Apple Intelligence availability and release matrix
Parent: Apple Intelligence · Published reference · snapshot 2026-10-23 · viability 4.65 / 5 (research)
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How it works
- For OS 27, Apple lists eligible hardware as iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, iPhone 16 or later, iPhone Air and iPhone Duo; iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPads with M1 or later; MacBook Neo (A18 Pro) and Macs with M1 or later; Apple Vision Pro; and Apple Watch Series 9 or later, Ultra 2 or later, and SE 3 when paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone. Some features require the iPhone nearby. (high confidence) (verified as of 2026-10-22) [source]
- Apple lists 16 supported languages for many Apple Intelligence features on iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27: English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Its visionOS 27 list is narrower: English, French, German, Italian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. Some watchOS 27 features use these languages when paired with an enabled iPhone; feature availability can still vary by platform, language, and region. (high confidence) (verified as of 2026-10-22) [source]
- As of Apple's October 22, 2026 Support update, Apple Intelligence does not currently work on supported devices purchased in mainland China. For devices bought outside mainland China, Apple says it also does not work when the device is in mainland China and the Apple Account country or region is mainland China. Separately, an October 14 Bloomberg report carried by Investing.com described a planned December launch in iOS 27.3; that report was a forecast, not evidence that the launch had occurred. (high confidence) (verified as of 2026-10-22) [source]
Measurements and reference values
- Apple requires the device language and Siri language to match a supported language. The support article lists model-asset storage use of up to 14 GB for specified newer devices, up to 8 GB for other enabled iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro models, and up to 1.5 GB on Apple Watch; storage may temporarily exceed those amounts while models download and older models are removed after an update. (low confidence) (verified as of 2026-10-22) [source]
- Apple's October 22, 2026 system requirements include up to 8 GB of local storage for other eligible iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro models, up to 14 GB for specified newer or higher-memory devices, and up to 1.5 GB on Apple Watch. Device and Siri languages must match and be supported; after a Siri-language change, Apple Intelligence may remain unavailable until the new language finishes downloading and matches the device language. (high confidence) (verified as of 2026-10-22) [source]
Problems, failure modes and limitations
- As of its October 22, 2026 support article, Apple says Apple Intelligence does not currently work on supported devices purchased in China mainland. Devices purchased elsewhere also cannot use it when the user is in China mainland and the Apple Account country or region is China mainland. Apple says previously purchased compatible devices may activate a core set once availability begins, while new features remain unavailable during regulatory review. (low confidence) (verified as of 2026-10-22) [source]
Comparisons and alternatives
- Apple warns that feature availability varies by platform, language, and region, and its separate iOS/iPadOS 27 table lists limits per feature rather than treating the broad language list as universal; for example, Photos Clean Up is listed as worldwide except China mainland. (high confidence) (verified as of 2026-10-22) [source]
- Bloomberg reported on October 14, 2026, citing people familiar with the matter, that Apple planned a December 2026 China Mainland release with iOS 27.3. Apple's October 22 support page still described China availability as future, so this remains a reported plan rather than confirmation of launch. (medium confidence) (verified as of 2026-10-22) [source]
Facts and statements
- Apple's June 8, 2026 announcement said the next-generation capabilities would reach users in fall; its September 14 release announcement described the next generation as released, and its October 22 Support matrix says it is automatically available on eligible devices after the 27.0 releases of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and visionOS in supported languages and regions. (high confidence) (verified as of 2026-10-22) [source]
- Installing iOS 27 does not by itself make an iPhone Apple Intelligence eligible: AP reported that the iOS 27 upgrade reaches iPhones dating to iPhone 11, while Apple's current support matrix limits Apple Intelligence on iPhone to iPhone Duo, iPhone 16 models or later, iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, and iPhone Air; Apple's iPhone User Guide separately lists iPhone 11 among iOS 27-compatible models. (high confidence) (verified as of 2026-10-23) [source]
- Apple says many Apple Intelligence features are available in most regions, but some features vary by region or language; its feature-availability page provides per-feature region and language entries. Apple says specified next-generation cross-app capabilities are available to EU residents on supported devices with iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, or visionOS 27, so the EU statement does not establish availability of every feature in every language. (high confidence) (verified as of 2026-10-22) [source]
- The South China Morning Post reported that selected China mainland users briefly received an Apple Intelligence feature update on March 31, 2026, and that Apple quickly pulled it. That reported short exposure did not establish general availability; Apple's October 22 support article still listed China access as unavailable. (medium confidence) (verified as of 2026-10-22) [source]
Children
- No children recorded.