Siri AI iPhone Compatibility: Millions of Devices Left Behind as Apple Sets Strict Requirements

Will your iPhone support Siri AI? The answer is complicated

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways * Only newer devices can access all the features of Siri AI. * Older devices can't use the advanced on-device AI model. * The advanced model lets you tweak Siri's voice and dictate accurately. Apple spent much of its WWDC keynote on Monday touting Siri AI. This new and hopefully improved version of the voice assistant promises to act more like other AI-powered chatbots. Assuming Siri AI lives up to its advance billing, that's great news for Apple users. But depending on your iPhone, you may not be able to enjoy all the features. Only certain iPhones (as well as iPads and Macs) will fully support Siri AI and Apple Intelligence in general. How will this play out? I'll answer that question shortly. But first, let's go over a few details. Also: Apple's new Siri AI comes with hidden costs that power users should know of Apple Intelligence was introduced with iOS 18 in 2024. Though the feature failed to live up to its hype, it did eventually introduce a variety of AI skills, including writing tools, image generation, live translation, visual intelligence via your camera, and even ChatGPT integration. What's new in iOS 27 is the AI flavor of Siri. And that kicks in a host of other capabilities. What's new with Siri The new Siri promises to be more conversational, more responsive, and more helpful. Toward that end, you'll be able to ask Siri open-ended questions and engage in ongoing voice chats. Siri AI will understand what's on the screen and on your device and run tasks across your apps and your files. A dedicated Siri app will work similarly to the dedicated apps from other AIs. There are a couple of additional features. You'll be able to customize the expressiveness and pace of Siri's voice. You'll also be able to take advantage of a more accurate type of dictation in which Siri automatically adds punctuation and formatting as you speak. Sounds cool, but here's where your access will depend on your device. To assist you, Siri will use both on-device and cloud-based AI models depending on the type of query. On your device, the AI will tap into two different models. The basic one is called AFM 3 Core. (The AFM stands for Apple Foundation Models). The more advanced one is naturally called AFM 3 Core Advanced. Only devices that support AFM 3 Core Advanced will be able to use the Siri voice customizations and more accurate dictation, and these will be limited to the latest models. Also: How to download the iOS 27 developer beta right now (and which models support it) With all that out of the way, let's break this down. To use Siri AI and the on-device AFM 3 Core and Advanced models, you'll need one of the following: * iPhone: iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max, iPhone Air * iPad: iPad models with M4 and later, and at least 12GB of memory * Mac: Mac models with M3 and later, and at least 12GB of memory * Apple Vision Pro: Apple Vision Pro (M5) To access Siri AI and only the basic AFM 3 Core model, you'll need one of the following: * iPhone: iPhone 17 or 17e, iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max, iPhone Air, iPhone 16 or 16e, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max * iPad: iPad Pro M1 and later, iPad Air M1 and later, iPad mini with A17 Pro * Mac: MacBook Neo, MacBook Air with M1 and later, MacBook Pro with M1 and later, iMac with M1 and later, Mac mini with M1 and later, Mac Studio with M1 Max and later, Mac Pro with M2 Ultra and later * Apple Vision Pro: Apple Vision Pro M2 and later * Apple Watch: Series 9 and later, Ultra 2 and later, Apple Watch SE 3 Also: Every iPhone model that supports the iOS 27 update (and which older ones don't) Of course, you'll also need the 27 versions of iOS, iPadOS, and the rest. iOS 27 is currently available as a developer beta, should be out next month as a public beta, and is expected to officially launch in September. To run the 27 OS, you'll need one of the following: * iPhone: iPhone 11 or later, latest iPhone SE, iPhone Air * iPad: Pad Pro M4 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 4th generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 2nd generation and later, iPad Air 13-inch M2 and later, iPad Air 11-inch M2, M3, and M4, iPad Air 4th generation and later, iPad with A16, iPad 9th generation and later, iPad mini with A17 Pro, iPad mini 6th generation and later * Mac: MacBook Air M1 and later, MacBook Pro M1, MacBook Neo, iMac M1 and later, Mac mini M1 and later, Mac Studio M1 and later, Mac Pro M2/2023 and later * Apple Watch: Apple Watch SE 3rd Gen, Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple Watch Ultra 3 Yes, even if your device supports iOS 27, you may not be able to use Siri AI to its full extent or at all. If you are keen to take full advantage of the new Siri and your device isn't supported, then this may be the year to upgrade to a newer model. Also: I never use a new iPhone until I change these settings - why they're such a big deal Currently, Siri AI is available through the iOS 27 developer preview via a waitlist. But right now, the line appears to be backed up. I signed up for the waitlist a day ago, and I'm still waiting for access. To try this on a supported iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, select Siri, and then tap the link to join the waitlist. And then just wait.

