iOS 16.4 release approaching: These iPhone features are coming

Soon we will be able to install iOS 16.4 on iPhone. The RC (release candidate build) has been published for this. What iPhone features can we expect?

iOS 16.4RC

Apple released several test versions of iOS 16.4 in recent weeks: four in total. Now the RC (Release Candidate) has also been published. After the release of the RC, it usually takes less than a week for the official release to come.

Apple usually releases interim updates for the iPhone on a Monday or Tuesday. This means we can probably install iOS 16.4 on March 27 or 28. This will be approximately at 19:00 Dutch time. iPadOS 16.4 will also be available for the iPad.

OS 16.4: the new features

With iOS 16.4, your iPhone will get some more functions. Here they are.

• 21 new emojis. With iOS 16.4, new emojis are coming to your iPhone, including a goose, donkey, jellyfish, Wi-Fi symbol, shaking head, and more.
• Web app notifications. Did you make a website shortcut on the home screen? Then it is possible to receive push notifications from this website, just like with other apps.
• Voice isolation for internet calling. The ‘Voice isolation’ function will soon also be available for calling via the internet, for example for telephone calls in WhatsApp. The feature blocks ambient noise and prioritizes your voice.
• HomeKit gets an update. iOS 16.4 brings back the HomeKit update, which was removed in iOS 16.2 due to issues. The update adds a new architecture to HomeKit, making communication between smart devices more reliable.
• Books with animation effect. The page turn effect returns.
• Duplicate items in Photos. The Duplicate Items feature is being expanded to also detect duplicate photos and videos in a shared iCloud Photo Library.
• Battery consumption Always on. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have an Always On display. from iOS 16.4 you can see how much battery this function uses at ‘Settings>Battery’.
• No COVID exposure reports. In 2020, Google and Apple collaborated on an API for tracing possible corona infections.
• Podcast app improvements. The Podcast app has several additional functions. For example, the library has a ‘Channels’ option.
• Better overview of AppleCare. From the new iOS version, you will see a comprehensive overview of all insurance policies you have taken out with Apple.
• VoiceOver support for maps in the Weather app.
• Video accessibility settingwhich automatically dims a video when flashes of light are detected.
• “Ask to Buy” requests. iOS 16.4 fixes a bug where “Ask to Buy” requests from children don’t appear on the parent’s device.
• Thermostats with Matter. Matter-enabled thermostats sometimes don’t respond when paired with HomeKit. iOS 16.4 fixes this issue.
• Crash detection. There are Crash Detection optimizations for iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models.

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