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Apple appears to be quietly preparing a significant change in iOS 26.2: the long-press Side Button could soon summon a third-party voice assistant instead of Siri. The discovery comes from strings buried in the latest beta and points to a region-limited test that ties directly to new regulatory rules in Japan.
Hidden clues in the iOS 26.2 beta
Developers digging through iOS 26.2 beta 3 uncovered text inside Apple’s private Siri frameworks that reads like a roadmap: messages such as “Press and Hold to Speak is not available while the Side Button is assigned to %@,” “Select Another Default Side Button App,” and alerts about apps that “cannot be hidden” or are “no longer eligible for use with the Side Button.” Those snippets strongly imply Apple is building a way to assign the Side Button long-press to an approved third-party assistant instead of Siri.
Japan-first: a change driven by law
For now, the capability is limited to iPhones and Apple IDs registered in Japan. That’s no accident. Japan’s Mobile Software Competition Act, passed in August and taking effect this December, bars platform holders from locking exclusive hardware triggers and system hooks to their own virtual assistants. The timing of these code snippets suggests Apple is aligning iOS with that legal deadline.
What this means for users and competitors
If Apple flips the switch, Japanese iPhone owners may be able to assign the Side Button long-press to alternatives like Google’s Gemini, Amazon Alexa, or other approved voice-AI apps — letting them access newer or different AI features without tapping Siri. Imagine launching a Gemini-powered assistant with a single long-press, or getting Alexa’s smart-home routines from the lock screen.
Outside Japan, nothing is guaranteed yet. The EU’s Digital Markets Act pushes similar requirements on so-called gatekeepers, and industry watchers have speculated Apple may offer comparable options there. Still, the current iOS code and Apple’s public guidance indicate the Side Button reassignment is Japan-only for the moment.
Where Apple might go next
Even if the Side Button change stays regional, there’s encouraging noise for global users: reports say Apple has been collaborating with companies like Google to bring third-party AI enhancements into Siri itself. That could mean better AI features for everyone without a full default switch — or it could be a stepping stone toward wider assistant choice in future iOS releases.
What to watch
- iOS 26.2 beta updates — look for UI for assigning Side Button defaults.
- Apple announcements on region availability and approved assistant apps.
- Regulatory moves in the EU (DMA) and other markets that could prompt wider rollout.
In short: a small string of text in a beta build could become a big shift in how we interact with iPhones — starting in Japan and potentially spreading as laws and partnerships reshape the assistant landscape.
Source: gizmochina
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