Pregnant Men & More New Emojis Released in Apple's Newest iOS Update

Apple just released iOS 15.4 yesterday, featuring a whopping 37 brand new emojis!

According to a report from CNET, the software update (which also introduced a gender-neutral version of Siri named Quinn) includes all of the new emojis that were first introduced back in July of last year, like the Pregnant Man emoji.

This is the largest single release of new emojis since iOS 11.1 in 2017, reflecting the desire of creators to make their emojis more inclusive and affirming for the LGBTQ+ community, especially transgender folks. Alongside the new Pregnant Man emoji are also gender-neutral options with Pregnant Person and Person with a Crown. There's also a Melting Face, Biting Lips, Beans, and a new Troll addition to the fantasy creature subcategory.

iOS 15.4 also features seven new hand gestures, along with a new handshake skin tone modifier with 20 different skin tone options for the two hands.

In addition to the Pregnant Man, Pregnant Person, Person with Crown, and all of the other new emojis first introduced last summer, Korean Apple users will also be pleased with the new emoji based on the popular Finger Heart gesture, and in a nod to the impact of humanity on the climate and environment, a new Coral emoji was also included.

Some of the other emojis include an updated hand over the mouth and face, holding back tears, an empty nest, and a nest with eggs, and beans. There's also a playground slide, an x-ray, a crutch, and the all-important disco mirror ball.

Aside from the emojis, Apple users will be pleased to learn the iOS 15.4 release includes an option to unlock Face ID while wearing a mask. Users will also be able to wear a mask while completing transactions with Apply Pay and auto-filling content in apps and on Safari as well. However, Apple noted the masked Face ID is available only to those with an iPhone 12 or later.

While the inclusion of Pregnant Man and Pregnant Person emojis in the iOS 15.4 release is an encouraging sign for the LGBTQ+ community, some cautioned the emojis can also be used to represent a "food baby" where a person isn't pregnant with a baby but instead has eaten so much food they appear pregnant.

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