iOS 27 Raises Apple Intelligence Storage Needs to 14GB on Newer iPhones

Apple's new support document says the higher requirement applies to the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, iPhone Duo, iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, and iPhone Air. On those models, users need as much as 14GB of free storage to access every iOS 27 Apple Intelligence feature. For all other iPhone models, up to 8GB of storage is enough, the report said.

The storage increase is tied to two AI capabilities that are not available on other iPhone models: Siri AI voice customization for expressivity and pace, and improved accuracy for dictation. According to 9to5Mac, these features rely on Apple's more powerful on-device model, which takes up additional space on the device.

For most users, iOS 27 keeps the same storage requirement as before: 8GB. 9to5Mac reported that Apple managed to deliver the new AI features without raising the requirement for the majority of supported iPhones. The higher 14GB threshold is limited to the newest models that can run the more advanced on-device AI models.

Apple Intelligence first launched in 2024 and did not become the hit Apple had hoped for, according to 9to5Mac. The next-generation features in iOS 27 may have a better chance of gaining popularity. Siri AI, for example, is described as a major upgrade over the old Siri, with more than 100 new things it can do.

9to5Mac also asked readers for their views on the new AI features in iOS 27. The support document cited by the report lists the 14GB requirement as the maximum free storage needed on the affected models, while the 8GB figure remains the baseline for other iPhones.