One of the big challenges Apple has faced with Apple Intelligence is keeping as much of its processing on device as possible. This is to maximise performance and to protect user privacy. But that comes at a cost. The software models that underpin Apple Intelligence require storage. So, how much space does Apple Intelligence need?
When Apple Intelligence was first introduced it required about 4GB of free storage. That was with iOS 18.1. When Apple released iOS 18.2 that requirement almost doubled to 7GB. This probably explains why the entry-level storage capacity of the latest iPhone and iPhone Pro has been boosted to 256GB.
The 7GB requirement has been retained with iOS 26. Even though Apple Intelligence requires the same 7GB of capacity, it offers a number of new capabilities. These include Live Translation as well better summaries of text-based information and improved image editing and creation tools.
Apple covers the full device requirements in a recently updated Apple Intelligence support document.
If you’re looking for an on-device AI tool for your Mac, Ollama does a pretty good job. It offers on-device processing and lets you choose between several different AI models. While it doesn’t integrate with macOS like Apple Intelligence, that may be a good thing.
Many users are sceptical of what Apple Intelligence offers. By using a less integrated third-party tool it’s possible to dip your toes in the AI water without needing to be fully immersed.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.