iOS 26.4 is shaping up to be one of the most significant iPhone updates in years, largely due to the long-awaited Siri and Apple Intelligence features Apple first revealed at WWDC 2024. After multiple delays and a major behind-the-scenes shift in strategy, Apple is now ready to let developers try these features for the first time.
According to a new report, the wait for iOS 26.4 beta testing may soon be over. We already broke down some of the new features in the previous article.
First iOS 26.4 Beta Expected in Late February
In the latest edition of Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman reports that Apple plans to release the first developer beta of iOS 26.4 during the week of February 23.
If Apple follows its usual pattern, a public beta should arrive shortly after, either later in February or in early March. Assuming testing proceeds without major setbacks, the final version of iOS 26.4 would likely roll out to all users toward the end of March.
As always, timelines remain subject to change if Apple encounters last-minute issues during development.
A Long Road to These Siri Features
The Siri upgrades coming in iOS 26.4 were originally announced nearly two years ago and were initially expected to arrive during the iOS 18 cycle. Apple later confirmed the delay, citing the need for additional development time.
Last month, Apple revealed a major shift in its AI approach by announcing a partnership with Google to integrate Gemini models into Siri and Apple Intelligence. That collaboration now appears to be central to the features debuting in iOS 26.4.
With beta testing about to begin, users may finally get hands-on access to capabilities Apple previewed more than 18 months ago.
Three Major Siri Upgrades Coming in iOS 26.4
Apple plans to introduce three core enhancements to Siri as part of this update:
Personal Context
Siri will gain the ability to search and reference personal data stored on your device, including messages, notes, emails, and other content. This allows for more natural requests, such as finding specific information mentioned in past conversations or documents.
On-Screen Awareness
With on-screen awareness, Siri can understand what’s currently displayed and act on it. This could enable commands like editing content, sharing items, or performing contextual actions without manual navigation.
In-App and Cross-App Actions
Siri will also gain deeper control over apps, allowing users to trigger specific functions within apps or across multiple apps using voice commands. This marks a major step toward making Siri a true system-wide assistant rather than a basic command tool.
More Than Just AI: New Emoji Coming Too
In addition to intelligence upgrades, iOS 26.4 is expected to include a fresh batch of emoji. Early details point to additions such as an apple core, fight cloud, treasure chest, and several others.
While minor compared to the Siri overhaul, emoji updates remain a popular part of Apple’s mid-cycle releases.
Final Release Depends on Testing
Although Apple’s internal timeline currently points to a late-March public release, that schedule could shift if problems emerge during beta testing. Given the complexity of the new AI features, Apple is likely to proceed cautiously.
For now, however, all signs suggest that iOS 26.4 testing is about to begin, bringing Apple’s most ambitious Siri update yet one step closer to reality.
Are you planning to install the beta once it becomes available, or will you wait for the final release?
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