when is the big iPhone update coming out?

Dozens of new emoji, unlocking your iPhone with a face mask, Tap to Pay and more: iOS 15.4 has a lot to offer. But when is the iOS 15.4 release?

New functions

There are many reasons to look forward to iOS 15.4. For a late interim update, the software has quite a few new features. An addition that makes almost everyone happy is the ability to unlock your iPhone with Face ID while wearing a face mask.

According to Apple, your iPhone scans the ‘unique features around the eyes’ to recognize your face. Unfortunately, the feature is limited to the iPhone 12 (Pro) and newer, so with an iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XR, or iPhone 11 you won’t be able to use the option.

But there’s more. Universal Control, for example – great for those who have an iPad and Mac. The feature (available in iPadOS 15.4 and macOS 12.3) lets you control multiple iPads and Macs with a single mouse, keyboard, or trackpad. For example, you can use the keyboard on your Mac to type on your iPad, or move your Mac’s mouse to move the cursor in iPadOS.

Other iOS 15.4 innovations include:

• Tap to Pay: The iPhone will soon be used as an ATM. For now, the feature is only available in the United States.
• Turn off notifications in Assignments. By default, you will receive a notification when Commands takes action, but from iOS 15.4 this can be turned off.
• Password note. iCloud Keychain adds an option to add a note to a password.
• Apps with 120 Hz. The iPhone 13 Pro has a screen that refreshes faster. Due to a bug, third-party apps were not able to handle it properly yet, but this is being fixed.
• Activate SharePlay faster. For apps that support SharePlay, there will be an option to activate SharePlay from the Share menu.
• Universal Control. In iPadOS 15.4, Apple adds Universal Controls, which let you use your Mac’s cursor to control your iPad, and vice versa.

When is the iOS 15.4 release?

iOS 15.4 is currently in beta. The first beta appeared at the end of January, the second followed this week. With major interim updates, Apple often releases about four betas, with a new version every two weeks.

If we calculate (the third beta around February 23, the fourth on March 9, it is likely that the interim update will appear in mid-March. There is one to two weeks between the last beta and the final release.

Previously, Mark Gurman predicted from Bloomberg already an iOS 15.4 release in the first half of March. The Apple insider also reported that Apple is organizing an event on March 8, in which the company will present the iPhone SE 2022, among other things. Apple often also announces the date of an iOS release during these types of events, which is usually a week later, on a Tuesday. An iOS 15.4 release on Tuesday, 15 March is therefore the most plausible.

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