Apple Intelligence has made its way onto compatible iPhones, iPads, and Macs through a phased release. New features were introduced in both iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2. We now have clarity on how much additional storage space these new features will require on your iPhone.
Apple Intelligence now needs 7GB of available storage per device
During the initial rollout of Apple Intelligence features with iOS 18.1, Apple outlined several usage requirements.
Included in those requirements was a need for 4GB of available storage space on your iPhone.
This requirement is understandable, as one of the key privacy aspects of Apple Intelligence mandates that many of its functionalities operate locally on the device. This necessitates downloading AI models, which can consume storage capacity.
It was anticipated that the initial 4GB requirement would rise as more AI features were launched.
Now, it has nearly doubled with the release of iOS 18.2.
According to information from Apple’s website, Apple Intelligence now necessitates 7GB of free storage.
This same 7GB requirement applies for iPhones, iPads, and Macs alike.
However, since each device handles its own local processing, this can become significant if you use multiple devices.
If you aim to utilize AI features across all three devices (which is likely for most users), you would need a grand total of 21GB of free storage for Apple Intelligence.
Unfortunately, if you are low on storage space, there’s no option to lower this requirement by turning off certain features.
Reasons for the increased storage requirement and future expectations
The iOS 18.2 update brought in significant new AI capabilities, such as:
After reviewing these features, it’s clear why the storage requirement has increased.
However, as more functionalities from Apple Intelligence are introduced, the demand for on-device storage is only set to grow.
Looking ahead, there’s no indication from Apple that additional AI features will be included in iOS 18.3, but upcoming beta versions might alter this course.
The forthcoming iOS 18.4, scheduled for release in April, is expected to include considerable changes to Siri. Such enhancements will likely raise the 7GB storage requirement even further.
In just a few months, we could be facing 10GB requirements per device, even before any enhancements planned for iOS 19 are rolled out.
The key takeaway? It might be wise to consider upgrading your standard storage capacity when shopping for your next iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Are you worried about the storage requirements related to Apple Intelligence? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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