Apple is giving developer beta testers more control over how Siri sounds. In iOS 27 beta 3, the company has turned on voice settings for Pace and Expressivity, two controls that were previously marked as Coming soon in earlier developer beta releases.
The change matters because Apple is trying to make its AI-powered Siri feel less fixed and more personal. Instead of only choosing from voices, testers can now adjust how quickly Siri speaks and how much human-like emotion comes through in its responses.
What changed in iOS 27 beta 3
The latest iOS 27 developer beta adds working controls for Siri’s Pace and Expressivity. Pace changes how slowly or quickly the assistant speaks. Expressivity changes how much emotion the voice conveys.
These controls give testers a more hands-on way to shape the Siri experience. Apple had already shown that the new Siri would go beyond a basic male- or female-sounding voice choice. With iOS 27 beta 3, that direction is becoming more concrete for people testing the software.
Users can switch among voices with different accents, then use sliders to fine-tune the way Siri delivers spoken responses. As the settings are changed, Siri plays sample lines so users can hear the result before settling on a voice setup.
One of the practice phrases shown in the source is “You have one ne w message,” which gives testers a simple way to compare voices and settings. The point is not just whether Siri sounds different, but whether the assistant sounds comfortable enough for repeated everyday use.
Why Siri voice customization matters
Voice is central to how people experience an AI assistant. A response can be technically useful but still feel rushed, flat, too slow, or too animated. Pace and Expressivity are direct controls over that part of the interaction.
Apple’s broader goal is to make Siri feel more natural and personal as the assistant is rebuilt around generative AI. The source frames this as part of a wider shift in voice AI, where major assistants are not only expected to answer questions but also to feel easier to talk to.
For iPhone owners, that could make Siri less like a single default interface and more like a configurable assistant. A slower pace may be useful when someone wants clearer spoken output. A faster pace may suit users who want concise, efficient responses. More or less expressivity can also change whether the assistant feels restrained or more human-like.
The update does not turn Siri customization into a complete personality system. Based on the source, the new Siri controls are focused on voice delivery: how fast the assistant speaks and how expressive it sounds.
How Apple’s approach compares with ChatGPT
The source notes that ChatGPT offers broader voice-customization options. In December 2025, ChatGPT added the ability to adjust warmth and enthusiasm, along with options for base style and tone.
Those ChatGPT style and tone options include making the assistant more friendly, professional, candid, or quirky. The source also says those settings affect not only speech, but also how information is presented to the user.
Apple’s current Siri controls, as described in the source, are narrower. They let testers adjust pace and expressivity, while also selecting from voices with different accents. That still represents a meaningful expansion from simply choosing a male- or female-sounding assistant.
The comparison shows two different layers of AI assistant customization:
- Voice delivery: how quickly and expressively the assistant speaks.
- Style and tone: how the assistant frames information and what kind of personality it presents.
For now, the iOS 27 beta 3 change appears to sit mainly in the first category. Apple is giving users more control over sound and delivery, while the source does not describe broader Siri style or tone settings like the ones mentioned for ChatGPT.
Where the new Siri fits in iOS 27
The AI version of Siri is described as deeply integrated across the updated version of iOS. Apple is not limiting the assistant to one entry point. Instead, iPhone owners will have several ways to start using it.
According to the source, users will be able to begin conversations by speaking, by swiping down from the Dynamic Island at the top of the screen and typing, by tapping the phone’s side button, or by using the brand-new stand-alone Siri app.
That range of access points reinforces why voice controls matter. If Siri is available from more places across the system, its default speaking style becomes more visible. A voice that works well for one user may feel too slow, too quick, too dry, or too expressive for another.
iOS 27 beta 3 also includes smaller changes beyond Siri. The source mentions an updated Reminders app icon. It also notes that some people on X are reporting that they lost access to the new Siri after updating, or that their phone again began indexing their data.
The source describes indexing as typically the first step in optimizing Siri AI for search. Because those reports are coming from people on X, they should be understood as beta-update experiences rather than a finished-product pattern.
What testers can take from this beta
The main takeaway is that Apple is moving Siri customization from promise to hands-on testing. Pace and Expressivity were visible but unavailable in the first developer beta releases. In iOS 27 beta 3, testers can actually use them.
That makes this beta an early look at how Apple wants the AI-powered Siri to feel in everyday use. The assistant is becoming more configurable, more integrated, and more focused on the experience of spoken interaction.
It is still a developer beta, and the source points to some rough edges being reported after the update. But the direction is clear: Apple wants Siri to sound less like one fixed system voice and more like an assistant that can be adjusted to the person using it.