While we’re still awaiting the arrival of AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2, it has been a remarkable year for the AirPods lineup with the introduction of AirPods 4 and noteworthy software updates. One of the standout new features this year is anticipated to have the most significant effect when iOS 18.4 is released.
My top new AirPods feature: Siri Interactions
This year, in line with its tradition of yearly updates since the debut of AirPods Pro 2, Apple rolled out several new software enhancements for its wireless earbuds.
iOS 18 and 18.1 introduced a series of new capabilities:
- Voice Isolation: Enhances call quality in noisy settings.
- Siri Interactions: Allows you to nod or shake your head to interact with Siri.
- Hearing Health: Features include Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, and Hearing Protection.
- Personalized Spatial Audio: Improved, though specific enhancements are not detailed.
The standout feature this year undoubtedly revolves around hearing health. However, I’ve found Siri Interactions to be my personal favorite, compatible with AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4.
The audio cues designed by Apple to confirm head movements are simply fantastic.
This feature has been essential for me while navigating the city, allowing me to minimize vocal interactions with Siri.
It works seamlessly when engaging with ChatGPT via Siri as well.
Yet, while I’ve relished using Siri Interactions, their potential is set to be fully unleashed in iOS 18.4.
iOS 18.4 aims to enhance Siri for more daily engagement
Apple’s upcoming iOS 18.4 update is set to bring significant enhancements to Siri.
What’s in store:
- App interactions: Siri will be able to perform countless new actions across different apps.
- Personalized context: Siri will respond to queries using personal data like your calendar, received messages, podcasts, and more.
- Onscreen context awareness: Siri will be capable of acting based on your current screen content.
The expectation surrounding iOS 18.4 is that it will elevate Siri to the level of an intelligent assistant we’ve long desired.
If Apple can achieve this, everyday engagement with Siri will likely increase, making the new Siri Interactions feature even more essential.
We are inching towards a future resembling “Her,” where a more competent digital assistant is merely a ‘Siri’ away.
This means that AirPods, combined with features like the non-verbal Siri Interactions, will be some of the optimal ways to utilize Siri’s enhanced capabilities.
Have you tried utilizing Siri Interactions on your AirPods? Which new feature in iOS 18.4 are you most eager about? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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