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iOS 27's new Siri finally feels useful

Apple’s first public beta of iOS 27 brings a much stronger Siri, with better reliability, screen awareness, file search, and a dedicated app.

Image: ZDNET

Apple has released the first public beta of iOS 27, and the standout change is the new Siri. After nearly a month of testing the developer beta on an iPhone 15 Pro, ZDNET’s Lance Whitney says the assistant is far more accurate and dependable than the current version, especially in the car.

The public beta is now open to anyone with a supported iPhone, though as an early beta it may still be buggy. To install it, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and select iOS 27 Public Beta.

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Whitney highlights seven reasons the new Siri stands out:

  • A new interface: Siri now appears as a bubble at the top of the screen instead of a glowing border.
  • Better reliability: In CarPlay, it was more likely to pull the correct contact and address for navigation requests instead of surfacing web results.
  • Shorter responses: Siri answers directly rather than dragging users into long conversations.
  • A dedicated app: iOS 27 includes a standalone Siri app for voice or typed prompts, with conversation history synced across Apple devices.
  • Camera integration: A new Siri mode inside the Camera app can answer questions about what the camera sees, building on Visual Intelligence introduced in iOS 18.2.
  • On-screen awareness: Siri can act on what’s currently displayed. Whitney says it was able to open a web page for Faneuil Hall in Boston and provide driving directions through Apple Maps.
  • File search: Siri can locate documents, photos, videos, and music stored on the iPhone.

Support for Siri AI and Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, any iPhone 16 model, or any iPhone 17 model. Some extras, including voice customization and more accurate dictation, require an iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max or an iPhone Air. Apple is expected to ship the final release in September.

Eli Navarro

Gadgets Editor

Eli is obsessed with the tangible future. He reviews phones, wearables, and everything with a battery. Known for his rigorous testing protocols and unabashed teardowns, Eli has broken more review units than he cares to admit, all in the name of discovering the truth about durability and repairability.

via ZDNET

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