Microsoft’s Cortana embarrasses Siri in new commercial

By Malarie Gokey July 28, 2014

microsoft cortana vs siri new commercial — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Microsoft wants you to know that its personal voice assistant is definitely better than yours. In a new commercial, Microsoft’s Cortana goes head to head with Apple’s Siri and completely embarrasses her.

The ad shows an iPhone 5S and Nokia Lumia 635 side by side on a table, while a guy asks Cortana to remind him to tell his wife happy anniversary next time they talk and several other related tasks. While Cortana cheerfully complies in her monotone voice that she will do that, Siri speaks up on the sidelines, saying, “Oh no, I can’t do that,” rather regretfully.

Indeed, in our comparison article of the three most popular virtual assistants, Siri, Cortana, and Google Now, we found that two of the areas in which Cortana excels are with people-related reminders and location-based recommendations. Siri can’t remind the man in the video to tell his wife happy anniversary the next time he calls or texts her, but Cortana can. Siri can’t remind him to pick up flowers when he’s near a florist’s shop either.

At the end of the commercial, Siri sadly says, “Now that is a smartphone,” and Microsoft closes out the commercial with a reminder that not only is the Lumia 635 useful, it’s also much cheaper than the iPhone 5S. Of course, the Lumia 635 also features low-end specs in comparison with the high-end iPhone 5S, but the comparison of voice assistants remains relevant. Maybe Cortana will take on Google Now on an Android smartphone next time.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

As DT's Mobile Editor, Malarie runs the Mobile and Wearables sections, which cover smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and…

Mobile

One of the biggest Oura Ring competitors just did something huge

The Ultrahuman Ring Air and the Oura Ring, resting on a table.

Ultrahuman, the maker of the Ultrahuman Ring Air, is making its way to U.S. production grounds. The company is setting up a production facility in Indiana, which will mark the first time a smart ring from Ultrahuman will be assembled from scratch on U.S. soil.

“The UltraFactory will offer an end-to-end production capability and is based on the company’s first operational model of such a facility in India,” the company says.

Mobile

Best Verizon new customer deals: Galaxy S24, iPhone and more

If you’re in the market for one of the best phones, or any new phone for that matter, you’re going to need a good carrier. Verizon has long been one of the most popular options, as it boasts one of the most reliable networks in the United States. It offers some of the best cell phone plans out there, and for new customers Verizon also offers some pretty impressive discounts on new phones. In many cases this means you can brand new, recently released phones entirely for free when signing up with Verizon. And that’s the case right now, as we’re currently seeing some of the best Verizon new customer deals we’ve seen. You can pretty easily land a new iPhone, Samsung Galaxy phone, and Google Pixel for free, and we’ve got all of the details on how to do so. If that sounds enticing, read onward and start shopping the best Verizon new customer deals available right now.
Free iPhone SE (3rd Gen)

The 2022 release of the Apple iPhone SE is yours for free when you sign up for a new 5G data plan on Verizon -- no trade-ins required. It's the best small smartphone in our list of the best smartphones with a 4.7-inch Liquid Retina display, but it doesn't sacrifice performance as it's powered by Apple's A15 Bionic chip that's also found in the iPhone 13 line and pre-installed with iOS 15. The latest iPhone SE is equipped with a single 12MP rear sensor and 7MP selfie camera, which are boosted by Apple's software to enable better photographs.

Mobile

AirTags range: here’s how far the tracker can reach

An AirTag attached on a keyring

Apple AirTags are a helpful tool for tracking valuable possessions like wallets, keys, luggage, and backpacks. These tags employ various technologies that allow you to track your items from short and long distances using your compatible Apple device, such as an iPhone 15 Plus. You might wonder how far you can track your items with AirTags. It's time to find out.
AirTags range, explained

The range of AirTags varies depending on the method you use to locate them. A Bluetooth connection will work when your AirTags are close to your supported Apple device. Otherwise, Apple's Find My network is utilized. Luckily, you don't have to choose the method because it's selected behind the scenes automatically.