Apple Intelligence features have been rolling out in phases on compatible iPhones, iPads, and Macs. With the releases of iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2, new functionalities were introduced, and the storage requirements for these features on iPhones became more defined.
Reports indicate that each device now requires 7GB of available storage space for Apple Intelligence. When Apple first introduced this feature with iOS 18.1, it specified several prerequisites including a minimum of 4GB of free storage. This was justified at the time due to the privacy-centric design of Apple Intelligence, which runs most processes locally and necessitates downloading AI models that consume storage.
As additional AI capabilities are launched, the initial 4GB storage requirement is expected to increase. Indeed, following the release of iOS 18.2, this requirement nearly doubled. According to Apple's official website, Apple Intelligence now demands 7GB of free storage space, applicable across iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices.
For users operating multiple devices, the cumulative storage requirement can be significant since each device performs independent local processing. Utilizing AI features across all three types of devices would result in Apple Intelligence occupying a total of 21GB of available space.
Unfortunately, there is no option to reduce this requirement by disabling certain functions. As Apple Intelligence continues to expand, the demand for onboard storage will become increasingly critical.
Currently, Apple does not seem to be adding new AI features in iOS 18.3, though future beta versions may introduce changes. However, significant updates to Siri are anticipated in the upcoming iOS 18.4 release scheduled for April, which will likely elevate the existing 7GB storage requirement.
In the coming months, the per-device storage requirement could rise to 10GB or higher, even before new features in iOS 19 are unveiled. Therefore, prospective buyers of new iPhones, iPads, or Macs should consider opting for higher storage configurations.
