Apple has released the first developer beta of the upcoming iOS 26.4 update, bringing a number of new features to the iPhone. From video podcasts to new Apple Music tools, there is plenty to be pleased about. Here are our top picks.
Apple Music
There are quite a few interesting updates arriving with the new release. One feature, called Concerts Near You, allows users to find shows in their area and view tour dates for artistes. There is also a refreshed look for albums and playlists. Instead of displaying a small album sleeve, the artwork now covers a large part of the screen, which feels far more appealing than before. The shuffle, play and ‘+’ buttons have also been redesigned.
A bigger update is the arrival of Playlist Playground. Visit the Library section and tap the ‘+’ button. You will see an option to type in an idea and receive automatic song suggestions for a playlist. It uses Apple Intelligence to create a playlist based on your prompt, and you can customise it further.
To use the Concerts Near You feature, visit an artiste who is currently on tour — for example, Karan Aujla. Scroll down to find details about his upcoming concerts. Click through and you may be redirected to the ticketing site.
Apple Podcasts
With iOS 26.4, Apple is adding video podcast capabilities to the Apple Podcasts app. If you open a podcast episode that was designed as a video, you can either play it as an audio file or stream the video.
The feature uses HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), giving podcast creators greater control and monetisation opportunities while providing a high-quality viewing experience. HLS ensures smooth playback regardless of network connection, meaning videos will work on both Wi-Fi and mobile data.
Fresh look for wallpapers
The wallpaper section has been given a smarter look. Wallpapers are now stacked into packs such as Weather, Astronomy, Emoji, Unity and Kaleidoscope. There is a ‘Get’ button that you need to tap to download them.
Stolen Device Protection
One of the most important iPhone security features, Stolen Device Protection is now enabled by default for all iPhone users. The feature was first introduced in 2023.
In theory, thieves could observe someone entering their passcode — for instance, by looking over their shoulder in a public place — and then steal the iPhone. With the passcode, criminals could potentially access saved passwords and disable Find My.
Stolen Device Protection adds an extra layer of authentication through Face ID or Touch ID to access certain features such as the Passwords app, Lost Mode in Find My, Safari purchases and more. Some actions are completely disabled without biometric authentication, while others are protected by a one-hour security delay.
RCS encryption for Messages
There is a new option called End-to-End Encryption (Beta), a security feature that is not currently available for cross-platform messaging. Apple has been working with the GSM Association to implement end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages. iMessage — Apple’s messaging protocol for texts between iPhones — has supported end-to-end encryption for years. RCS messages between Android devices have also featured E2EE, but there has been no full encryption for communication between Android and iPhone devices. This feature aims to address that gap.
RCS messages that are end-to-end encrypted will display a lock icon in the conversation interface. The feature will be rolled out to customers in a future iOS software update.
Freeform Creator Studio
Freeform Creator Studio allows Creator Studio subscribers to access new Freeform features. It introduces a dedicated Content Hub that houses shape options and creative assets. Subscribers gain access to free, high-quality graphics, photos and illustrations that are not available to non-subscribers. In addition, the update includes AI capabilities for creating and editing images.