Apple Says New Siri is Compatible With These iPhones, iPads, and Macs

The more intelligent and personalized version of Siri that Apple introduced today -- "Siri AI" -- is limited to devices with Apple Intelligence support. "Siri AI" is available on the devices listed below. iPhone * iPhone 15 Pro * iPhone 15 Pro Max * iPhone 16e * iPhone 16 * iPhone 16 Plus * iPhone 16 Pro * iPhone 16 Pro Max * iPhone 17e * iPhone 17 * iPhone Air * iPhone 17 Pro * iPhone 17 Pro Max iPad * iPad mini (A17 Pro) * iPad Air (M1 chip and newer) * iPad Pro (M1 chip and newer) Mac "Siri AI" is compatible with any Mac with the M1 chip and newer. Apple Watch "Siri AI" is compatible with the following Apple Watch models when they are paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone model that is nearby: * Apple Watch Series 10 * Apple Watch Series 11 * Apple Watch Ultra 2 * Apple Watch Ultra 3 * Apple Watch SE (3rd generation) Vision Pro * Vision Pro (M2 chip) * Vision Pro (M5 chip) Some of the "Siri AI" features are also available on CarPlay when an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone model is connected to the vehicle. "Siri AI" is available to test in English in the iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and visionOS 27 developer betas starting today, but there is a wait, and it will be coming to the Apple Watch in a future watchOS 27 beta. "Siri AI" will also be included in the public betas of each update, which will be available in July. The revamped Siri is launching later this year. Even then, it will still have a "beta" label. Note that "Siri AI" will not be available in the EU on iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 at launch, with Apple citing regulatory issues related to the Digital Markets Act.

Apple's New AI Features WIll Only Work on These iPhones

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Apple's WWDC 26 event today was heavily focused on how Apple is using AI, or Apple Intelligence, to upgrade its existing devices. Unfortunately, many iPhones didn't make the cut to get the upcoming Siri AI, which will be mainly focused on your privacy and working with you. However, if you already have a recent iPhone, starting this fall, you'll be enjoying some very cool new AI features on your iPhone. Here is the list of iPhones that made the cut for the AI upgrades. Which iPhones Get Apple Intelligence? While all of the iPhones below will get the new Apple Intelligence update, some features will work better on the "most powerful models," which likely points to the iPhone 17 family. * iPhone 15 Pro * iPhone 15 Pro Max * iPhone 16 * iPhone 16 Plus * iPhone 16 Pro * iPhone 16 Pro Max * iPhone 17 * iPhone 17 Air * iPhone 17 Pro * iPhone 17 Pro Max An important thing to note is that while Apple will roll out iOS 27 support for the iPhone 11 and newer, Apple Intelligence remains limited to the newer hardware. What is new with Apple Intelligence? The new Siri AI brings upgrades to apps like Safari, Messages, Photos, Calendar, and Phone. There will be a standalone Siri app, more conversational interactions, better context awareness, an understanding of follow-up questions as well as what is on your iPhone's screen. It can also take actions across apps and can work with your personal content like your photos, files, calendar, and emails. This new Siri not just catches up to the competition like Gemini, but it does it in a very Apple way, keeping your privacy at the forefront and keeping things simple. You can read more about the features here.

Not Every iPhone Is Getting Siri AI: Is Yours on the List?

If you watched Apple's WWDC 2026 keynote, it was hard not to get caught up in the excitement. Siri AI looked genuinely capable for the first time, handling multi-step tasks and pulling context from across your apps in ways no third-party AI assistant can replicate. Apple spent the better part of its keynote showing it off. But if you're not on the right iPhone, none of that applies to you. Siri AI compatible iPhones start at the A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM, which puts the floor at the iPhone 15 Pro. Anything below the iPhone 15 Pro is out. That covers the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, plus every iPhone 14 and older. Those devices can still update to iOS 27, but the headline feature of the whole release simply won't be there. Not Every iPhone Made the Cut That's a significant chunk of people. The iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 are still two of the most widely used iPhone models in the world, and neither qualifies. Apple supports its devices with software updates for years, which is one of the things iPhone owners genuinely appreciate. But software support and AI feature support are now two different things. You can run iOS 27 on an iPhone 12. Siri AI compatible iPhones start several generations later. To be fair, the hardware reasoning is legitimate. Running on-device AI models takes real resources, and Apple has been upfront that the A17 Pro and 8GB of RAM are the floor for what Siri AI needs to function. That's not an arbitrary cutoff. But it does mean millions of users with no reason to upgrade are now on the outside of Apple's biggest software moment in years. And if you're in the EU, hardware isn't even the issue. Apple confirmed at WWDC that Siri AI won't be coming to iPhone or iPad in Europe when iOS 27 launches, with no timeline attached. The Digital Markets Act requires Apple to give third-party virtual assistants the same deep system access as Siri AI, which Apple says it can't do safely. Regulators rejected its proposed workarounds. EU users on Mac and Apple Watch will get it. iPhone and iPad are the exception.