Apple rolled out the fourth beta of iOS 16.4 with a handful of notable improvements and refinements. The update, reported by MacRumors, signals Apple’s ongoing testing cycle aimed at delivering smoother daily use and expanded functionality ahead of a public release. Developers and early testers are paying close attention to how these changes influence app behavior and system stability across devices.
A standout feature in iOS 16.4 beta is the introduction of push notifications tied to Safari tabs. This capability mirrors the Web Push mechanism familiar on macOS, allowing web apps and sites to prompt users even when the browser isn’t actively in the foreground. The approach is designed to keep users informed about important events, updates, or messages from their favorite sites without requiring a constant app open, potentially improving engagement and real-time awareness across Apple devices.
Additionally, Apple appears to be expanding customization by permitting icons from selected third-party browsers, such as Google Chrome, to appear on the iOS home screen. This enhancement broadens the visual integration of web apps and bookmarks, helping users quickly recognize preferred sites at a glance. The move reflects a broader trend toward platform interoperability while maintaining the tight security and privacy posture users expect from iOS.
Beyond interface tweaks, the beta opens the door to a more expressive emoji set. The roster has grown with more than twenty new symbols, including items like a nodding head, a pink heart, a donkey, a deer, a jellyfish, a hyacinth, a piece of ginger, and a blackbird, among others. This expansion aligns with ongoing efforts to support diverse expression and keeps conversations lively across messages and social apps. Prior to this release, some of these new emojis had already appeared in a beta version of WhatsApp for Android, signaling a cross-platform cadence in emoji adoption.
On the stability front, the Cupertino-based company has implemented a series of incremental fixes across core apps. Specific improvements address performance and reliability in Apple Music and HomeKit, aiming to smooth out minor glitches and ensure a more consistent experience for music streaming, smart home control, and automation routines. These adjustments are part of Apple’s continuous maintenance cycle that accompanies larger feature updates and beta iterations.
Notably, the changes observed in iOS 16.4 beta also apply to the fourth beta of iPadOS 16.4, which arrived on a parallel timeline. The tablet-focused update mirrors many of the same enhancements, emphasizing unified ecosystem behavior across iPhone and iPad devices. As with prior beta cycles, users should anticipate ongoing refinements, performance improvements, and possible compatibility adjustments as testing continues before a broader release date.
Finally, historical coverage from tech sources reflects Apple’s pattern of gradually refining user experience while experimenting with new capabilities. The focus remains on delivering practical enhancements that customers can feel in everyday use, whether through more responsive web push notifications, smoother app performance, or richer visual communication through emojis. The pace of updates underscores Apple’s commitment to iterative improvement while balancing security, privacy, and developer needs across its platform lineup.