Apple Intelligence is entering its second year, and iOS 26 adds many new and improved AI features. But despite everything new, there’s surprisingly good news for iPhone storage requirements in the new update.
Apple Intelligence still has the same 7 GB storage requirement in iOS 26
Last year, Apple Intelligence launched in iOS 18.1 with a selection of features, followed by a steady drip of new additions throughout iOS 18.2 and beyond.
One trend I noticed at the time was that those new features came at a cost: Apple’s published storage requirements for Apple Intelligence increased over time.
- Initially with iOS 18.1, your iPhone needed 4 GB of free storage to support Apple Intelligence.
- But after iOS 18.2, that number nearly doubled and 7 GB was required.
That’s 7 GB per device, so potentially 21 GB total if you want AI across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Since Apple Intelligence is primarily designed to run on-device, this makes sense. But the thought of ever-increasing iPhone storage requirements for AI was concerning.
Fortunately, iOS 26 has good news on that front.
Despite the 20+ new features and enhancements that Apple shipped in its latest iPhone software update, the storage requirements remain unchanged.
A recently updated support document confirms that Apple Intelligence still only requires 7 GB of free storage on your device.
This is a bit surprising considering the storage increases we saw during the iOS 18 cycle, but it could be due to a variety of factors.
For example, it’s possible Apple has improved efficiency with its on-device models. Additionally, the bulk of iOS 26’s new features might rely on existing and/or enhanced models rather than anything brand new.
In any case, the combination of Apple shipping all new iPhone 17 and iPhone Air models with 256 GB of base storage, and the lack of storage increases for Apple Intelligence, is a welcome and unexpected development for users.
How much iPhone storage are you willing to give up for Apple Intelligence features? Let us know in the comments.
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