Siri is useful, but not always very intelligent. Alternatively, the Google Assistant is now in the App Store. We have tested it extensively recently, in our review you can read whether this voice assistant is worthwhile.
Google Assistant review: Siri can learn something from that
Siri has been on our iPhones, iPads and Macs for years to help. The voice assistant can send messages, look things up and control your smart home, among other things. Yet Siri can also count on a lot of criticism. The assistant often does not understand what you mean and it is also disappointing in terms of possibilities. That’s not too bad when the competition is on the same level, but Google’s voice assistant on Android seems to be a lot smarter.
Fortunately, you now no longer need an Android device to talk to the Google Assistant. She recently started speaking Dutch and an app has appeared in the App Store. With this app you talk to the same Google Assistant as on Android, or not quite?
Also read: 6 tips to get the most out of the Dutch Google Assistant
Not conveniently built in
The handy thing about the Google Assistant on Android is that you can call up the voice assistant by saying ‘Ok Google’ or ‘Hey Google’ and then talking immediately. Or you hold the home button briefly. To use the Google Assistant on iOS, you need to open the separate Google Assistant app and tap the microphone. That is just one step too many.
It is possible to place a widget from the Google Assistant. That means that a microphone will appear when you swipe to the right on the main screen. If you tap that, you will be sent to the Google Assistant app where you ask a question or give an assignment.
The option to completely replace Siri with the Google Assistant would be nice, because then you can call up the voice assistant by pressing the home or side button or saying ‘Hey Google’, but the chance that Apple will ever allow that is very very small. The question is therefore whether the Google Assistant is worth that extra effort.
The Google Assistant lacks capabilities
The Google Assistant can’t do many things that Siri can. That’s all due to the integration of Siri in iOS, while the Google Assistant doesn’t get access everywhere. For example, Siri does not need to open a separate app to send messages or make calls, while the Google Assistant does. The Google Assistant cannot control your smart home or set an alarm at this time.
Also, the Google Assistant cannot use apps such as WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, Uber or the camera, and cannot turn off bluetooth. The Google Assistant can handle apps from Google very well and make use of them. The voice assistant is therefore especially worthwhile if you use many Google products such as Gmail, Google Docs and YouTube.
Google Actions
Where the Google Assistant excels are the Actions. Through these actions you come into contact with all kinds of Dutch companies by talking to the Assistant. For example, you ask Albert Heijn what the bonus is, or what you can make with the products you still have in the fridge. You ask PostNL how your package is going and Bol.com whether the store has a gift idea for someone of a specific age. Rain radar tells you whether you suffer from rain or hay fever and Jumbo lets you make a shopping list. In this way, even more companies are present, such as KLM, MediaMarkt, QMusic, Rabobank and Transavia. However, when using these Actions you will hear a qualitatively poorer voice.
Siri also works with several apps, but that’s not nearly as comprehensive as with the Google Assistant. It is also relatively easy for companies to get started with the Google Assistant, so the possibilities will probably be expanded even further soon.
Conclusion: too much hassle and too few options
Google is also very good at recognizing what you want to say. Google Assistant simply understands what you mean faster than Siri. Siri requires you to ask your questions precisely, while the Google Assistant knows better how rephrased sentences work.
It is especially hoped that Apple sees the presence of the Google Assistant on iOS as a motivation to improve Siri. The Google Assistant shows good things that Siri can learn from. Yet we miss too many functions on iOS, because the assistant cannot be integrated into the operating system. As a result, the Google Assistant on iOS is fun to try and perhaps to use for information searches, or if you use many other Google apps. In practice, the assistant is just a bit too much of a hassle with too few options.
Why Siri is disappointing
Earlier this year, it became clear why Siri sometimes doesn’t work the way it should. A co-founder of Siri explains why the voice assistant is still disappointing.
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