Text messaging has quickly become the default form of communication on smartphones. Sure, you can give your buddy a call to update them on your plans for the weekend, but it's not quite as quick and streamlined as a simple text. And combined with the ever-growing library of emojis available on iPhone and Android, it's easier than ever to ensure your tone and true meaning are received loud and clear by your recipient.
Emojis have been around for decades, and they've only grown more popular throughout 2024. Most smartphones come with their own catalog of default emojis, letting you quickly send a smiley face or thumbs up with just a few taps of your screen. Better yet, new emojis seem to be released regularly — giving you exciting ways to chat with friends.
Companies like Apple tend to push these new emojis directly to your device, but they're not the only way to get new emojis on your phone. From checking for software updates to installing secondary apps, here's how to get new emojis on your iPhone or Android device.
The easiest way to get new emojis is to wait for them to land via a software update on your iPhone. Most of the time, software updates arrive without you needing to do anything, but just in case you want to kick-start an update, or check to see if one is available, here's what you have to do.
Step 1: Head to your Settings app.
Step 2: Select General > Software update.
Step 3: Wait while the system checks for updates.
Step 4: If one is available, choose Download and install to get the update moving.
If you're using an Android phone, then you'll often get new updates through software updates too.
Step 1: Open your Settings app.
Step 2: Select System > System update.
Step 3: If there's an update available, you can download and install it from here.
Step 4: Once installed, if there are any new emojis available, they will be on your phone.
Software updates aren't the only way to get new emojis. Google's Gboard keyboard does something interesting with emojis. It doesn't add new emojis; instead, it remixes existing ones. Ever wanted a ghost emoji with dollar-sign eyes? Or an alien spaceship with love hearts above it? Probably not, but admit it, you're now thinking about ways you'd use that, aren't you?
It all takes place in Gboard, and is only available on Android phones. If you're using a Google Pixel smartphone, you probably already have it, but you may need to switch it on. We'll show you how to turn the feature on and how it works. Make sure to download and enable Gboard before starting this process.
Step 1: Open a messaging app of your choice and tap a text field to open your keyboard.
Step 2: Select the Options button in the top-left and then choose Settings.
Step 3: Select Emojis, stickers and GIFs.
Step 4: Make sure Emoji stickers is turned on.
Step 5: Head back to your messaging app, and select an emoji from the Emoji category.
Step 6: When it appears in your text box, Gboard will create some remixed emojis based on that initial emoji.
Step 7: Choose one to send it as a sticker.
Emojis are available on both iPhone and Android now, so there's no need to download a new keyboard just to get emojis. However, you can download some apps, which will give you more emojis to play with, as well as some other bonuses.
Bitmoji (also available on Android) is perfect if you want to create personalized emojis. Just download it and you can create your very own Bitmoji version of yourself, which will pose in a number of different ways, adding a personal twist on classic emojis.
Another option is Facemoji (also available on Android), which has over 5,000 emojis, a built-in meme creator, and a fully customizable keyboard.
There are other options out there, but be aware that downloading a completely strange keyboard can be a dangerous thing to do. While emojis rarely hurt anyone, key trackers can, and your keyboard knows everything you type. So be careful when it comes to downloading new keyboards for emojis. When in doubt, don't download it.
Are you tired of paying for streaming services you never watch just to get a phone plan feature you actually want? T-Mobile has good news for you! The carrier is rolling out new plans, called T-Mix, in early November to replace its old Experience lineup with a build-your-own perks system called Picks.
The benefits you choose vary from streaming and gaming to food delivery, AI, satellite service, and phone discounts. But if you are satisfied with your existing plan, you can keep it.
Merely days after the iPhone Duo hit the shelves, images of broken screens on the phone started popping up across social media. Until now, it’s been unclear what’s causing the line of defective pixels that appears vertically along the crease, as well as horizontally, on the phone’s inner display.
Apple has finally acknowledged the issue, which has shown up on iPhone Duo units owned by customers as well as demo units in stores. In a statement shared with Bloomberg, Apple says that not all iPhone Duo units are affected and that those that are tend to show the display fault early on. The company added that users who experience problems with their iPhone Duo display should contact AppleCare for a replacement.
Not long ago, Apple treated independent repair like an act of outright hostility. The Cupertino giant locked down parts with serial-number pairing, while repair tools remained firmly out of reach of anyone outside its authorized repair network. More importantly, the company waged a legal and lobbying battle against right-to-repair legislation.
I've covered enough of these fights over the years to know what a shift looks like. That's why what happened in October 2026 genuinely caught me off guard. The day the iPhone Duo went on sale, what may be the most mechanically complex iPhone to date, Apple pulled off a surprising about-face. It published teardown-style repair manuals for a handful of major components.