Apple’s previous significant software update, iOS 18.3, was launched at the end of January. While we await the debut of the initial iOS 18.4 beta, Apple has already shared a specific timeline for the public release of iOS 18.4. Here’s what to anticipate.
iOS 18.4 arriving ‘in early April’ according to Apple
It’s not common for Apple to announce software release timelines well in advance, but iOS 18.4 is a notable exception.
Back in October, when the first Apple Intelligence features were introduced, the company indicated that an April software update would introduce additional AI languages.
According to established software patterns from previous years and insights from Mark Gurman, it became evident that iOS 18.4 would serve as that April software update.
However, Apple has now provided even more explicit details.
Updates to its website revealed that iOS 18.4 is scheduled for release in “early April” (as reported by MacRumors).
Here’s the information from the official iOS 18 page:
Apple Intelligence is currently in beta… Additional features and language support will be available in early April.
The term “early” still gives Apple some leeway, but it’s likely that iOS 18.4 will launch by mid-April.
The week of April 7 appears to be the most probable target, but Apple could also aim for a Monday, April 14 launch and still label it as “early April.” Regardless, iOS 18.4’s release is just around the corner.
Anticipated features in iOS 18.4
Mark Gurman has been consistently reporting on major enhancements for Siri in iOS 18.4. Currently, there are three significant Apple Intelligence updates awaited for Siri:
- New app actions: Siri will be able to execute hundreds of new actions within Apple apps without needing to open them. App Intents will extend this functionality to supported third-party applications as well.
- Personal context awareness: You will be able to reference received messages, past calendar events, and other personal data to receive genuinely intelligent support from Siri, much like a real assistant.
- Onscreen comprehension: Siri will have the capability to recognize what is displayed on your screen, allowing you to effortlessly request actions based on what you’re viewing.
Although Gurman has consistently indicated that these features are expected in iOS 18.4, he recently expressed some uncertainty regarding their inclusion.
Last week, he noted:
Apple is contemplating delaying or potentially limiting some of the [Siri] overhaul until iOS 18.5, which may be released as soon as May, according to sources. […]
Internally, many employees testing the new Siri features have discovered that they do not yet function reliably. As the deadline approaches for software readiness, there’s concern.
This leaves the status of some Siri enhancements in iOS 18.4 uncertain. It’s quite possible that while some new features will be included, others may be deferred until iOS 18.5.
Furthermore, iOS 18.4 is anticipated to introduce several other AI enhancements, including a priority notification feature, a revamped design for the Image Playground app, and more.
Are you looking forward to the upcoming release of iOS 18.4? Share your thoughts in the comments.
