Last updated: October 16, 2025 – Apple Intelligence Requirements in 2025
- Supported Devices (2025)
- Required OS Versions
- Storage, Language & Region
- Privacy Model: On-Device First, Then Private Cloud Compute
- Compatibility Cheat-Sheet (2025)
- How to Turn Apple Intelligence On
- Using ChatGPT Inside Apple Intelligence (Optional)
- Troubleshooting Checklist
- FAQ
- What to Expect Next (Forward-Looking)
- Bottom Line
Apple Intelligence requirements runs on-device only on recent Apple silicon:
- iPhone: iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and all iPhone 16 models or newer
- iPad: M-series iPad Air/Pro or iPad mini (A17 Pro)
- Mac: Any Mac with M1 or later
- OS: iOS/iPadOS 18.1+, macOS Sequoia 15.1+ (newer is better)
- Other: ~7GB free storage, device language & Siri language set to the same supported language
Some heavier tasks use Private Cloud Compute with strong privacy protections.
Supported Devices (2025)
iPhone
- iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max (A17 Pro)
- All iPhone 16 models or newer
Note: iPhone 15/15 Plus and older models are not supported.
iPad
- iPad Air (M1 or later)
- iPad Pro (M1 or later)
- iPad mini with A17 Pro
Mac
- Any Mac with Apple Silicon (M1 or later)
- MacBook Air/Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, Mac Pro
Vision Pro
- Supported on visionOS 2.4+ (feature coverage may vary)
Apple Watch (paired features)
- No native Apple Intelligence on watch; some experiences appear when paired to a supported iPhone (watchOS 11+)
| Category | Minimum models | Minimum OS | Notes (features/region) |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone | 15 Pro / 15 Pro Max; all iPhone 16 | iOS 18.1+ | Enabled by default on eligible devices from 18.3 (see source note) |
| iPad | Air/Pro with M-series; mini (A17 Pro) | iPadOS 18.1+ | Match Device & Siri language for setup to appear |
| Mac | Any Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later) | macOS Sequoia 15.1+ | On-device by default; heavy tasks may use Private Cloud Compute |
| Vision Pro | Latest Apple Vision Pro | Latest visionOS | Feature coverage varies by app and region |
Required OS Versions
- iPhone/iPad: iOS/iPadOS 18.1 or later
- Mac: macOS Sequoia 15.1 or later
- Vision Pro: visionOS 2.4 or later
From iOS/iPadOS 18.3 and macOS 15.3, Apple Intelligence is enabled by default on eligible devices (you can turn it off).
Storage, Language & Region
- Free storage: Keep ≈7GB available for on-device models and assets
- Language requirements: Device Language and Siri Language must match a supported language
- Languages/regions (2025): Expanded beyond English to include major languages such as French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese, plus more regional rollouts through iOS/iPadOS 18.4 and macOS 15.4 and later
| Release | OS builds | Languages added | Region notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wave 1 (2025) | iOS/iPadOS 18.4 · macOS 15.4 | French, German, Italian, Portuguese (BR), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese | Availability varies by country; Siri + Device language should match |
| Wave 2 (rolling) | 18.x / 15.x point releases | Additional languages (e.g., Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, etc.) | Mark as “rolling rollout”; link to latest Apple Newsroom/Support |
Privacy Model: On-Device First, Then Private Cloud Compute
Apple Intelligence prioritizes on-device processing. For tasks that need extra compute, it uses Private Cloud Compute (PCC)—Apple-controlled servers running Apple silicon and a locked-down, verifiable OS. Requests are designed not to be stored, and researchers can audit system images. The goal: generative features with useful results and strong privacy.
