Apple has enabled new Siri voice controls in iOS 27 developer beta 3, giving testers the ability to adjust how quickly and expressively the AI assistant speaks. The settings, called Pace and Expressivity, were listed as coming soon in earlier beta releases and are now available for testing.
The update is part of Apple’s broader rebuild of Siri around Apple Intelligence. The company introduced the new AI-powered Siri at WWDC 26 as a more conversational assistant that can respond across apps, understand context and offer a more personal user experience.
The new controls let users move beyond simply choosing a Siri voice. Testers can select from different voices and accents, then use sliders to adjust speaking speed and the amount of emotion in Siri’s delivery.
Siri Becomes More Customisable
As users adjust the settings, Siri plays sample phrases such as “You have one new message” so they can preview how each voice sounds. The feature is designed to make Siri feel more natural and better suited to individual preferences.
Apple’s iOS 27 preview says users can customise how Siri sounds by choosing a voice and adjusting expressivity and pace. The developer beta now gives testers an early version of that experience.
Voice customisation has become more important as AI assistants move from short commands to longer conversations. OpenAI, Google and other AI companies have also added more natural voice features as they try to make assistants feel less robotic.
ChatGPT currently offers broader personality controls than Siri, including options to adjust style and tone. Apple’s approach remains more focused on how Siri sounds rather than changing the assistant’s overall communication style.
New Siri Is More Deeply Integrated Into iOS
The AI version of Siri is designed to work across iOS 27 in several ways. Users can start conversations by speaking, typing after swiping down from the Dynamic Island, pressing the side button or opening the new standalone Siri app.
Apple says the updated assistant is powered by Apple Intelligence and is built to provide richer answers and more natural conversations. The company has also positioned Siri as a more central part of the iPhone experience rather than just a voice command tool.
Other smaller changes are also appearing in iOS 27 beta 3, including an updated Reminders app icon. Some testers have reported temporary issues after updating, including losing access to the new Siri or seeing their phones re-index data.
As with all developer beta releases, the features may still change before the public version of iOS 27 arrives. For now, the Pace and Expressivity controls give testers a clearer look at how Apple wants its rebuilt Siri to sound.
Featured image credits: OrboGraph
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