Apple · WWDC 2026 · Apple shoppers

The New Siri in 2026: What It Does, and Which Devices Run It

Updated June 2026

At WWDC 2026 Apple announced a rebuilt Siri running on Apple Intelligence, powered in part by Google's Gemini. It understands on-screen context, holds back-and-forth conversations, and ships a dedicated Siri app. It needs an iPhone 16 or later or iPhone 15 Pro, an M-series or A17 Pro iPad, an M1 Mac, or Apple Watch Series 10 and up.

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For years, Siri was the assistant you turned off. At WWDC 2026 — widely reported as Tim Cook's final keynote as CEO before he hands the role to John Ternus on September 1 — Apple announced a Siri rebuilt from the ground up on Apple Intelligence, and powered in part by Google's Gemini models. The headline is that it can finally understand what's on your screen and carry a real conversation. The catch is hardware: the new Siri runs on a specific set of devices, and several iPhones that can install iOS 27 still won't get it. This guide walks through what the new Siri actually does, where the limits are, and which iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Watch you need to use it.

DeviceRuns the new Siri?WhyBuy at Amazon
Apple iPhone 17 ProYesLatest chip; most future-proof choiceBuy at Amazon
Apple iPhone 17YesCurrent-gen and fully supportedBuy at Amazon
Apple iPhone 16YesMost accessible current iPhone that qualifiesBuy at Amazon
Apple iPhone 15 (non-Pro)NoInstalls iOS 27 but lacks Apple IntelligenceBuy at Amazon
Apple MacBook 13-inch (M1 or later)YesAny M1-or-later Mac is supportedBuy at Amazon

On-screen awareness and real back-and-forth

The single biggest change is context. Apple says the new Siri understands personal context and is aware of what's on your screen, so it can take action based on what you're looking at rather than waiting for a perfectly phrased command. It's also far more conversational — you can go back and forth instead of restarting from scratch every time. In practice, Apple showed Siri doing things like adding photos to albums, setting reminders, suggesting recipes, and giving feedback on a document. The assistant now spans iOS, iPadOS, macOS Golden Gate, watchOS, visionOS, CarPlay, and AirPods, so the same context-aware Siri follows you from your phone to your Mac to your wrist. If you live across Apple devices, an iPhone 17 in your pocket and a MacBook 13-inch on your desk both tap the same rebuilt assistant.

A dedicated Siri app, and Gemini under the hood

Alongside the voice assistant, Apple announced a standalone Siri app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac — a chatbot-style experience that handles text and image generation and can analyze files you hand it. That puts Siri much closer to the dedicated AI apps people already keep on their home screens. Under the hood, Apple confirmed the rebuilt Siri is powered in part by Google's Gemini models, layered into Apple Intelligence. The dedicated app lands across the lineup, so the experience is consistent whether you open it on an iPad or a Mac. An iPad like the 11-inch model becomes a genuinely useful spot for the Siri app's file analysis and image generation, with more screen than a phone for reading results.

Voice, dictation, and the small touches

Apple also reworked how Siri sounds and listens. You can customize voice expressiveness and speech rate, so the assistant can be snappier or more measured to taste, and voice dictation is improved across the system. On compatible iPhones, Siri now gets its own Dynamic Island animation when it's listening or working. These aren't headline features, but they're the kind of everyday friction-reducers that decide whether you actually keep using an assistant. Pair a newer iPhone with AirPods and you get hands-free, conversational Siri in your ears, since the new assistant extends to AirPods alongside the phone itself.

The honest limits: English only, and the EU wait

Two limits matter before you get excited. First, the new Siri launches in English only — other languages aren't part of the initial release. Second, Apple is delaying the new Siri on iPhone and iPad in the European Union, citing the Digital Markets Act. So an EU buyer can own a perfectly capable iPhone 16 or 17 and still not have the marquee Siri features at launch. Timing matters too: Apple released developer betas on June 8, with a public beta in July and the free full release coming this fall. If you're buying now specifically for the new Siri, you're buying ahead of general availability — the hardware will be ready, but the software arrives later in the year.

