Earlier this week, Apple unveiled iOS 15.4, along with iPadOS 15.4, watchOS 8.5, macOS Monterey 12.3, tvOS 15.4, and HomePod system software 15.4. One of the biggest highlight features is the ability to unlock your phone using your Face ID while wearing a mask. This is very useful for users who don’t have an Apple Watch, and last year’s iOS 14.5 system initially introduced Face ID with masks for iPhone users with Apple Watch.
The new Face ID improvements only apply to the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 generations, and according to many users, Face ID recognition is slower and less secure.
The limited feature enhancements may just be a minor problem currently facing iOS 15.4 as more and more people report poor battery life after OTA upgrades. In severe cases, a model with a large battery like the iPhone 13 Pro Max can only last for half a day. Or the iPhone 11 uses up to 80% of its battery in 24 hours, while the screen is on for only 2 hours.
Although this problem is not common, and some temporary battery consumption problems after the update are common, it seems that the battery consumption is now faster than ever. Some users speculate that Apple has begun to use the maximum 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate more frequently. That sounds plausible, but it can’t be the full explanation, as only the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have ProMotion, and these aren’t the only models affected. It is hoped that these problems will be resolved as soon as possible and effectively.
In addition to battery issues, iOS 15.4 includes more than 100 new emojis from Episode Emoji 14.0, new voice options from Siri and the ability to provide time and date information offline, support for EU digital COVID-19 immunization certificates in Apple Wallet’s vaccine card, improvements to Safari web translations that support Italian and Chinese, improvements to the Podcasts app, and more.
