Apple officially rolled out iOS 18.4 recently, delivering eight brand-new emojis, a redesigned Syrian flag emoji, and launching the Genmoji AI emoji generator for users in the European Union. This update is now available for iPhones, iPads, and other compatible Apple devices worldwide, with additional improvements to Apple Intelligence and user interface.

What's New in iOS 18.4 Emojis?

The Unicode Consortium's latest recommendations, Emoji 16.0, have arrived with this update, introducing eight expressive new emojis to Apple's keyboard:

  • 🫩 Face with Bags Under Eyes: Perfect for those late-night work sessions or early-morning wake-ups.
  • 🫩 Fingerprint: Ideal for security-related conversations or emphasizing personal identity.
  • 🫟 Splatter: A versatile emoji for creative or messy situations.
  • 🫜 Root Vegetable: Representing various underground veggies, useful for cooking or gardening contexts.
  • 🪾 Leafless Tree: Symbolizing winter, environmental issues, or a sense of loss.
  • 🪉 Harp: Adding a classical musical instrument to your emoji repertoire.
  • 🪏 Shovel: Useful for gardening, construction, or metaphorically "digging deeper" into topics.
  • 🇨🇶 Flag of Sark: The flag for the small Channel Island, automatically included due to its ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code designation.

These emojis were previewed earlier in the second beta release of iOS 18.4, and no design changes occurred between beta and the final release.

Syrian Flag Emoji Updated

In a significant and unprecedented move, Apple updated the Syrian flag emoji design to reflect Syria's new de facto national flag, following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. Apple becomes the first vendor to implement this widely requested change, which features a horizontal triband of green, white, and black with three red five-pointed stars in the center white band.

This change has been retroactively applied to all instances of the Syrian flag emoji displayed in iOS 18.4, even messages sent before today's update. This is the first instance of an emoji flag redesign directly following a regime change, marking a notable event in emoji history.

Genmoji Now Available in the EU

Another major highlight is the release of Apple's Genmoji feature within the European Union. First introduced in December 2024 outside the EU, Genmoji leverages Apple Intelligence to generate personalized emoji designs, allowing users to create unique emojis based on their input.

Genmoji was initially available outside the EU and China with iOS 18.2, but due to regulatory considerations, its European rollout was delayed until now. EU users can now access this feature directly within the iOS 18.4 update.

Availability and Device Compatibility

iOS 18.4 is available as a free software update for a wide range of Apple devices, including:

  • iPhone 16 Pro / iPhone 16e
  • iPhone 15 / 15 Plus / 15 Pro / 15 Pro Max
  • iPhone 14 series
  • iPhone 13 series
  • iPhone 12 series
  • iPhone 11 series
  • iPhone XS / XS Max
  • iPhone XR
  • iPhone SE (2nd generation or newer)

Additionally, the new emojis and features are included in iPadOS 18.4 and will soon be available in updates to tvOS 18.4, watchOS 11.4, and macOS 15.4. To update, simply navigate to Settings > General > Software Update on your device.

With these new emojis, the Syrian flag update, and the powerful Genmoji feature, iOS 18.4 offers users fresh ways to express themselves and engage with their devices. Enjoy exploring these new additions!