How much storage does Apple Intelligence need in iOS 27?

Apple says Apple Intelligence needs up to 14GB of free storage on the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone Air, and up to 8GB on every other supported iPhone. Reports published on September 18 say the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo also fall in the 14GB group. Apple Watch needs up to 1.5GB.

Why do some iPhones need 14GB for Apple Intelligence?

The higher-end models run a larger on-device model that other devices do not get. According to reports, it powers Siri AI voice customisation for expressiveness and pace, plus more accurate dictation. Apple's own support page lists the storage figures but does not state the reason.

Does my Mac or iPad need 14GB for Apple Intelligence?

Only if it has an M4 or later chip (iPad) or an M3 or later chip (Mac) and also at least 12GB of unified memory. Macs and iPads that miss either condition, including every M1 and M2 model, need up to 8GB. Vision Pro with M5 is in the 14GB group.

Why is Apple Intelligence not turning on after the iOS 27 update?

The most common causes are too little free storage for the models to download, or a mismatch between your device language and Siri language. Check free space in Settings > General > iPhone Storage, make sure both languages match a supported language, and give the download time to finish on Wi-Fi.

Can I use Apple Intelligence in China or the EU?

In the EU, iOS 27 brings the new Apple Intelligence features to supported devices, including advanced photo editing, the new Image Playground and Safari features. Devices bought in mainland China cannot currently use Apple Intelligence there, and devices bought elsewhere also stop working with it when both the user and their Apple Account region are in mainland China.

Apple Intelligence Now Needs Up to 14GB of Storage

Apple Intelligence now needs up to 14GB of free storage on the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone Air under iOS 27, according to Apple's updated requirements page. Every other Apple Intelligence iPhone, iPad and Mac still needs up to 8GB, so owners of Apple's top-end hardware now have to set aside roughly 6GB more space to get the full feature set.

iPhone 17 Pro in orange and a second iPhone 17 Pro showing its display on stands in an Apple Store — The iPhone 17 Pro, one of the models that now needs up to 14GB free for Apple Intelligence, on display at an Apple Store.

The change matters most for people on 256GB phones that are already close to full. If the space is not there, Apple Intelligence models cannot finish downloading, and the features simply do not switch on after the iOS 27 update.

Exactly which devices need 14GB

Apple's support document for "the next generation of Apple Intelligence", dated September 14 to match the iOS 27 release, splits devices into three storage tiers:

Up to 14GB: iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, iPad models with M4 or later and at least 12GB of unified memory, Mac models with M3 or later and at least 12GB of unified memory, and Apple Vision Pro with M5.
Up to 8GB: every other Apple Intelligence device, including the iPhone 16 family, iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, iPad mini (A17 Pro), MacBook Neo (A18 Pro), and iPads and Macs with M1 or later that miss the memory cut-off.
Up to 1.5GB: Apple Watch Series 9 or later, Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later, and Apple Watch SE 3 paired with an Apple Intelligence iPhone.

The Apple page does not yet name this week's iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max or iPhone Duo. Reports published today place all three in the 14GB tier alongside the iPhone 17 Pro, which fits the pattern: the higher figure follows the chip and memory, not the model year.

The memory condition is the detail that is easy to miss on iPad and Mac. An M4 iPad or an M3 Mac only lands in the 14GB group if it has 12GB of unified memory or more. Lower-memory configurations of the same chips stay at 8GB.

Why the premium models need more space

Apple's page does not explain the split. According to reports, the extra room goes to a larger on-device model that only the higher-end hardware runs. It powers two features the other devices do not get: adjusting the expressiveness and pace of Siri AI's voice, and more accurate dictation.

That makes the 14GB figure a ceiling rather than a fixed cost. Apple words every tier as "up to", and the actual footprint depends on which languages and features are downloaded.

Language and region rules still apply

Storage is only one gate. Your device language and Siri language must be set to the same supported language, and Apple warns that changing the Siri language can switch Apple Intelligence off until the new language finishes downloading.

Apple lists 16 supported languages with iOS 27, including English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Turkish, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean and both simplified and traditional Chinese. EU residents get the new photo-editing, Image Playground and Safari features on supported devices. Devices bought in mainland China still cannot use Apple Intelligence there.

How to check and free up space

Open Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see how much free space you have. On a Mac, use System Settings > General > Storage.
If you are under 14GB on an affected model, the fastest wins are usually offloading unused apps, clearing large message attachments, and moving photos and videos to a cloud service. Our guide to cloud storage and backup apps covers the options.
Then go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and check whether the models have finished downloading.

The requirement also shifts the maths for buyers. With memory costs already weighing on iPhone 18 Pro pricing, 14GB is a noticeable slice of a 256GB phone once iOS 27 itself, which arrived on September 14, is counted.