iOS 27's most advanced on-device AI needs 12GB of RAM – and most iPhones don't have it

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Facepalm: Apple released the first public beta for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 this week, bringing several new generative AI features, many of which utilize on-device AI models running locally on devices supporting Apple Intelligence. However, it has now been confirmed that the most sought-after on-device AI features will only run on a handful of devices with compatible hardware.

According to Apple's press release, features such as Expressive Voices and enhanced dictation rely on a new on-device AI model that requires at least 12GB of system memory. As a result, only the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air support all of the new generative AI features.

Those hardware requirements mean the new capabilities won't be available on the other iPhone models that support Apple Intelligence, including the base iPhone 17, which comes with just 8GB of RAM. Older iPhones will also miss out on these advanced features, though they will still receive the rest of Apple's new AI tools, including those that rely on less demanding on-device processing.