Emojis are small pictures or icons that we use in chats and social media to express emotions, objects, or ideas. They make our conversations more fun and colorful. Instead of typing a whole sentence, we can send one emoji to show exactly how we feel. For example, a smiley face can mean happiness, and a heart can mean love or care.
Apple’s iOS updates often bring new emojis. People get excited every time there’s a new iOS version because they want to know what new emojis they will get to use. This time, many iPhone users are asking: What are the new emojis in iOS 18.5?
In this article, we will explain everything about iOS 18.5 emojis, clear up any confusion, and give you a full list of the latest additions. We will also tell you where these new emojis actually came from and why some people may be getting mixed information.
The Excitement Around New Emojis
Whenever Apple releases an update, people immediately check the emoji section in their keyboard. Why? Because emojis are now a big part of communication. They add emotions and style to a normal text.
Imagine telling your friend you are tired after studying all night. You could just type “I am tired,” but if you use the “tired face” emoji, your friend can instantly feel your mood. That’s why new emojis are important—they give us more creative ways to express ourselves.
A Quick Look at iOS 18.4
Before we talk about iOS 18.5, let’s remember what happened in iOS 18.4. Apple introduced eight new emojis in that version. These were based on Unicode 16.0, which is a global standard for emojis. The emojis were:
- Face with Bags Under Eyes – Shows tiredness, lack of sleep, or exhaustion.
- Fingerprint – Can be used for security, identity, or something unique.
- Leafless Tree – Represents autumn, winter, environmental issues, or a dramatic mood.
- Root Vegetable – Could be a turnip, radish, or beet; perfect for cooking and farming chats.
- Harp – A beautiful music instrument emoji.
- Shovel – Useful for gardening, digging, or saying “let’s get to work.”
- Splatter – A purple splash, great for art, creativity, or even messiness.
- Flag of Sark – Represents the small island of Sark.
These emojis made a lot of people happy because they were unique and covered different themes—food, nature, music, work, and emotions.
So, What Are the New Emojis in iOS 18.5?
Now comes the big question: What are the new emojis in iOS 18.5? The answer might surprise you.
Apple did not introduce any brand-new emojis in iOS 18.5. The emojis you see in your keyboard after updating to iOS 18.5 are the same ones you had in iOS 18.4. This means no new pictures, symbols, or smileys were added.
Instead, iOS 18.5 focused on other features such as:
- A new Pride Harmony wallpaper
- Screen Time notifications for parents
- Improvements to “Buy with iPhone”
- Bug fixes and security updates
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Why People Are Confused
If there are no new emojis in iOS 18.5, why do some people think there are? The confusion comes from online rumors and social media posts.
Some videos and posts claimed that iOS 18.5 would include a phoenix emoji, a lime, a mushroom, a broken chain, and even two smiley faces shaking their heads. Others claimed there would be emojis of female artists or musicians.
However, none of these have been confirmed by Apple or Unicode. They were simply guesses or future ideas, not actual releases in iOS 18.5.
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The Role of Unicode
To understand why we didn’t get new emojis in iOS 18.5, you need to know about Unicode. Unicode is the organization that approves and standardizes emojis. Every year, Unicode releases a new set of approved emojis. Apple, Android, and other platforms then adapt them to their own style.
The eight emojis you saw in iOS 18.4 came from Unicode 16.0. The next batch of approved emojis will likely appear in future updates, but not in iOS 18.5.
Summary Table: iOS 18.4 vs iOS 18.5 Emojis
| iOS Version | New Emojis | Details |
|---|---|---|
| iOS 18.4 | Yes – 8 new emojis | Face with Bags Under Eyes, Fingerprint, Leafless Tree, Root Vegetable, Harp, Shovel, Splatter, Flag of Sark |
| iOS 18.5 | No new emojis | Update focused on features, wallpapers, and bug fixes |
Why Apple Might Skip New Emojis in Some Updates
Apple doesn’t add new emojis in every update. Here’s why:
- Approval Process – New emojis must be approved by Unicode first.
- Design Work – Apple’s design team customizes every emoji to match iOS style.
- Release Timing – Sometimes, new emojis are saved for bigger updates to create excitement.
How to Check for New Emojis
If you want to see whether your iPhone has new emojis, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update and make sure you are on the latest iOS version.
- Open the Messages app.
- Tap the emoji keyboard icon.
- Scroll through categories like Smileys, Animals, Food, and Objects to see if anything looks new.
If you’ve just updated to iOS 18.5, you’ll notice that all emojis are the same as before—no new additions compared to iOS 18.4.
Looking Ahead: Future Emojis
Even though iOS 18.5 didn’t bring new emojis, future updates will. Unicode is already working on new emoji ideas such as:
- Shaking head smileys
- New animals
- New foods
- Cultural symbols
When Apple adopts them, we can expect a new wave of emojis in the next major iOS release.
Final Thoughts
So, what are the new emojis in iOS 18.5? The answer is simple: there aren’t any. All the latest emojis came in iOS 18.4, and iOS 18.5 kept the same set.
If you want to enjoy the newest emojis right now, you should already have them from the previous update. The tired face, fingerprint, harp, shovel, splatter, leafless tree, root vegetable, and the flag of Sark are the most recent additions.
While this might be a little disappointing for those expecting fresh emojis, remember that Apple will bring more in the future. Emojis are part of the fun of messaging, and new designs are always on the horizon.
For now, enjoy the creative emojis you already have, and keep an eye out for the next iOS update—because the next batch might be worth the wait.