The Apple Music iOS 26.4 beta has arrived with one of the most noticeable upgrades the streaming service has seen in years. This isn’t just a cosmetic tweak — Apple has reimagined how albums and playlists look while quietly introducing AI-driven tools that reshape music discovery.
From immersive fullscreen artwork to automated playlist generation and built-in concert discovery, iOS 26.4 signals that Apple Music is entering a more competitive, AI-focused phase.
A Bold New Fullscreen Album & Playlist Experience
The most immediate change in the Apple Music iOS 26.4 beta is visual. Albums and playlists now feature edge-to-edge artwork that fills the entire display. Instead of the traditional layered layout, cover art dominates the screen, creating a more immersive browsing experience.
This shift reflects Apple’s broader “content-first” design philosophy introduced across iOS 26. The music becomes the interface.
What’s different?
- Fullscreen album and playlist artwork
- Dynamic background colors that adapt to the album art
- Repositioned play, shuffle, and download buttons for easier one-handed use
- Tracklist backgrounds that complement — not replicate — the artwork
The redesign feels especially noticeable on larger iPhone models, where one-handed ergonomics have clearly been prioritized. While the new layout may take a short adjustment period, it ultimately makes the app feel more modern and visually alive.
Playlist Playground: AI-Generated Playlists from Text Prompts
The standout feature in Apple Music iOS 26.4 beta is undoubtedly Playlist Playground, Apple’s AI-powered playlist creation tool.
Instead of manually curating songs, users can type a simple text prompt such as:
- “Morning coffee vibes”
- “High-energy gym music”
- “1970s disco classics”
The system then generates a 25-song playlist complete with a custom title. What makes this feature particularly useful is its iterative flexibility — users can refine results with additional prompts instead of starting from scratch.
Key capabilities include:
- Editing the generated tracklist manually
- Adding or removing songs
- Reordering tracks
- Customizing playlist cover art and descriptions
Unlike Spotify’s conversational AI DJ experience, Apple’s approach is more direct and task-oriented. You request, it generates, and you refine. The feature is currently labeled as beta, suggesting Apple is still optimizing prompt accuracy — especially for genre-specific or nuanced requests.
Note: If Playlist Playground doesn’t appear immediately after updating, Apple Intelligence may still be downloading required AI models in the background.
Concert Discovery Now Built Into Apple Music
With iOS 26.4, Apple Music expands beyond streaming into live music discovery through a new Concerts Near You feature.
Users can now:
- See upcoming concerts in their area
- View tour dates for artists in their library
- Access show information directly from artist pages
This integration removes the need for third-party concert apps. Since users are already browsing artist profiles, surfacing tour dates becomes frictionless.
However, the effectiveness of this feature will depend heavily on Apple’s event data coverage. Established platforms like Songkick and Bandsintown have spent years building comprehensive databases. Apple’s competitive edge lies in ecosystem integration — and potentially, future ticket purchasing through Apple Pay.
Profile Section Redesign for Cross-App Consistency
The Profile interface has also been redesigned in the Apple Music iOS 26.4 beta. Interestingly, this updated layout extends across Apple’s other media apps, including the App Store, Apple Podcasts, and Apple TV.
Improvements include:
- Easier access to Apple Account settings
- More visible quick actions (adding funds, redeeming gift cards)
- Streamlined navigation structure
While less flashy than the fullscreen artwork update, these refinements reduce friction and create a more unified Apple services experience.
Apple Music’s Strategic Direction
The Apple Music iOS 26.4 beta represents more than a design refresh — it reflects Apple’s effort to stay competitive in an AI-driven streaming landscape.
The fullscreen overhaul addresses long-standing criticism that the app felt visually stagnant. Meanwhile, Playlist Playground brings Apple closer to feature parity with Spotify and YouTube Music in automated discovery.
At $10.99 per month — or bundled through Apple One — Apple Music continues to position itself as a premium, tightly integrated iOS experience. That ecosystem integration remains its strongest differentiator.
Final Thoughts
The Apple Music iOS 26.4 beta marks one of the most meaningful updates to the platform in recent memory. The immersive design modernizes the interface, AI-powered playlist creation enhances discovery, and built-in concert tracking broadens Apple Music’s role beyond streaming.
The real test will be execution. If Playlist Playground consistently delivers high-quality results and concert data proves comprehensive, Apple Music could significantly strengthen its position in the streaming wars.
For current subscribers, this update is worth watching. For users considering switching platforms, the AI performance may ultimately be the deciding factor.
