Apple Intelligence Supported Devices List

Apple Intelligence is Apple’s suite of on-device and cloud-based AI features, and it works only on specific iPhone, iPad, and Mac models. The supported devices are: iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and any iPhone from the iPhone 16 series onward; iPads and Macs with an M1 chip or later, with the device and Siri language set to a supported region and language. This article explains exactly which models qualify, why older chips are excluded, and how to check if your device is ready.

What Is Apple Intelligence?

Apple Intelligence, announced at WWDC 2024, is a personal intelligence system integrated into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. It combines generative models with personal context to help with writing, summarization, image creation, and Siri improvements. Unlike many cloud-only AI assistants, Apple Intelligence uses a hybrid approach: most processing happens on-device via Apple’s Neural Engine, while complex requests are sent to Private Cloud Compute, Apple’s dedicated server infrastructure that does not store or expose data to Apple.

Key features include Writing Tools (proofreading, rewriting, summarizing), Genmoji (custom emoji creation), Image Playground (image generation), and a more natural Siri that can understand context and perform actions across apps. These features require significant computational power, which is why Apple set a hardware floor.

Full List of Supported Devices

Apple has published an official compatibility list. As of iOS 18.1 and later, the following devices support Apple Intelligence:

• iPhone: iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, and all future iPhone models (e.g., iPhone 17 series when released).
• iPad: Any iPad with an M1 chip or later, including iPad Pro (M1 and newer), iPad Air (M1 and newer), and the 11-inch or 13-inch iPad Pro models. The standard iPad (non-Pro/Air) with A-series chips is not supported.
• Mac: Any Mac with an M1 chip or later, including MacBook Air (M1, M2, M3), MacBook Pro (M1, M2, M3), iMac (M1, M3), Mac mini (M1, M2), Mac Studio (M1 Max/Ultra, M2 Max/Ultra), and Mac Pro (M2 Ultra).
• Vision Pro: Apple Vision Pro with visionOS 2.4 or later also supports Apple Intelligence features like Writing Tools and Genmoji.

Notably, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus (with A16 Bionic chip) are not supported, despite being recent models. The standard iPad (10th generation) with A14 Bionic is also excluded.

Why the A16 Chip Is Excluded

The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus use the A16 Bionic chip, which has a 16-core Neural Engine. Apple claims the A16 does not meet the performance threshold needed for Apple Intelligence. The A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro and the A18 series in the iPhone 16 have faster Neural Engines and more memory bandwidth. Apple has not released specific technical benchmarks, but the requirement is likely a combination of Neural Engine TOPS (trillions of operations per second) and unified memory capacity. Apple Intelligence models require at least 8GB of RAM on iPhone and 8GB on iPad/Mac; the A16 iPhone has 6GB, while the A17 Pro and A18 have 8GB. This memory floor is a key reason for the cutoff.

How to Check if Your Device Is Supported

If you are unsure, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings on iPhone/iPad or System Settings on Mac.
2. Go to General > About.
3. Look at the Model Name and Chip fields. If it says A17 Pro, A18, A18 Pro, or M1/M2/M3/M4, you are likely supported.
4. For iPhone, check if the model is listed as “Pro� or “Pro Max� for iPhone 15/16 series.
5. Update to the latest iOS/iPadOS/macOS version (iOS 18.1 or later, macOS Sequoia 15.1 or later).
6. Go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri (or System Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri) and see if the toggle appears. If it does, you are supported.

If the toggle is missing, your device is not on the list, or your region/language is not yet supported (see below).

Regional and Language Requirements

Apple Intelligence is not available everywhere at launch. Initially, it required the device and Siri language to be set to U.S. English. In December 2024, Apple expanded to localized English for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK. In 2025, support for Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese is planned. If your device is compatible but you live outside these regions, you can temporarily switch your region and language to U.S. English to access the features, though some localized content may not work perfectly.

Common Misconceptions

One frequent question is whether the iPhone 15 (non-Pro) will get Apple Intelligence later. Apple has not indicated any plan to add support retroactively. The hardware limitation is fixed, so no future software update will enable it. Another misconception is that all iPads with an A-series chip work; they do not. Only M-series chips qualify. Also, some users think Apple Intelligence is a separate app; it is integrated into the OS, so you won’t see an “Apple Intelligenceâ€� app icon. Instead, features appear within Messages, Notes, Mail, and Siri.

What to Do If Your Device Isn’t Supported

If your device is not on the list, you have a few options:

• Continue using your device without Apple Intelligence; it will still receive standard iOS/macOS updates for years.
• Use alternative AI tools that are not hardware-restricted, such as web-based chatbots or third-party apps, but be aware of privacy differences.
• Consider upgrading to a supported device if Apple Intelligence is important to you. The iPhone 16 series and M1+ Macs are the entry points.

For those with a supported device but no toggle, double-check that you have the latest OS update and that your region/language is set correctly. Restarting the device after updating can also help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Apple Intelligence work on my iPhone 14 Pro?

No. The iPhone 14 Pro has an A16 Bionic chip, which is not supported. Only iPhone 15 Pro and later models work.

Does my MacBook Air M1 support Apple Intelligence?

Yes, any Mac with an M1 chip or later, including the MacBook Air M1, supports Apple Intelligence if you have macOS Sequoia 15.1 or later and the correct region/language.

Can I use Apple Intelligence on my iPad Air 4?

No. The iPad Air 4 has an A14 Bionic chip. Only iPad Air models with M1 or later (iPad Air 5 and newer) are supported.

Is Apple Intelligence free?

Yes, Apple Intelligence is included free with the operating system. There is no subscription fee, and it does not require an Apple One plan.

Does Apple Intelligence work in all countries?

No, it is rolling out gradually. Initially limited to U.S. English, it has expanded to other English-speaking countries and will support more languages in 2025. You can change your region to a supported one to access it early.

Will my iPhone 15 (non-Pro) ever get Apple Intelligence?

No. Apple has stated the hardware requirements are fixed, and the A16 chip does not meet them. No future software update will change that.

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