the background of the application will now dynamically take on a color that matches the album cover, creating a more pleasant visual experience. In addition, a new function has been added to discover concerts near the user directly within the application.

Safety and communication as a priority

Apple continues to place emphasis on user security. The “Stolen Device Protection” feature, introduced in one of the earlier versions, is now enabled by default for all users. It requires biometric verification (Face ID or Touch ID) to access sensitive data such as passwords, Lost mode, or Safari purchases.

Another important innovation concerns RCS messages, a standard that enables richer communication between iPhones and Android devices. A breakč has been added in the settings. to test end-to-end encryption. Currently, this function is only available for communication between two iPhone devices (when iMessage is turned off), and encryption in the conversation is indicated by a new padlock icon.

Minor but useful improvements

The upgrade also brings a number of other changes that improve the overall user experience. The collaboration application Freeform got the ability to organize on the map and the new “Creator Studio” update. A new emoji pack is coming, including a trombone, treasure chest, orca and Bigfoot. The Wallpaper Gallery has also been redesigned, which is now faster and more transparent. The final version of iOS 26.4 is expected in late March or early April, and the beta itself is quite large, with downloads ranging from eight to 18 gigabytes.