Apple planned to bring major Siri upgrades in iOS 26.4 this March, but internal testing issues have forced the company to rethink that timeline. The update was expected to introduce the first wave of Gemini-powered improvements. Now Apple is spreading some of those features across later releases, including iOS 26.5 in May and possibly iOS 27 in September.
The delays center on performance and reliability. Engineers found that Siri sometimes fails to process requests correctly or takes too long to respond. Some features exist in early builds, but they do not work consistently.
Mark Gurman from Bloomberg reports that Apple originally tied the revamped Siri to iOS 26.4. He writes that the company is now “working to spread them out over future versions,” which could push certain capabilities to iOS 26.5 or even iOS 27. Apple has not confirmed a final release date and declined to comment.
Features Running Behind Schedule
One key feature at risk is Siri’s deeper access to personal data. Apple wants users to ask Siri to find old messages, locate shared content such as a podcast, and act on it instantly. Internal testers say this feature remains unstable. Apple is even testing a preview toggle, which suggests the company may launch it with limitations.
Voice-based control of in-app actions also faces setbacks. This system, built around advanced app intents, allows users to issue complex commands in one sentence. For example, Siri could find an image, edit it, and send it to a contact in a single request. Testers report accuracy problems and occasional bugs, including Siri cutting users off mid-sentence.
Apple today released iOS 26.3 with bug fixes and security updates. Many expected the first visible signs of Gemini integration in the next beta cycle. Instead, Apple appears to need more time.
The company first announced the upgraded Siri in June 2024, promising smarter responses and deeper system control. Executives have stressed privacy as a core reason for the slow rollout. Craig Federighi said, “We think it’s super important that when a model takes a question from you, that that data is kept private.”
Looking ahead, Apple plans a broader AI push in iOS 27, where Siri will act more like a chatbot. For now, iOS 26.4 remains in flux as Apple works to stabilize its most ambitious Siri upgrade yet.
