Skip to main content

iPhone 4S robo-brain Siri doesn’t play well outside the U.S.

siri-failed-questions-iphone-4s
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Apple‘s new iPhone 4S was officially released on Friday, bringing a beefed up version of the company’s 2010 phone to the i-toting consumers of the world. One of the more noteworthy new features in this 4S is Siri, a voice-activated AI that is equal parts personal assistant and grim foretelling of our robot-dominated future.

As all-powerful as Siri might seem to U.S.-based Apple customers, it seems that her omnipotence doesn’t extend around the entire globe. Reports from various 4S owners outside the country reveal that Siri is having trouble with business lookups and maps/traffic information, according to MacStories. It seems she also has a little trouble understanding some accents.

Recommended Videos

Apple’s Siri FAQ actually lays all of this out clearly enough. The site takes care to note that the feature is still in beta, and that we should see it continue to improve over time. Speaking personally as a new 4S owner, Siri is hardly a necessary addition, but she does her job marvelously well.

“She,” right? Not “it”?

Click here to check out our iPhone 4S review

Adam Rosenberg
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…
I was wrong about the iPhone 16
An iPhone 16 laying on a shelf with its screen on.

The iPhone 16 is a little over a month old, and I've been using it almost nonstop since it was announced last month. I reviewed the phone for Digital Trends and bought one with my own money as my personal phone of choice.

Not long after its unveiling, I wrote an op-ed complaining about the iPhone 16's lack of a 120Hz display. I said it was the "one thing holding back the iPhone 16" and that its 60Hz screen was "an unreasonable spec." I'd still like to see the refresh rate addressed with the iPhone 17, but after living with the iPhone 16 for over a month now, I've found that it's not nearly as big of an issue as I believed it would be.
A 60Hz screen matters, until it doesn't

Read more
Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs. OnePlus 12: Which is better?
iPhone 16 Plus vs. OnePlus 12.

This iPhone 16 Plus is the cheapest “big” iPhone from the new iPhone 16 range. It offers a nice balance between price, power, and features. However, it’s not the only option available in this space. The OnePlus 12 is perhaps the Android-based phone that's closest to the iPhone 16 Plus when you take features and specs into account. Despite showing some age, it remains one of our favorite phones of the year. As such, it's a strong competitor for Apple's latest big iPhone.

What do these smartphones have in common? Where are the key differences? Which should you buy? It's time to find out.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs. OnePlus 12: specs

Read more
The iPhone 17 Pro Max may slim down this particular feature
The Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The iPhone's Dynamic Island is expected to get even smaller on the iPhone 17 series, according to technology analyst Jeff Pu (via MacRumors).

According to Pu, in a research note with investment bank Haitong International, the iPhone 17 Pro Max will offer a “metalens” for Face ID. Because of this, the Dynamic Island will be “much narrowed.”

Read more