Apple Intelligence works on iPhone 15 Pro or newer, Apple silicon iPads and Macs, Vision Pro, plus paired Apple Watch models for select features.
Shopping for an upgrade or just checking whether your gear is ready? This guide lays out support by model, chip, and software so you can tell at a glance what runs these tools today. You’ll also find a clean checklist, language notes, and easy steps to verify your setup.
Quick Support Matrix
Start with the big picture. The table below groups support by device category, required chip, and baseline software. Scan it, then jump to the model list that follows.
| Category | Models That Support It | Chip / Minimum OS |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | 15 Pro / 15 Pro Max; 16 lineup; 17 lineup; iPhone Air | A17 Pro or newer; iOS 18.1+ |
| iPad | iPad Pro (M1+); iPad Air (M1+); latest iPad mini (A17 Pro) | M-series or A17 Pro; iPadOS 18.1+ |
| Mac | MacBook Air/Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, Mac Pro (Apple silicon) | M1 or newer; macOS 15.1+ |
| Headset | Apple Vision Pro | visionOS 2.4+ |
| Apple Watch | Series 6+, Ultra models, SE (2nd gen+) | watchOS 11+; mirrors features when paired with a supported iPhone |
What Devices Support Apple Intelligence Right Now
On phones, support starts with the A17 Pro chip. That covers 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, and it extends to the 16 family and the 17 range. Apple’s spec pages also list iPhone Air and newer Pro devices that ship with A-class chips beyond A17 Pro. If your phone sits below that chip tier, you still get iOS 18 updates, but these AI tools stay off.
For tablets and laptops, the rule is simple: Apple silicon. Any iPad Pro or iPad Air with an M-series chip works, and the newest iPad mini with A17 Pro qualifies too. On Mac, every model with M1, M2, M3, or newer chips gets the feature set once you install macOS Sequoia (15.1 or later).
Vision Pro gained support with visionOS 2.4. You’ll see writing tools, image features, and Siri upgrades where they fit the headset’s interface. Watch adds a twist: the watch itself doesn’t run the full stack, but paired watches surface summaries, replies, and other bits when your iPhone nearby supports the features.
Why Some Models Miss Out
These tools lean on the Neural Engine and memory bandwidth. Older A-series chips don’t meet the compute and RAM bar, so they run iOS 18 yet skip this AI layer. That setup keeps text rewrite, image creation, and private on-device processing fast on supported hardware while offloading select tasks to Apple’s secured cloud when needed.
Exact Models By Line
Phones
Eligible phones include iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, all 16 models, and the 17 family. Newer Pro lines and iPhone Air ship with chips that meet or exceed the threshold. Standard 15, 14, 13, and earlier models install iOS 18 yet don’t enable this AI suite.
Tablets
Every iPad Pro with M1 or newer qualifies. iPad Air models with M1 or newer qualify. The latest iPad mini with A17 Pro qualifies. Other iPad models can install iPadOS 18 but skip this AI layer.
Macs
Any Mac with Apple silicon works once updated to macOS Sequoia 15.1 or later. That includes MacBook Air and Pro with M-series chips, iMac with M-series, Mac mini (M-series), Mac Studio (M1 Max or newer), and Mac Pro (M2 Ultra).
Vision Pro And Watch
Vision Pro supports these tools on visionOS 2.4 and later. Apple Watch Series 6 and newer, all Ultra models, and SE (2nd gen and newer) surface AI-powered summaries and replies when paired to an eligible iPhone.
How To Check Your Chip And OS
On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > General > About to confirm your model; then check Software Update. On Mac, choose > About This Mac to view chip and macOS version, then run Software Update if needed. Apple’s step-by-step page for this is here: Find your macOS version.
Language, Regions, And Rollout Notes
Apple staged language support across 2024–2025. U.S. English landed first, followed by broad language additions in early 2025. If features seem missing, switch Siri and device language to a supported option, update to the listed OS version, and sign in with a region that currently offers the full set.
You’ll also see a staggered release per app. Writing tools, image features, and Siri gains land in waves. That’s normal. If a toggle shows but a button is grayed out, wait for the app update or the next point release.
Feature Highlights You Can Expect
On supported hardware, you get Writing Tools for rewrite and tone, Image Playground for quick scenes and Genmoji, smarter photo search and cleanup, priority email and message summaries, tighter notifications, and Siri that understands context across apps. Many tasks run on device; some call Apple’s Private Cloud Compute when needed.
Troubleshooting When Features Don’t Appear
If your model meets the chip bar and the software requirement, try these quick fixes.
Update And Region
- Install the latest point release (iOS 18.4+, iPadOS 18.4+, macOS 15.4+, or newer).
- Set Siri and device language to a supported language, then reboot.
- Confirm your Apple ID region supports the rollout.
Settings Toggles
- On iPhone/iPad/Mac, open Settings/System Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and switch on the features you want.
- On Watch, keep the paired iPhone nearby. Some options appear only when the phone is present and unlocked.
Storage And Power
- Keep at least 10–15% free storage for model downloads and caches.
- Plug in during the first setup; indexing and model prep can run for a bit.
Detailed Compatibility List
The table below consolidates the device list and the exact floor for each line. It sits lower on the page for readers who want to verify every model before buying or updating.
| Product Line | Eligible Models | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | 15 Pro / 15 Pro Max; 16; 16 Plus; 16 Pro; 16 Pro Max; 17; 17 Air; 17 Pro; 17 Pro Max | A17 Pro or newer; iOS 18.1+ |
| iPad | iPad Pro (M1, M2, M3…); iPad Air (M1, M2…); iPad mini (A17 Pro) | M-series or A17 Pro; iPadOS 18.1+ |
| Mac | MacBook Air (M1+); MacBook Pro (M1+); iMac (M1+); Mac mini (M1+); Mac Studio (M1 Max+); Mac Pro (M2 Ultra) | M1 or newer; macOS 15.1+ |
| Vision | Apple Vision Pro | visionOS 2.4+ |
| Watch | Series 6+, Ultra models, SE (2nd gen+) | Paired with eligible iPhone; watchOS 11+ |
Buying Advice: Who Should Upgrade
If you create content on the go, the gains land right away: text rewrite that fits tone, scene and object cleanup, and image prompts that slot into social posts. If you live in email and chat, message summaries and smart reply drafts save time. Students get tighter study notes and quicker pulls from long readings. If you already own an M-series Mac or iPad, you’re set. Phone owners below 15 Pro see the biggest jump by moving to a model with the right chip.
Security And Privacy Snapshot
Much of the AI work happens on device. When cloud help is needed, Apple routes requests through Private Cloud Compute on Apple silicon servers with audit options and strong data protections. That design pairs well with the performance you get from recent chips.
Where To Confirm Official Requirements
Apple posts the live list and setup steps on its site. For the freshest details, check the device requirements page. It calls out supported iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro, and the pairing rules for Watch.
Checklist Before You Update
- Back up your device to iCloud or a Mac.
- Free up storage and plug in.
- Update to iOS/iPadOS 18.1+ or macOS 15.1+ (or later point releases).
- Open the Apple Intelligence & Siri settings and turn on the features you want.
- Test Writing Tools, Image Playground, photo cleanup, and Siri across a few apps.