As Apple continues development on iOS 18, the next major version of its iPhone operating system set to be unveiled in June, the company’s 2024 iPhone lineup launching this fall is once again rumored to feature upgraded microphone hardware to support new voice-powered features.

Noted Apple analyst Jeff Pu claimed in a research note earlier this month that at least some models in the forthcoming iPhone 16 lineup will include higher quality microphones compared to previous iPhones, with improved signal-to-noise ratios to allow Siri and other speech processing features to better discern voice commands. Pu said he believes the upgraded microphones on the highest-end iPhone 16 models will unlock exclusive capabilities in iOS 18 related to Apple’s rumored advancements in generative AI.

Pu’s prediction echoes similar claims last month from fellow analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said the entire iPhone 16 lineup will benefit from upgraded microphone hardware with increased signal-to-noise ratios and improved water resistance. Kuo said the changes could “improve the Siri experience significantly” on the new devices.

Both Pu and Kuo’s expectations track with previous rumors surrounding iOS 18. Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed earlier this month that Apple has been working on generative AI technologies that it plans to debut across its products and services later this year, widely presumed to be at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June. There, Apple is expected to officially unveil iOS 18 with new features that could see Siri take advantage of learnings from generative AI to have more natural conversations.

Beyond Siri, sources indicate iOS 18 will introduce new generative AI capabilities to system apps like Spotlight, Shortcuts, Messages, Apple Music, Numbers, Pages, Keynote, Health, and more. Many of these features are expected to be exclusive to Apple’s latest devices, with the iPhone 16 models likely housing the most advanced silicon to power the demanding on-device computations.

Both Pu and Kuo have indicated the iPhone 16 Pro models will include Apple’s next-generation A18 Pro chip with significant GPU improvements. Combined with the rumored upgraded microphone hardware for clearer voice capture, the iPhone 16 Pro lineup looks increasingly positioned as the vehicle for Apple’s most sophisticated iOS software yet.

We’ll know for sure in September when Apple releases iOS 18 alongside its latest smartphone lineup. But as the rumor mill continues churning, fans of Siri and proactive intelligence features have reason to get excited about this year’s inevitable iPhone launch.