The iPhone has a 'side button' that is used for basic operations such as powering on and off and sleeping. In a developer document, Apple announced that 'in Japan only, you will be able to launch ...

iPhone Side Button Will Soon Support Third-Party Assistants in This Country Apple's recent developer documentation confirms that the default voice assistant summoned by the side button will be ...

In iOS 26.2 beta 3, Apple is laying the groundwork for a future option that will let iPhone users in Japan choose a different default voice assistant. Right now, a press and hold gesture on the Side ...

Holding down the side button is one of the fastest ways to summon Siri on an iPhone. Apple now plans to open that shortcut to third-party assistants, but only in Japan. The update was spotted in the ...

Open a third-party voice assistant instead of Siri. Image: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac Apple will soon allow iPhone users in Japan to use the side button to trigger a third-party voice assistant they ...

Update, 5:55 p.m. ET: Apple has published a new Developer Blog post detailing the upcoming feature, which will be limited to users in Japan. iOS 26.2 beta 3 is here, bringing signs of a forthcoming ...

Earlier today, we shared a few details about new code in iOS 26.2 beta 3, which shows that Apple is working on letting users replace Siri when pressing the iPhone’s side button: There’s a new ...