Apple Intelligence: How much storage space does Apple AI take up on iPhone

Shortly before the launch of Apple Intelligence, Apple announced additional requirements and system requirements. For the first time, this also includes concrete information about storage space requirements: on iPhones, the local language model of the AI ​​package initially requires at least 4 GB of free storage space, as the manufacturer now notes in a support document. Also, Apple says that as additional functions arrive, the space required for the AI ​​model will continue to grow.

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Increasing space requirements for AI models

The iOS operating system takes up a third more space than before and has grown from about 12 GB to about 16 GB. However, this only happens if you activate Apple Intelligence; language models are not an integral part of the operating system, but are loaded from Apple’s servers. Individual AI tasks such as clean-up tools for removing image content require a separate download. In the beta of iOS 18.1, Apple AI on iPhones uses about 3 GB of storage space according to system settings.

Apple Intelligence initially lacks previously announced functions related to AI image generation, which would likely significantly increase the need for storage space. According to the company, they work entirely locally, rather than computing requests in Apple’s AI cloud.

Apple Intelligence makes its debut with iOS 18.1, the update that will be released to the general public in October. Apple mentioned in the document. An early version can already be tested. The AI ​​is only available on the new iPhone 16 series, as well as the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. iPads and Macs with M1 chips are also supported. Image AI and Genmojis will likely follow with iOS 18.2 by the end of the year.

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Apple Intelligence can only be activated with a trick in Germany

Apple’s AI tools initially only support English, the operating system – including Siri – must be set up accordingly. Support for German and other languages ​​​​is announced by 2025. In Germany and all other EU member countries, Apple Intelligence will initially only be available in macOS. Apple cites “regulatory uncertainties” caused by EU competition law (Digital Market Act – DMA) as the reason for this.

The AI ​​therefore cannot be activated on iPhones and iPads unless the user is within the EU and uses an Apple ID or Apple account that is also assigned to the EU. Outside the EU – that is, in Switzerland and Great Britain – Apple Intelligence can be activated in iOS and iPadOS 18.1, as long as the operating system is set to US English. Once the AI ​​is activated, it continues to work even when traveling to other regions, Apple emphasizes.

In Germany, Apple Intelligence can currently be activated by using an Apple account whose billing address is outside the EU for “Media and Purchases” (which includes the App Store and Apple subscription services such as music).

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