Every Iphone Model That Supports Apple's New Ios 26 Ai Features (and No, Its Not Just The Iphone 17)

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Apple will motorboat its iPhone 17 lineup connected Tuesday, September 9. 
  
• The caller devices will see caller Apple Intelligence features via iOS 26.  
• Users tin besides entree nan latest iOS 26 AI features successful older models. 
  

While Apple is holding its large iPhone 17 motorboat arena connected Tuesday, wherever it will motorboat its latest and top smartphones yet, if you are conscionable considering purchasing nan latest devices to entree nan caller AI features dropping successful iOS 26, you'll want to reconsider. 

Also: Apple iPhone 17 arena unrecorded updates: The biggest rumors connected AirPods, Apple Watch Series 11, more

While nan iPhone 17 will beryllium capable to tally nan latest experiences champion because of its astir precocious specs, anterior models tin besides entree nan afloat suite of Apple Intelligence features. All you request is 1 of nan iPhone models pinch nan A17 Pro spot aliases higher, which includes older models that could prevention you immoderate cash. 

To find nan afloat database of features and compatible phones, support reference below. 

What caller AI features travel pinch iOS 26?

iOS 26 includes a suite of AI features guaranteed to level up your mundane iPhone experience. While nan AI features whitethorn not beryllium nan flashiest, they supply assistance successful applicable ways crossed your apps, including photos, messages, calls, and more. A item of nan caller AI features includes:

• Visual Intelligence
• Real-time translation
• AutoMix successful Apple Music
• Shortcuts utilizing Apple Intelligence
• Hold Assist
• Spatial Photos
• Workout Buddy

For a much broad database of nan features, including descriptions of what they each do for you, you tin sojourn nan article here: 7 adjuvant AI features launching successful iOS 26 adjacent week.

Which iPhone models support these caller AI features?

You'll request astatine slightest an iPhone 15 Pro (or a newer model) to usage these features.

Requiring Apple's latest hardware to acquisition these caller features whitethorn look for illustration planned obsolescence aliases a money grab, and it's astir apt a spot of both. But there's besides nan hardware aspect, pinch Apple claiming that nan proviso is owed to nan processing hardware (such arsenic RAM and memory) needed to support its caller AI features -- particularly for tasks that require on-device processing.

Processing AI tasks on-device offers 2 cardinal benefits: It keeps accusation much unafraid and ensures little latency. Apple claims that not each iPhones, particularly older models, person nan processing powerfulness to grip those tasks. The caller AI features will trust connected some cloud-based and on-device processing, depending connected nan complexity of nan task.

Specifically, Apple has said these tasks require astatine slightest Apple's A17 Pro chip, presently recovered only successful nan iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. That intends nan iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, while released simultaneously arsenic nan Pro models, won't support nan AI upgrades, arsenic those phones only person Apple's A16 Bionic SoC. To bask the iPhone 16 lineup features, A18 and A18 Pro chips, making them nan champion suited for nan afloat AI experience. 

If you don't ain nan iPhone 15 Pro aliases later and don't scheme connected upgrading anytime soon, don't worry; you whitethorn still get to acquisition immoderate Apple Intelligence features, specifically those that tally via nan cloud. If you want nan afloat experience, however, you whitethorn want to commencement preparing to acquisition a caller iPhone.

Which Mac and iPad models support Apple Intelligence?

The bully news is that if you are a Mac aliases iPad user, you won't request nan newest model. To usage nan AI features connected a Mac aliases iPad, your instrumentality will request astatine slightest an M1 chip; considering Apple is presently manufacturing M4 iPads and M3 Macs, galore users pinch older devices should person immoderate wiggle room to test-drive nan latest AI features.