iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max are the bare minimum to access AI features on device and in the cloud in iOS 18

Apple is expected to showcase various AI features on devices and in the cloud later this year when it unveils iOS 18. We’ll likely get a preview of these additions during the company’s upcoming WWDC 2024 keynote, which starts on June 10. Unfortunately, if you have something older than the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, you may not be able to use these features.

iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus may not support on-device and cloud AI features in iOS 18 as both feature A16 Bionic

While we should take a look at what to expect from iOS 18 next month to see how these features work, Mark Gurman mentions in the X post that you’ll need an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max. The A17 Pro’s greater capabilities than the A16 Bionic is likely one reason why compatibility of these features is exclusive to Apple’s latest “Pro” models, but it could also be due to the fact that the new SoC has a better neural engine.

This difference alone could be one of the main reasons why Apple will reportedly introduce an improved Neural Engine in the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, which should allow both models to run more AI features on the device, and fewer cloud-based features. A chipset with more powerful processor cores is always an advantage, but to access these features, a neural processing unit (NPU) is necessary. For those who don’t know, we reported that Siri in iOS 18 may no longer be the standard voice-enabled assistant and may give users additional control when performing multiple commands.

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Apple is betting that new AI features in the iPhone will encourage users to update their devices. Many of the AI ​​features available on the device will require an iPhone 15 Pro or later to function. Meanwhile, Macs and iPads will need at least an M1 chip. https://t.co/iSDTs6Xahi

— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) May 31, 2024

Moreover, we expect the software update to include built-in generative AI, which will be another reason why the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are bare minimum hardware. Disappointingly, Apple has omitted the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus with the A16 Bionic processor, which also means the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are omitted from the compatibility list. Specs-wise, these are still capable devices, so let’s see if Apple offers some limited capabilities when iOS 18 is released later this year.

Additionally, for those wondering about the AI ​​features available in macOS and their compatibility, Gurman states that the M1 will be the bare minimum. This means that if you have an Intel-based Mac, you’ll be out of luck when it comes to running AI features on the device and in the cloud.

Source of information: Marek Gurman