Tim Cook confirmed during Apple’s Q4 2025 earnings call on October 30, 2025, that a next-generation Siri will launch in Spring 2026 as iOS 26.4. The redesigned voice assistant will integrate on-device processing with OpenAI and Google AI systems. Cook stated: “We’re making good progress on it, and as we’ve shared, we expect to release it next year.”[1][2][3][4][5][6]
This marks the third public delay for the feature, originally promised at WWDC 2024 for 2024 delivery. Apple absorbed $1.1 billion in tariff costs during Q4 while maintaining record revenue of $102.5 billion, up 8 percent year-over-year.[7][8][9][10]
Why Apple Delayed Siri Development Three Times
Craig Federighi, senior vice president of software engineering, disclosed the first-generation Siri architecture failed production-scale reliability testing. Apple’s team redesigned the entire foundation to meet quality standards.[11][12][13]
Delay factors:
- First-generation system could not scale across billions of users globally[11]
- Complete architectural redesign required to meet Apple’s reliability standards[12]
- Second-generation framework now in active iOS 26.4 beta testing[13]
- Internal testers reported performance concerns during development phase[14]
The complexity of production-grade AI drove the extended timeline. Prioritizing reliability over speed reflects Apple’s product philosophy.[15][16]
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Record Financial Results and December Quarter Outlook
Apple achieved $102.5 billion Q4 revenue with 8 percent year-over-year growth. The company guided for 10 to 12 percent revenue growth in December quarter. CFO Kevan Parekh stated the quarter could be “Apple’s best ever.”[17][18][19][20]
| Revenue Segment | Q4 Amount | Growth Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $102.5 billion | 8% YoY | Record[9] |
| iPhone | $49.0 billion | 6% YoY | Supply constrained[21] |
| Services | $28.8 billion | 15% YoY | All-time high[22] |
| Gross Margin | 47.2% | — | Strong profitability[23] |
iPhone revenue missed expectations due to supply constraints on multiple iPhone 17 models launched September 20, 2025. Greater China revenue declined 4 percent to $14.49 billion, primarily from delayed iPhone Air availability.[24][25][26][27]
Supply Constraints and Tariff Pressures Affect Margins
Apple absorbed $1.1 billion in Q4 tariff costs with projections rising to $1.4 billion for December quarter. Despite these pressures, Apple maintained device pricing while expanding base-model features rather than limiting them to premium variants.[28][29][30]
China’s e-SIM-only requirements delayed iPhone Air shipments until October 22, 2025. Cook expressed optimism about Greater China recovery in December quarter, citing strong store traffic and early iPhone 17 sales data. First 10-day iPhone 17 sales were up 14 percent versus iPhone 16 in US and China combined.[31][32][33]
Current Apple Intelligence Features Available to Users Today
Apple released multiple AI capabilities across devices. These existing features represent the company’s near-term strategy during Siri development:[34][35]
- Live Translation enables real-time language interpretation without cloud processing[36]
- Visual Intelligence photographs objects and provides information about them[37]
- Workout Buddy delivers personalized fitness insights from exercise data[38]
- Image creation and cleanup tools provide on-device photo editing[39]
- Writing tools offer grammar and style assistance across apps[40]
Features shipped with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and watchOS 26 between September and October 2025. Each demonstrates Apple’s privacy-first approach by processing sensitive data locally.[41][42][43]
Strategic Partnerships with Leading AI Companies Shape Direction
Cook confirmed Apple is pursuing integrations with OpenAI and Google. This hybrid approach allows users to route queries to third-party systems when beneficial while maintaining on-device processing for privacy-sensitive tasks.[44][45][46]
Partnership model benefits:
- Users choose when to access third-party AI systems for specific tasks[45]
- Core privacy-sensitive functions remain processed entirely on-device[46]
- Apple maintains control over when data connects to external services[47]
- Company avoids dependency on any single AI technology provider[48]
- On-device processing reduces latency for common daily tasks[49]
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Siri Development Timeline and Developer Access
Apple plans iOS 26.4 release in Confirms March 2026 with progressive rollout by region. Developer beta releases occur in early 2026 for third-party integration preparation.[50][51]
2026 rollout sequence:
- Early 2026: Developer beta versions released for app integration[50]
- February 2026: Public beta testing begins ahead of general release[51]
- March 2026: iOS 26.4 launches with redesigned Siri features[52]
- June 2026: WWDC formal feature demonstrations follow public launch[53]
Services revenue reached $28.8 billion in Q4, an all-time high. Fiscal 2025 annual Services revenue crossed $100 billion for first time. Apple’s installed base reached all-time highs across all product categories.[54][55]
