The upcoming release of Standard Emoji 15.1 presents an array of new emoji candidates awaiting approval from Unicode, followed by gradual integration into popular platforms such as Apple, Google, Meta, and others. Among the notable contenders are a lime, a phoenix, and a vertically shaking head.
Furthermore, in an effort to promote diversity, four gender-neutral family emojis are set to be introduced. Additionally, there are plans to unveil ten modified emojis that retain the essence of existing ones while incorporating clear directional elements, specifically left or right orientations. When accounting for variations in gender and skin tone, this will result in a total of 108 new emojis falling under this category.
It is important to note that the designs featured in the provided images are sourced from Emojipedia and may differ from the final Unicode designs. Notably, major providers like Apple often incorporate slight modifications to the standard designs. The anticipated release of the Emoji 15.1 update is scheduled for September 2023. Notable additions include various hand gestures and a depiction of a person in a wheelchair, featuring distinct vertical orientations.
A noteworthy development in Unicode’s approach is the explicit specification of rightward movement for certain emojis, which was previously left unspecified. Although the images showcased suggest a preference for left-to-right movements, the final integration by providers remains uncertain, and the possibility of selecting vertical orientations may be made available through prolonged pressing.
While the new emojis are currently in the draft phase, it is highly likely that they will be included in the final version, as Unicode typically undergoes minimal changes at this stage. Users can expect to see the new emojis in everyday communication starting in late 2023 or the first half of 2024, with the adoption pace varying among individual manufacturers.