Apple typically introduces new emojis to the iPhone during spring iOS updates. The Unicode Consortium recently released the full list of draft emojis that may be added next year.
Some of the new emojis include a smiley face with squinting eyes, a pickle, an eraser, and more.
Below is the complete list of new emojis in the draft list for Unicode 18:
- A smiley face with squinting eyes
- A leftward thumb sign gesture
- A rightward thumb sign gesture
- A monarch butterfly
- A pickle
- A lighthouse
- A meteor
- An eraser
- A net with a handle
The emojis displayed above are the draft designs shared by the consortium.
Once these emojis are approved, companies like Apple and Google will create their own versions based on the Unicode Consortium’s descriptions and draft designs.
While the emoji collection has grown, iPhone users appear less concerned about the yearly additions. Apple introduced a new Genmoji feature in iOS 18, allowing users to create custom emoji designs based on text descriptions or blending existing emojis.
Apple has yet to incorporate the Unicode 17 characters, revealed in July 2025. The Unicode 17 emojis are expected to arrive on iPhone with a future iOS update, likely iOS 26.4 in March or April. Following this timeline, the new Unicode 18 emojis mentioned above will likely be included in iOS 27.4 in March or April 2027.
The last emoji additions to the iPhone were made in iOS 18.4 in March 2025, based on the Unicode 16 release.
What are your thoughts on the new emojis? Are there any emojis you’re still anticipating approval from the Unicode Consortium? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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