The hardware reality: which devices actually run it

This is the part that trips people up. iOS 27 itself installs on iPhone 11 and later, plus the 2nd-gen iPhone SE and up — so an iPhone 11, SE, or 15 will all update to iOS 27. But the new Siri and the rest of Apple Intelligence need newer silicon. On iPhone, that means iPhone 16 or later, plus the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. A standard iPhone 15, an iPhone SE, an iPhone 14, or an iPhone 11 gets iOS 27 but not the new Siri. On iPad you need an M-series or A17 Pro chip; on Mac, any M1 or later; on Apple Watch, Series 10 and later paired with a supported iPhone; and Apple Vision Pro is supported. So if the new Siri is your reason to upgrade, an iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17, or iPhone 16 all qualify, as does an M1-or-later MacBook 13-inch and an M-series iPad. The most accessible current phone that qualifies is the iPhone 16; the most future-proof is the iPhone 17 Pro.

Why older devices still feel faster anyway

If you're staying on an older but supported phone, iOS 27 still brings real gains even without the new Siri. Apple cited CPU scheduler changes that make older devices feel faster — specifically calling out benefits down to the iPhone 11 — along with AirDrop transfers up to 80% faster, apps launching up to 30% faster, and Photos opening up to 70% faster. A rebuilt system search foundation powers Spotlight, Mail, and Photos more efficiently, and the refined Liquid Glass design adds an opacity slider so you can tone the transparency down. So an iPhone 15 owner who skips the upgrade still gets a meaningfully quicker phone — just without Apple Intelligence.

The verdict

The new Siri is the most substantial assistant upgrade Apple has shipped — genuinely conversational, screen-aware, and backed by Gemini, with its own app. But it's gated by hardware and region. If you want it, you need an iPhone 16 or later or a 15 Pro, an M1-or-later Mac, an M-series or A17 Pro iPad, or a Series 10 Watch. The iPhone 16 is the most accessible current phone that qualifies; the iPhone 17 Pro is the most future-proof. EU iPhone and iPad buyers should expect a wait.

Who should skip this

Skip upgrading for Siri if you're in the EU on iPhone or iPad, where it's delayed, or if you only speak a language other than English at launch. Skip it if your priority is just a faster phone — iOS 27's speed gains reach back to the iPhone 11, so a recent supported iPhone like the 15 stays snappy without buying new hardware. And if you rarely use a voice assistant at all, none of this is a reason to spend.

How we chose

We built this from Apple's WWDC 2026 announcements on June 8, separating two things buyers constantly conflate: which devices can install iOS 27 versus which can actually run the new Siri and Apple Intelligence. We mapped Apple's stated device-support list across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch to current models, flagged the English-only and EU limitations, and noted the release timeline. We avoid prices because they shift, and we describe only features Apple confirmed.

Frequently asked

Does the new Siri work on the iPhone 15?

Not on the standard iPhone 15. The new Siri and Apple Intelligence need an iPhone 16 or later, or the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. A non-Pro iPhone 15 can install iOS 27 and gets its speed improvements, but it won't run the new Siri.

What is the new Siri powered by?

Apple says the rebuilt Siri runs on Apple Intelligence and is powered in part by Google's Gemini models. It understands personal context and what's on your screen, holds back-and-forth conversations, and ships with a dedicated Siri app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Which Macs, iPads, and Apple Watches support it?

Apple lists Macs with M1 or later, iPads with an M-series or A17 Pro chip, and Apple Watch Series 10 or later paired with a supported iPhone. Apple Vision Pro is also supported. An M1-or-later MacBook or an M-series iPad qualifies.

Can I use the new Siri in the EU?

Apple announced a delay for the new Siri on iPhone and iPad in the European Union, citing the Digital Markets Act. EU buyers may own a supported device and still not have the new Siri features at the initial launch.

When is the new Siri available?

Apple released developer betas on June 8, 2026, with a public beta in July and the full free release this fall. It launches in English only initially, with other languages not part of the first release.

Will iOS 27 still help my older iPhone?

Yes. iOS 27 installs on iPhone 11 and later, and Apple cited CPU scheduler changes that make older devices feel faster down to the iPhone 11, plus quicker AirDrop, app launches, and Photos — even on phones that can't run the new Siri.

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