Apple's New Siri: Total iPhone Voice Control Coming in 2026?

08/11/2025 Mobile

As someone who's been following the mobile tech world for years, I've seen virtual assistants come and go, each promising to revolutionize how we interact with our devices. Apple's Siri, despite being a pioneer, hasn't quite kept pace with the advancements we've seen from Google's Assistant and other AI-powered helpers. However, it sounds like Apple is gearing up for a major comeback.

We're hearing whispers of a completely revamped Siri that could potentially control any app on your iPhone using just your voice. I mean, imagine being able to edit a photo, post on social media, or even buy something online, all without lifting a finger. That's the promise of this new Siri, and it's a pretty exciting one.

The key to this enhanced control lies in Apple's App Intents framework. Think of it as a bridge that allows Siri to communicate with and control third-party apps, much like Android's App Actions. The goal is seamless, hands-free control over your entire iPhone, iPad, or Mac experience. While details are scarce, the fact that Apple is actively testing this feature, particularly in situations involving financial transactions, suggests they're taking it very seriously.

A Glimpse into the Future

Of course, the success of this new Siri hinges on how well App Intents integrate with a wide range of apps. Apple's engineers are supposedly working hard to ensure broad compatibility, testing it with popular apps like Amazon, Facebook, Uber, and YouTube. It’s a significant challenge, but if they pull it off, it could usher in a new era of "agentic mobile usage".

If it works as expected, it will be amazing. Apple is aiming to release this overhauled Siri in Spring 2026, possibly as part of iOS 26.4.

So, what about Google? Well, they're not sitting still. There's talk of a "Magic Cue" functionality that could analyze your screen and suggest actions, potentially giving Gemini the ability to control third-party apps as well. However, it's unclear how this will compare to Apple's proposed Siri, and it might be limited to the Pixel 10 series at launch, which would be a bummer for many Android users.

In my opinion, this is more than just a battle of virtual assistants; it's a glimpse into the future of how we'll interact with our mobile devices. And I, for one, am eager to see who comes out on top.