The Unicode Consortium has released a draft list of proposed emoji for Emoji 18.0, paving the way for fresh expressive options on Macs, iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices in the coming years.
Expected to be finalized in September 2026, Emoji 18.0 includes 9 new emoji concepts in its current draft. These additions also feature 10 skin tone variants for two hand gesture emojis, pushing the total recommended emoji count closer to 4,000.
Emojipedia has provided sample designs for these candidates, though Apple will design its own distinctive versions if they are approved — as it has done reliably with past Unicode updates.
Here are the proposed new emoji concepts:
• Squinting Face — Ideal for conveying confusion, skepticism, or straining to see something.
• Left- and Right-Pointing Thumb Gestures — Useful for sign language representations or directional emphasis (with full skin tone support).
• Pickle — A long-requested food item for fans of briny snacks.
• Lighthouse — A scenic beacon for maritime themes or guidance metaphors.
• Meteor — Adding celestial flair, distinct from existing shooting star emojis.
• Eraser — Perfect for school, art, or “correcting mistakes” contexts.
• Net with Handle — Likely representing a butterfly net or fishing tool.
• Monarch Butterfly — A more detailed alternative to the generic butterfly emoji, highlighting the iconic species.
This draft remains subject to change during the Unicode review process, with some candidates potentially added, removed, or modified before final approval.
Apple typically introduces new emoji through software updates following Unicode finalization. For Emoji 18.0, users can expect these to arrive on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and visionOS in late 2026 or early 2027 — likely as part of iOS 27 or a subsequent point release.
In the meantime, Apple users are set to receive the Emoji 17.0 additions (finalized in 2025) in an upcoming update, possibly iOS 26.4 around March or April 2026.
These incremental emoji updates continue to enhance digital communication, offering more nuanced ways to express ideas, emotions, and everyday objects across platforms.
MacDailyNews Take: Alas, the poor eggplant emoji will be facing some stiff competition once the new pickle comes.
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