Apple is preparing a significant change for iPhone users, with the latest iOS 26.2 beta offering early signs of an upcoming option to replace Siri as the default voice assistant. Code discovered in beta 3 shows new strings describing Side Button behaviour, pointing to a feature that allows users to choose a different app to launch with a press-and-hold gesture. These references appear in Apple’s private Siri frameworks and consistently mention long-press activation, which has historically been reserved for Siri alone.
The strings include lines such as “Press and Hold to Speak is not available while the Side Button is assigned to [variable]” and “Select Another Default Side Button App,” indicating a full reassignment system. Other messages note restrictions, advising users that the chosen app cannot be hidden or locked and warning when an app is ineligible in a user’s region. The wording aligns closely with third-party voice assistants, and the behaviour described would allow alternatives like Google’s Gemini or OpenAI’s ChatGPT to replace Siri on compatible devices.
There is a catch, however. According to a recently published supporting document on Apple’s Developer blog, which not only confirms the development of this new feature but also reveals that it is limited to iPhone users in Japan.
This shift follows Japan’s recently passed Mobile Software Competition Act, which requires platform holders to open key system functions to third-party developers. The law explicitly states that companies cannot prioritise their own services in areas such as virtual assistant access or hardware-level interactions. The rules take effect in December 2025, making iOS 26.2’s timing consistent with Apple’s need to comply ahead of the deadline.
For now, the functionality will only be available to users with a Japanese Apple ID and devices operating within Japan. Apple has not indicated whether this capability will expand to other markets in the future, though it should be noted that a report by Bloomberg back in May suggests a similar feature may be introduced to EU users “soon”.
