This Upcoming AirPods Feature Will Shine in iOS 18.4

While we await the release of AirPods Pro 3 and the next-gen AirPods Max 2, this year has been a notable one for AirPods, particularly due to the arrival of AirPods 4 and significant software advancements. My top new feature from this year stands out as one that will really shine once iOS 18.4 is released.

My favorite new AirPods feature: Siri Interactions

As it has done yearly since the introduction of AirPods Pro 2, Apple rolled out new software features for its wireless earbuds this year.

iOS 18 and 18.1 brought the following updates:

• Voice Isolation: Enhances call quality in loud environments.
• Siri Interactions: Nod or shake your head to communicate with Siri.
• Hearing Health: Includes a Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, and Hearing Protection features.
• Personalized Spatial Audio: Improved, although specifics remain vague.

The most revolutionary enhancement this year is undoubtedly the set of hearing health functionalities. Yet, I find Siri Interactions to be my personal favorite, compatible with AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4.

I appreciate how Apple has integrated precise audio cues to confirm that it has detected your head movements.

This feature is particularly useful when I’m out and about, allowing me to reduce my vocal commands to Siri.

It also works seamlessly when engaging with ChatGPT through Siri.

While I’ve been enjoying Siri Interactions, their true potential will be realized with the launch of iOS 18.4.

iOS 18.4 promises intelligent Siri to spark more daily use

Apple is gearing up for significant Siri enhancements with the upcoming iOS 18.4 release this spring.

Here’s what to expect:

• Action implementation within and across apps: Voice computing is set to become a reality as Siri gains the ability to carry out hundreds of new actions across multiple apps.
• Personalized context understanding: Similar to a real assistant, Siri will leverage knowledge about you to respond to requests based on your calendar, received messages, podcasts you’ve enjoyed, and more.
• Onscreen awareness: Siri will be able to act based on what’s displayed on your screen.

iOS 18.4 aims to transform Siri into the intelligent assistant we’ve long anticipated but never fully experienced.

If Apple can fulfill this potential, regular usage of Siri is expected to surge, making the new Siri Interactions feature even more essential.

We are inching closer to a future reminiscent of “Her,” with an increasingly capable digital assistant just a call away.

Consequently, AirPods, along with the non-verbal Siri Interactions, will become prime methods to leverage Siri’s new-found intelligence.

Have you tried using Siri Interactions on your AirPods? Which new feature from iOS 18.4 excites you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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