Apple iOS 26.4 Beta Signals Siri Upgrades and Emoji Additions

Beta timeline and expected features

Apple is preparing to roll out iOS 26.4, with the first developer beta planned for the week of February 23, according to Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman. If testing stays on track, additional builds would follow later this month or in early March, and the final version could reach users by the end of March. The update is expected to include early elements of Siri improvements tied to Apple Intelligence, which were previously delayed after being announced at WWDC 2024.

The journalist notes that the upcoming beta would mark a step toward the long-promised Siri upgrades and broader Apple Intelligence features. In recent days, sources have described plans that emphasize performance and stability alongside feature work. The timeline suggests Apple may enter the final stages of development after previously postponing several headline features.

Apple Intelligence, Siri improvements, and emoji additions

The iOS 26.4 update is expected to deliver some of the first elements of the Siri improvements reported as part of Apple Intelligence. Reported features include personal context for locating information in messages, emails, and notes, along with on-screen awareness and expanded in-app and cross-app controls. Leaks point to a new set of emoji additions as part of the update.

Apple has reportedly confirmed plans to use Gemini as an additional AI option to help power Siri's new capabilities, alongside its own in-house models. The company continues to emphasize privacy, with much of the processing still performed on-device or through Apple’s Private Cloud Compute system.

Observers say iOS 26.4 could represent one of the more significant iPhone software updates in years, with a broad set of Apple Intelligence tools and long-awaited improvements to Siri anticipated in the release. The latest reports from Gurman indicate that the first developer beta could arrive in the week of February 23, with a public beta following and a final version potentially by the end of March if testing proceeds without major issues.

Apple has not published official release dates, and the final timeline remains contingent on ongoing testing. The sequence described by sources suggests a conventional cadence: developer beta first, followed by a public beta, and then a stable update for all users toward month-end or early next month.

• Software version: iOS 26.4
• Siri improvements: personal context for locating information in messages, emails, and notes
• On-screen awareness and expanded in-app cross-app controls
• Emoji additions: new options such as an apple core, a fight cloud, and a treasure chest
• Apple Intelligence: integration with Gemini AI as an option to power Siri capabilities
• Privacy approach: processing on-device or via Private Cloud Compute
• Timeline: dev beta in the week of February 23, public beta after, final release potentially end-March