Apple has recently released the second Release Candidate (RC) build of iOS 18.4 to developers and public beta testers, signaling the final stages before its official launch. This update is accompanied by detailed release notes, offering a comprehensive overview of the enhancements, new features, and bug fixes included in this version. The public release is anticipated in April, with speculation pointing towards a launch as early as next week. iOS 18.4 will be compatible with all iPhone models that currently support iOS 18; however, certain advanced features, specifically those powered by Apple Intelligence, will be exclusive to newer iPhone models. These include the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the upcoming iPhone 16 series, ensuring that users with the latest hardware can take full advantage of the new intelligent capabilities. One of the highlights of iOS 18.4 is the introduction of several Apple Intelligence features. Priority notifications will now appear at the top of the notification list, ensuring that important alerts receive immediate attention. The Image Playground app gains a new sketch style, allowing users to create unique and artistic drawings. Furthermore, Apple Intelligence expands its language support to include eight additional languages and two new English locales, enhancing accessibility for users in various regions, including India, Singapore, France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Brazil, China, and Spain. The update also includes a dedicated Apple Vision Pro app, which will be automatically installed for users of the Apple Vision Pro headset. This app is designed to help users discover new content, spatial experiences, and quickly access essential information about their device. In addition, Apple News+ receives a significant upgrade with the addition of recipes from renowned publishers, a recipe catalog for easy browsing, and a cooking mode that provides step-by-step directions. The Food section will also feature articles on restaurants, kitchen tips, and healthy eating. Significant improvements have been made to the Photos app as well. New filters allow users to show or hide items that are not contained in an album or synced from a Mac or PC. Users can now reorder items in the Media Types and Utilities collections, and consistent filtering options are available across all collections, including the ability to sort by oldest or newest. There is also an option to sort albums by Date Modified, and the ability to disable the “Recently Viewed” and “Recently Shared” collections. Hidden photos will no longer be included for import to Mac or PC if Face ID is enabled in Photos settings. Beyond these major updates, iOS 18.4 includes several enhancements and bug fixes aimed at improving overall user experience. Safari now offers recent search suggestions to help users quickly return to previous search topics. The Setup Assistant streamlines the process for parents creating Child Accounts, and Screen Time app limits persist even after an app is reinstalled. The App Store now includes summaries for user reviews, and users can pause and resume app downloads without losing progress. New widgets for Podcasts and Ambient Music have also been added to enhance media consumption. Finally, the update introduces support for Matter-compatible robot vacuum cleaners in the Home app and adds support for 10 new system languages, including Bangla, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. With the release of the second Release Candidate, iOS 18.4 is expected to be available to the public very soon. The focus on Apple Intelligence, combined with enhancements to core apps and system-wide improvements, aims to deliver a more intuitive and seamless user experience. The update reflects Apple's commitment to innovation and responsiveness to user feedback, ensuring that iOS remains a leading mobile operating system.
