Apple is bringing some order to an otherwise uncertain time with this week's release of more than 100 new emoji.
The main attraction of iOS and iPadOS 14.2 is the rollout of fresh-faced symbols, which includes everything from animals and food to household objects and musical instruments, as well as a handful of gender-inclusive options.
Emoji 13.0, announced earlier this year, features 117 new icons; look for symbols of 2020 like people hugging, a placard, potted plant, smiling face with tear, and pinched fingers (commonly known as "chef's kiss").
Helping to close the inclusivity gap are gender-neutral emoji like woman in tuxedo, man with veil, person feeding baby, and Mx Claus (all available in light, medium, and dark skin tones). The pink, white, and blue transgender flag is also available, as is the transgender symbol.
See the full list on Emojipedia. Or download the latest mobile OS to see if you can spot new icons like disguised face, anatomical heart, ninja, black cat, mammoth, polar bear, dodo, feather, fly, worm, blueberries, bell pepper, flatbread, fondue, bubble tea, pickup truck, roller skate, piñata, nesting dolls, military helmet, accordion, boomerang, elevator, mirror, mouse trap, toothbrush, and headstone.
It's unclear whether next year's proposed emoji—face exhaling, mending heart, mixed skin tone support for all variations of kiss and couple with heart—will launch in 2021 as expected. Gatekeeper Unicode Consortium has already delayed the upcoming batch by six months, from March to September, due to the global pandemic.
Additional Apple OS updates include eight fresh wallpapers, LiDAR detection (iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max only), optimized AirPods charging, headphone audio level notifications, new AirPlay controls, and intercom support for HomePod, as well as a slew of bug fixes for your home and lock screens, widgets, apps, audio, and more. Apple is also rolling out tvOS 14.2 and watchOS 7.1 for supported devices.