Apple Boosts Podcast Speed and Adds Emoji Game to News Plus

Apple has introduced a significant update to its Podcasts app, allowing users to listen at speeds up to 3x, a notable increase from the previous maximum of 2x. This enhancement caters to listeners who prefer faster playback, enabling them to consume content more efficiently.

Accessing speeds beyond 2x requires a swipe on the playback speed popup, revealing a dial for fine-tuned control. The available preset speeds include 0.8, 1, 1.3, 1.5, 1.8, and 2, with the dial enabling increments up to 3x speed.

Additionally, Apple has introduced an “Enhance Dialogue” feature that uses real-time audio processing and machine learning to clarify speech over background sounds, improving the listening experience especially in noisy environments.

New Emoji Game for Apple News Plus Subscribers

Apple News Plus subscribers gain access to a new daily puzzle called Emoji Game. This game challenges players to complete three phrases using emojis, aiming to solve the puzzle in as few moves as possible. It’s a fresh, engaging way to interact with content through a popular communication medium.

This addition reflects Apple’s ongoing effort to blend entertainment and communication, leveraging emoji’s universal appeal to create interactive experiences within its news platform.

Broader Software Enhancements

Alongside these features, Apple highlighted updates such as enhanced boarding passes with Live Activities and the introduction of a Digital ID feature in Apple Wallet for US passports, showcasing a continued push toward integrating convenience and security in its ecosystem.

These updates, announced around WWDC 2025, demonstrate Apple’s commitment to refining user experience through speed, clarity, interactivity, and security enhancements.