Navigating the Voices of Virtual Assistants: Alexa vs. Siri

Navigating the Voices of Virtual Assistants: Alexa vs. Siri

Virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri have become an integral part of our daily lives, assisting us with a variety of tasks and providing a voice for our devices. While both are adept at providing information and managing tasks, one might wonder which has the most soothing voice—Alexa or Siri?

Well, this is obviously subjective, but in terms of customization options, Siri on Apple's iOS devices offers a wide range of personalization features. In the Settings app, under the General section, you'll find the Siri Search option. Here, you can do more than just change the language; you can adjust the dialect within the same language. For example, English has nine different choices, from Australian to Singaporean, reflecting a spectrum of accents and dialects.

The Language option allows you to specify which dictionary Siri uses for word choice and idioms. Alongside, you can further customize the Siri Voice by selecting the accent and gender of the voice. This feature is particularly detailed, offering a range of male and female voices, with 30 different options in English alone. Just navigate to Accessibility, then Spoken Content, and finally Voices to explore your options (see Figure 1).

Apple has made significant strides in iOS 13 to enhance the naturalness of Siri's voices. Many of these customized voices have enhanced versions that sound even more natural than their standard counterparts. For instance, the HomePod's Siri offers an incredibly immersive experience. When you use the wake command, "Hey Siri," it responds with a warm and conversational "Mmhmm," providing a cozy and engaging interaction. You can opt for a sophisticated English gentleman like Oliver, who offers polite suggestions rather than the generic command tones of a standard Siri female (see Figure 2).

It's worth noting that Amazon’s Alexa does not currently provide such extensive voice customization options. Its voice is fixed, with a soothing yet somewhat unsettling female tone. For those seeking a more personal and natural interaction, the variety offered by Siri on Apple devices is significantly more appealing.

I must admit to being a long-time Apple fan. My work and affiliation with the company for over 13 years have instilled a great fondness for Apple. I also appreciate their emphasis on user privacy and data security, which stands in stark contrast to the practices of other tech giants like Amazon and Google.

Figure 1: Customizing Siri's Voice

Figure 2: Exploring Siri Voices

As illustrated in the screenshots taken from an iPhone X running iOS 13.3.1 (see Figures 1 and 2), the settings and options available can vary slightly on different devices and operating systems. However, the core customization capabilities remain consistent across Apple's lineup.

Ultimately, the choice between Siri and Alexa comes down to personal preference and specific needs. While Alexa excels in its hands-free capabilities and smart home integration, Siri's customization options offer a more tailored and engaging user experience.