Apple has released to developers the fourth beta version of the operating systems iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4 and macOS Tahoe 26.4, and the most interesting news for the average user is not hidden in the lines of code, but rather in the emoji keyboard. The current update introduces nine new characters that are expected to become an integral part of our written communication in the coming months.
Among the most intriguing additions are the “hairy creature” (known to many as Bigfoot or Sasquatch), a distorted face, a killer whale (orca) and a treasure chest. Music lovers will get the trombone, while those who need a visual expression for drama or disaster will be able to use the “avalanche” emoji or the “fight cloud” familiar from the world of comics.
In addition to the new characters, Apple continues to expand personalization and representation options. The update includes new skin tones for the people wrestling emoji and the dancers with bunny ears emoji, alongside a gender-neutral option for the ballet dancer emoji. This is part of the Unicode 17 update that was first revealed in the fall of 2025, and is now taking shape with Apple’s unique designs.
The process in which characters move from Unicode approval to our devices usually takes several months, as Apple’s designers are required to redraw each character according to the company’s graphic language. Traditionally, Apple tends to add the new emojis in the spring software updates (the .4 versions), as it did in iOS 18.4 with the addition of the bags under the eyes, the root vegetable and the shovel.
Plans for the future are already beginning to take shape, as in iOS 27 we are expected to see additional characters that are currently in development processes. The future list includes, among others, squinting face, monarch butterfly, lighthouse, meteor, eraser, and even a pickle emoji. For now, users of the beta version can already try out the latest additions, ahead of the full release to the general public.