Siri’s iOS 16 changes are all about making your iPhone easier to use
Dictate emojis with Siri when composing messages
It’s a trick Android users with Pixel 6 phones already enjoy, but emojis will no longer trip up Siri when you dictate messages in iOS 16. Say “heart emoji” or “crying emoji,” and the proper symbol will appear.
The digital assistant will also automatically insert punctuation as you dictate messages by inserting periods at the end of sentences.
The improved dictation features work in both Messages and Mail.
Improved discovery for Siri’s skills
iOS addresses skills and commands with a new feature that simply allows you to ask Siri what it can do for you. You’ll be able to ask “Hey Siri, what can I do here” in specific apps to find out about Siri capabilities. Should the feature work as advertised, it promises to make Siri’s various functions a lot less opaque than they have been in the past.
Hands-free hang-ups for phone calls
When you’re wearing a pair of AirPods, Siri can announce incoming calls and even offer to pick up the phone for you. When it’s time to end the call, though, you’ve been on your own.
That changes in iOS 16, with phone calls going completely hands-free. Now you’ll be able to tell Siri to hang up on either phone calls or FaceTime sessions, and the assistant will do so.
Siri-powered accessibility features
You’ll be able to adjust Siri’s pause time, making the assistant wait longer before responding to what you’re saying. The feature is ideal for anyone with a speech impairment, but really, it’s something that will benefit anyone who hates feeling rushed when they’re issuing commands to Siri.
Adjusting pause times is just one of several accessibility features in iOS 16 that involve Siri. If you’ve got a Made for Apple hearing device, you’ll be able to have Siri announce your iPhone and iPad notifications with the iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 updates.
As part of iOS 16’s improved mobility features, you’ll also be able to have Siri turn the auto-answer mode for phone calls and FaceTime requests on and off. And of course, we’ve already noted that you can have Siri hang up phone calls, a good addition for hands-free use of the iPhone.
Control more things with Siri offline
iPhones with enough processing oomph have been able to use Siri even when there’s no internet or network connectivity to perform simple tasks. These include launching apps, controlling playback and setting timers or alarms.
The list of functions that Siri can perform without any connectivity grows in iOS 16. Specifically, Siri will be able to process requests for home control via HomeKit devices, intercom features, voicemail and notifications offline. You will need a phone with an A12 Bionic chipset, which means an iPhone XS or later, for this kind of functionality.
Automatically send texts
Currently, when you dictate a text message through Siri, the assistant will ask if you’re ready to send the message. However, if you prefer to send out messages quickly, you can have Siri skip that step in iOS 16.
An Automatically Send Messages toggle will be available in the Siri & Search settings of iOS 16. It’s off by default, but if you’re confident that Siri is going to relay your message accurately, you can always turn that switch on.
Multiple stops on a route
One of the big changes in iOS 16 Maps is the ability to add multiple stops on a route when you need to stop for things like gas and food in the midst of a road trip. If you need a hands-free way to add a stop while in route, you can ask Siri to handle it for you.
