Apple has revised the storage requirements for its Apple Intelligence suite, a collection of artificial intelligence (AI) features. The updated specifications indicate that the storage capacity needed to operate these features on Apple devices such as the iPhone, iPad, and Mac has nearly doubled from previous levels. This increase is likely due to the need for additional local processing and the downloading of necessary AI models for optimal functionality of the features.
Apple Intelligence Storage Requirements
The company’s support page for Apple Intelligence has been updated to indicate that at least 7GB of available storage is now required on compatible devices. When the AI features were first introduced alongside the iOS 18.1 update, Apple initially stated that only 4GB of space was necessary. This earlier version of Apple Intelligence featured a limited selection of tools, including writing aid and web page summarization, which were showcased during the WWDC 2025 event in June.
The significant increase in storage needs appears to correlate with the introduction of a broader range of functionalities.
The subsequent release of iOS 18.2 in December added noteworthy AI capabilities, including Image Playground and ChatGPT integration with Siri. Future updates to iOS 18 are anticipated to further enhance the feature set, particularly with improvements in Siri’s contextual awareness. This suggests that the increased storage requirement is aligned with the expected expansion of the AI suite.
Apple Intelligence Compatibility
Apple has confirmed that its AI suite is compatible with the entire iPhone 16 series, which includes the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Additionally, two models from the iPhone 15 lineup—the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max—are also supported.
Beyond smartphones, the compatibility extends to iPads equipped with the A17 Pro chip or M1 and newer models, as well as Macs running on M1 or later processors. These devices have been enabled to use Apple Intelligence following the latest updates to iPadOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1, respectively.
