Apple updates its emoji collection across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and other devices based on the Unicode Consortium’s additions. By late 2024 or early 2025, we might see seven new emojis: a face with bags under the eyes, a fingerprint, a leafless tree, a root vegetable, a harp, a shovel, and a splatter.

The Unicode Consortium has just begun the beta review phase for Unicode 16, which includes these new emojis. The review period will run until July 2, after which Unicode 16 will be finalized and the new emojis officially approved.

Creating artwork for new emojis takes time for companies like Apple. Therefore, these new emojis are expected to arrive on Apple devices sometime after the launch of iOS 18, likely around March 2025 with the release of iOS 18.4.

Apple previously added new emojis in March 2024 with the iOS 17.4 update. These included a lime, an edible brown mushroom, a phoenix, a broken chain, a head shaking “yes,” and a head shaking “no.”

Nigerian users have expressed excitement over the upcoming emojis. One user commented, “I can’t wait to use the new face with bags under eyes emoji—perfect for late nights!” Another said, “The leafless tree emoji will be great for representing the dry season here.” Many are particularly looking forward to the root vegetable emoji, hoping it will represent local produce like yams and cassava. Overall, there’s a buzz of anticipation for these additions to their digital conversations.

 

Victoria Ibiama