Apple to ship three new flashlight icons while 'reimagined' Siri slips to iOS 27

Apple Inc will delay its long-promised overhaul of the Siri voice assistant to iOS 27 while prioritising the release of three new flashlight icons in this year’s software update, according to people familiar with the matter.

“An internal memo reviewed by Reuters said 87.3% of Siri’s engineering headcount had been “temporarily reassigned to high-priority flashlight iconography workstreams” during the last two quarters.”

The redesigned flashlight controls will debut in iOS 18.1 and are described internally as a “foundational step” toward future experiences, a company spokesperson said on Thursday. By contrast, the reimagined Siri will arrive “when it meets our high standards,” a timeline the spokesperson declined to define beyond confirming it would not ship before iOS 27.

An internal memo reviewed by Reuters said 87.3% of Siri’s engineering headcount had been “temporarily reassigned to high-priority flashlight iconography workstreams” during the last two quarters. The memo added that the shift would “unlock a 41.6% improvement in perceived brightness discoverability” across Apple’s mobile portfolio.

The three icons — internally code-named Lumen Classic, Lumen Soft and Lumen Pro Max — will each feature a distinct silhouette and micro-animation when tapped, according to design documents. A person briefed on the feature said Apple tested 143 variations of the beam angle before selecting a design that “best aligns with the company’s Human Interface Guidelines and corporate light philosophy.”

Analysts at Morgan Stanley said in a note the move reflects Apple’s focus on “high-visibility, low-regret” features that can be demonstrated in under six seconds on stage. They estimated the new icons could lift average daily flashlight activations by 29.4%, adding up to “material marginal engagement” even without a direct revenue component.

By contrast, the new Siri reportedly requires 19 separate on-device models, a redesigned privacy consent flow and what one engineer described as “an opinion on literally everything,” extending development timelines. A separate planning document targets iOS 27, projected internally for 2031, as the first release in which Siri will reliably understand at least 51% of complex, multi-step user requests on the first attempt.

Until then, Siri will remain in what insiders call a “stability-focused holding pattern,” with updates limited primarily to joke localization, minor dictation tweaks and a new ability to locate the flashlight icons by name in 36 languages. Apple is expected to outline a “multi-year, icon-led roadmap” for iOS at its developer conference in June, with executives planning to “reassess assistant ambitions at the appropriate inflection point,” according to a person familiar with the schedule.