Compatibility Cheat-Sheet (2025)
| Category | Minimum Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | 15 Pro / 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16+ | iOS 18.1+; enabled by default from 18.3 |
| iPad | M1 or later (Air/Pro) or iPad mini (A17 Pro) | iPadOS 18.1+; Siri + device language must match |
| Mac | Any Mac with M1 or later | macOS Sequoia 15.1+ |
| Vision Pro | visionOS 2.4+ | Feature set varies by app/region |
| Storage | ~7GB free | For on-device models |
| Languages | Major languages incl. EN, FR, DE, IT, PT-BR, ES, JA, KO, ZH-Hans | Availability expanding by region/OS updates |
How to Turn Apple Intelligence On
- Update your OS
- iPhone/iPad: Settings → General → Software Update → install latest 18.x
- Mac: System Settings → General → Software Update → install latest 15.x
- Match language settings
- Settings/System Settings → General → Language & Region: set a supported Device Language
- Siri & Search → Language: set the same language as above
- Ensure free space
- Aim for ≥7GB free storage so models can download/install
- Find the toggle
- Apple Intelligence & Siri (on iPhone/iPad/Mac): make sure Apple Intelligence is On
- On supported OS versions (18.3/15.3+), it’s On by default—you can disable/re-enable anytime
Quick Start
- Update OS — iPhone/iPad: Settings → General → Software Update (iOS/iPadOS 18.x). Mac: System Settings → General → Software Update (macOS 15.x).
- Align languages — Set the same supported language for Device & Siri.
- Free up ≈7 GB — Ensure enough space for on-device models to download.
- Toggle Apple Intelligence — Settings/System Settings → Apple Intelligence & Siri.
Note: On eligible devices it’s on by default from iOS/iPadOS 18.3 & macOS 15.3.
Using ChatGPT Inside Apple Intelligence (Optional)
Apple integrates ChatGPT into Siri, Writing Tools, Image Playground, and more. You can:
- Use ChatGPT free without an OpenAI account, or
- Link your ChatGPT account (free or paid) for extra features and history syncing
Find it in Settings/System Settings → Apple Intelligence & Siri → ChatGPT.
Troubleshooting Checklist
- Device unsupported?
Only iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max, iPhone 16+, M-series iPads, and M1+ Macs qualify. - Menu missing?
Update to the latest iOS/iPadOS 18.x / macOS 15.x and ensure Siri language matches Device language. - Not enough space?
Free up 7GB+ to allow on-device model downloads. - Privacy concerns?
Remember: on-device first; heavy tasks may use Private Cloud Compute with non-retained requests.
FAQ
Does Apple Intelligence run on Apple Watch?
Not natively. Some features appear when a supported iPhone is paired with Apple Watch (watchOS 11+).
Is there a RAM requirement?
Apple lists chip-based requirements (A17 Pro/M-series). Practically, supported devices ship with 8GB+ RAM, which helps keep models resident.
Which languages are available now?
By early 2025, Apple expanded beyond English to multiple major languages and more regions via the 18.4/15.4 updates. Check Apple Intelligence & Siri settings for your region.
Do my prompts get stored in the cloud?
Apple says on-device by default; when cloud compute is needed, PCC processes requests without storing them and uses verifiable server images.
What to Expect Next (Forward-Looking)
- More languages & regions rolling out via point releases (18.x / 15.x)
- Deeper app integrations (Mail, Notes, Pages, third-party) leveraging on-device models
- Improved reliability & speed as Apple tunes model sizes and PCC capacity
Bottom Line
If you own iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max or any iPhone 16, an M-series iPad, or any M1+ Mac, keep your device on the latest iOS/iPadOS 18.x or macOS 15.x, ensure ≈7GB free, and match your Device & Siri language. You’ll get Apple’s AI features with privacy-first on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute for heavier tasks.
Regional caveats (EU)
- Live Translation + AirPods: certain limitations apply in the EU. Check your country’s Apple Support page.
- Language packs and features roll out in waves; availability is not global on day one.
References
- Apple Support — “How to get Apple Intelligence”
- Apple Newsroom — Language & region expansion (2025)
- Apple Security — Private Cloud Compute overview & docs
- The Verge — Default-on behavior from 18.3/15.3
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