In an exciting development for iPhone users, the upcoming iOS 17.4 update is set to introduce a diverse range of 118 new emojis to enhance digital expression. Among the new additions are a phoenix, a shaking head, and four gender-neutral families.

The latest emojis have received approval from Emojipedia, the popular reference site, with editor-in-chief Keith Broni sharing that the public release of iOS 17.4 is expected in March or April 2024. These emojis, dubbed 15.1, are drawn from Unicode's September 2023 recommendations and will soon be available on various devices, including Samsung smartphones.

Notably, the emoji expansion pack includes six brand new concepts: a head shaking horizontally, a head shaking vertically, a phoenix, a lime, a brown mushroom, and a broken chain. Additionally, Apple aims to further inclusivity by introducing four gender-neutral family emojis, each with an androgynous appearance.

The beta version of iOS 17.4 also brings changes to the existing family emojis, replacing the colorful depictions with different combinations of white silhouettes overlaid on a grey square icon. This decision to remove color from the family emojis has sparked some controversy.

Furthermore, the update introduces six new people emojis with direction-specific variations, ranging from a person walking while facing right to a wheelchair-bound individual facing right. These emojis offer a range of gender options and skin tone modifiers, totaling 108 different possibilities, according to Emojipedia.

These engaging digital hieroglyphics follow the previous emoji update in September, which included a pink heart, a head-shaking smiley face, and emojis featuring a moose and goose. It is important to note that the appearance of emojis may vary between iPhone and Android devices.

Keith Broni, referring to the popularity of emojis, believes that these small pixel images have become a significant form of communication in the digital world, conveying emotions and expressions in a concise but powerful manner.

With the release of iOS 17.4, iPhone users can look forward to broadening their visual vocabulary and adding even more depth to their digital conversations.