Apple has officially rolled out the Release Candidate (RC) versions of iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 to developers, marking the final stage of testing before the public release.
The RC build typically represents the near-final version of the update, meaning the official rollout could happen within days if no major issues are found.
⚙️ Final Testing Before Public Launch
The release comes after multiple beta versions, with the RC acting as the last step before global availability. Apple released these builds following earlier developer betas, signaling that the update is almost ready for everyone.
The public release is expected around late March 2026, depending on final testing results.
✨ Key Features and Improvements
The iOS 26.4 update brings several improvements and new features, including:
- 🆕 New emoji set
- 🎵 AI-powered Playlist Playground in Apple Music
- ⌨️ Major keyboard bug fixes and improved typing accuracy
- ⚡ General performance and stability improvements
📱 iPadOS 26.4 Enhancements
On the iPad side, the update focuses on:
- Improved multitasking and system stability
- Refinements to Stage Manager
- Better overall performance
🔥 What’s Missing?
Despite expectations, some highly anticipated features are not included in this release:
- ❌ Advanced Siri upgrades (delayed)
- ❌ RCS encryption (still not ready)
⚖️ Final Thoughts
The release of iOS 26.4 RC shows that Apple is finalizing its next major update with a strong focus on stability and user experience.
✔️ Better performance
✔️ Bug fixes
✔️ New features
With the official launch just around the corner, users can expect a smoother and more refined experience across iPhone and iPad devices