9 New Siri Features and Capabilities Introduced in iOS 12

Siri is just one of the core iOS features that will be getting some significant upgrades in the newest update to Apple's mobile operating system. Those upgrades range from groundbreaking new features like Shortcuts to a variety of smaller and more incremental improvements. In either case, these updates will significantly boost Siri's usability and convenience. Continue reading to learn about 9 New Siri Features Introduced in iOS 12.

9 Siri Shortcuts

Arguably the most significant update to Siri is the addition of Shortcuts. Basically, they’re customizable workflows that can combine several processes into a single command.

At launch, they’re expected to bring a large level of granular control to Siri and vastly improve the digital assistant’s usefulness.

8 Enhanced Spotlight Suggestions

But Siri won’t just be able to automate processes for you. In iOS 12, the digital assistant will automatically learn your usage and habits to make suggestions based off of them.

These are essential proactive contextual suggestions. The example given at WWDC ’18 was Siri automatically giving you a prompt to order your favorite coffee at the exact time you usually get one.

7 New Knowledge Areas

Among other features, one of Siri’s primary capabilities is answering routine questions. Apple regularly updates the digital assistant with additional information and knowledge areas.

iOS 12 is no different. In the new update, Siri will be able to answer a variety of questions related to famous people, food, motorsports, as well as a user’s Photos and Memories.

6 Play Third-Party Music

One of Apple Music’s biggest advantages over third-party options in iOS is the ability to use Siri to play music. But in iOS 12, Apple is opening up the digital assistant to those third-party services.

In the next update to iOS, third-party streaming services like Spotify will be able to use Siri to play content from their catalogs.

5 Find My iPhone Capabilities

Find My iPhone comes in handy when a device is lost or stolen, but it’s also useful when your iPad or MacBook is just misplaced around the house.

In iOS 12, Siri will adopt some Find My iPhone functionality (rather than just opening the actual app). The digital assistant can locate your iPad, as well as play a sound on it when you ask it to.

4 Siri Can Find Your Passwords

If you quickly need to find a password for an application or service, perhaps to log in on a desktop or other device, Siri can help with that in iOS 12.

Asking Siri for a specific password will automatically open the Settings application and the relevant section or pane that contains the password in question.

3 New Accents & Voices

Siri can already speak in a wide variety of different languages and with a slew of different voices and regional accents.

But the digital assistant will be getting several more English-language voices in iOS 12, including a male and female version of an Irish and South African accents.

2 Hey Siri in Low Power Mode

Low Power mode can be a life-saver when your battery’s running low, but it comes at a cost. In the next version of Apple’s mobile operating system, that cost won’t include being able to easily access Siri.

In iOS 12, it will be possible to invoke the digital assistant using “Hey Siri” when a device in Low Power mode. It’s a small addition, but no less useful.

1 New Flashlight Contols

Siri is an intelligent and useful assistant, but there’s always been one area beyond its reach: turning on or off a device’s flashlight.

In iOS 12, that’s no longer the case. You’ll be able to enable and disable the useful LED flashlight with a Siri voice command.