Apple iOS 26.4 Beta: AI Playlists, Encrypted RCS, and a Smarter CarPlay Experience

Apple has just dropped the beta version of iOS 26.4, and it’s packed with features that will change the way you use your iPhone. From AI-powered playlist generation in Apple Music to encrypted RCS messaging and smarter CarPlay, this update is a game-changer. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest iOS release.

Apple Music Gets an AI-Powered Playlist Generator

One of the most exciting additions in iOS 26.4 is the new AI-powered “Playlist Playground” feature in Apple Music. Leveraging Apple Intelligence, this tool allows users to create a custom 25-song playlist based on a simple text prompt. Whether you’re looking for an “upbeat workout mix” or a “calm evening playlist,” the AI does the heavy lifting for you. You can even refine the results and choose matching cover art to make your playlist truly unique.

But that’s not all—Apple Music’s user interface has also been refreshed. Now, albums and playlists are showcased with full-screen artwork, making your music library more visually appealing than ever.

Discover Live Shows with “Concerts Near You”

Apple Music is also introducing a new “Concerts Near You” section, designed to help users discover live shows from their favorite artists. You can filter concerts by date and genre, or even switch locations if you’re traveling. This feature is perfect for music lovers who want to stay connected to the live music scene.

Apple Podcasts Embraces Video

Following Spotify’s push into video, Apple’s Podcasts app is now making it easier to switch between audio and video episodes. Creators can publish video podcasts using HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), and listeners can seamlessly transition between audio and video playback within the same episode. The video can even expand to a full horizontal display for a more immersive experience.

At launch, the video episodes will be integrated with other Apple Podcasts features, like personalized recommendations and editorial curation on the New tab and Category pages. Plus, HLS brings an automatic quality adjustment feature, ensuring smooth playback whether you’re on Wi-Fi or cellular. You can also download video episodes for offline viewing.

Encrypted RCS Messaging for Enhanced Security

Messaging is getting a major security upgrade with the introduction of encrypted Rich Communication Services (RCS). This feature, which begins testing in iOS 26.4, will one day ensure that messages between iPhone and Android users are just as secure as iMessage. Currently, Apple is only testing this between iPhones in beta, but the feature will be released publicly in a later software update for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS.

Stolen Device Protection is Now Default

Security is a top priority in iOS 26.4, and one of the most significant changes is that Stolen Device Protection is now enabled by default. This adds an extra layer of biometric authentication for sensitive actions, such as accessing saved passwords or making account changes. By requiring Face ID or Touch ID authentication in more scenarios, Apple reduces the risk of unauthorized access if a device is stolen and the passcode is compromised.

CarPlay Gets Smarter with Video Playback and AI Integration

Drivers using Apple CarPlay will notice several new features in iOS 26.4. For the first time, CarPlay now supports in-car video playback for select apps—including the Apple TV app—but only when the vehicle is parked to ensure safety. This enhancement introduces new entertainment options for passengers when they’re stopped or waiting in the car.

Additionally, CarPlay will offer access to third-party AI services like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude. This integration brings the power of AI to your car, making it easier to get answers, navigate, and stay entertained on the go.

Camera App Gets an Audio Zoom Feature

The Camera app in iOS 26.4 introduces a new feature called Audio Zoom. When recording video, the microphone focuses on the subject as you zoom in, reducing background noise and enhancing clarity. This feature is perfect for capturing speeches, performances, or interviews without the need for external audio equipment.

Ambient Music Widget and Urgent Reminders

The Ambient Music feature, first introduced in iOS 18.4, is now accessible through a widget. This allows users to instantly play soundscapes designed for focus, sleep, or relaxation directly from the Home Screen. The feature offers a variety of ambient sounds across categories like Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing.

There’s also a new “Urgent” section in the Reminders app that groups high-priority tasks and can trigger more prominent alerts when deadlines approach. Setting a reminder as Urgent will add an alarm, ensuring you never miss an important event.

And More…

iOS 26.4 also includes several smaller but noteworthy features:

• A new unified Apple Account Hub in the App Store, Apple Music, and other Apple apps, replacing the “profile” feature.
• A new animation in the Messages app when you draft a message.
• An updated Wallpaper Gallery with new categories like Weather, Astronomy, and Emoji.
• Apple Music now lets you add songs to multiple playlists at once.
• The Health app adds a new metric: Average Bedtime, and updates the Vitals section to include Blood Oxygen levels.
• Freefrom adds a Content Hub for Creator Studio subscribers, providing access to new AI features and high-quality art.
• The Personal Hotspot feature now includes a Data Usage section, showing how much data has been sent to your device and which devices have been using your data.
• Live Captions adds support for Chinese (Taiwan) under the language options.
• A new “Set Battery Charge Limit” action in Shortcuts.
• The App Store’s Search bar is back at the top of the screen.
• The link to iCloud.com gets a larger, featured section within the iCloud section in the Settings app.

What’s Missing?

Notably absent from this release is a next-generation Siri experience. While Apple has signaled deeper AI ambitions for its voice assistant, those larger changes do not appear in iOS 26.4, reportedly delayed once again.

Tags: iOS 26.4, Apple Music, AI Playlist, RCS Messaging, CarPlay, Video Podcasts, Stolen Device Protection, Audio Zoom, Ambient Music, Urgent Reminders, Apple Podcasts, iPhone Update

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