Apple to release dozens of new iPhone emojis – including sloth and hearing aid

New emoji designs may be landing in iPhone users’ keyboards as early as this month, with the latest additions including yawn, skunk and falafel.

Apple has unveiled a raft of new designs, split roughly into five categories: food, animals, clothing, people and activities.

The 59 new images making up the latest suite of emojis – Emoji 12.0 – will be rolled out with the release of iOS 13.2 Developer Beta 2 for iPhone.

Other improvements rolled out alongside the emojis include a new “Delete App” quick action and new options for use of Siri.

The new suite of emojis will improve users’ scope to illustrate food-centred conversations, with additions like onion, waffle, butter and garlic.

There’s a bigger wardrobe of clothing emojis to choose from, with ballet slippers and a safety vest added to the mix and there’s a brand new face emoji; the yawn face.

As always, several new animals have also made the cut, including an adorable sloth, flamingo, orangutan and skunk.

The roll-out includes disability-themed emojis created by Apple; with wheelchair emojis, guide dog emojis and an ear with a hearing aid.

Users will also be able to personalise the emoji representing people holding hands by selecting any combination of skin tone, in addition to gender.

Apple has said the new suite will aim to celebrate diversity “in all its many forms”.

“These new options help fill a significant gap in the emoji keyboard,” a statement from the company said.

The new designs will be made available late October or November with a free software update for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch.