Other It's official: iOS 18's AI requires iPhone 15 Pro

[farmaceut]

I am so angry. I purchased an iPhone 15 a few months ago, before any rumors of AI. I was replacing my old iPhone 6. Actually, it still works pretty well, but I just felt it was time to make a change. Now I regret the decision. While I don't need those genemoji things, the capability to use AI for productivity (yes, even on an iPhone) is what I needed, considering the number of emails I receive and write. Checking the language is just the tip of the iceberg of what I wish to use. Now probably no one is going to buy the iPhone 15, damn. The point is, I don't change phones often (iPhone 6 to iPhone 15), so the next one I'll get will probably be in 2033...

 

[Nozuka]

I am pleased. I’ll stick with my 14 PM thank you. See you all in shanti townsville when we all lose our jobs to AI. Happy Day - Happy Day!

You might lose your job to "people using AI", because they work more efficiently than people who are scared of it.

 

[ab2c4]

I think this is good news for a lot of people. Many of us, myself included, don't want any more AI than what is on our phones already. Honestly I would prefer an iphone that does much less than what it is trying to do for me now. I don't need my phone to try to do more for me. I don't need it making recommendations, nor replying to email/text, scheduling calendar items, or whatever else it wants to try to do. I just want a phone that I can install my apps that I use for when I want to use them and that's it.

With that said I am probably getting a 16 Pro this year and it has nothing to do with AI, and I'm glad it will give us the option to not opt in on the new AI stuff as that will be one more thing to slow down phones.

 

[geta]

You might lose your job to "people using AI", because they work more efficiently than people who are scared of it.

You might also lose your existence to AI (and other machines) because they’ll be more efficient them people.

 

[geta]

I am so angry. I purchased an iPhone 15 a few months ago, before any rumors of AI. I was replacing my old iPhone 6. Actually, it still works pretty well, but I just felt it was time to make a change. Now I regret the decision. While I don't need those genemoji things, the capability to use AI for productivity (yes, even on an iPhone) is what I needed, considering the number of emails I receive and write. Checking the language is just the tip of the iceberg of what I wish to use. Now probably no one is going to buy the iPhone 15, damn. The point is, I don't change phones often (iPhone 6 to iPhone 15), so the next one I'll get will probably be in 2033...

I'm willing to give you €100 for your useless iPhone 15 if it’s a version with a SIM tray.

 

[Rychiar]

iPhone 14 Pros only have 6GB RAM, so that's almost certainly the unforeseeable limitation that makes on-device AI impossible. On-device AI uses a heap of RAM.

Apple probably regrets not putting the extra 2GB In them now.

I assure you apple does not regret. now they can sell you a new phone with justification lol

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Wow I have to spell this out….you know….cause you don’t get it. Feature is limited to new model…..people buy new phone earlier that they would to get new feature. Let me know if you need follow up assistance.

Wow I have to spell this out….you know….cause you don’t get it. Tech evolves. New features often need stronger new models…..people choose to buy stronger new phone to get new feature - - or they choose not to. Let me know if you need follow up assistance.

 

[bmac4]

It's pretty clear that the iPhone 15pro are the very bare minimum to be able to use AI. The 15 pros aren't the iPhone to have for the future of AI. Apple clearly needed an iPhone that could run AI, and that was the 15 pros. I dont believe it will be the ideal experience in the coming year.

 

[dumastudetto]

It's pretty clear that the iPhone 15pro are the very bare minimum to be able to use AI. The 15 pros aren't the iPhone to have for the future of AI. Apple clearly needed an iPhone that could run AI, and that was the 15 pros. I dont believe it will be the ideal experience in the coming year.

Right now, modern 8GB RAM devices are acceptably specced devices until they aren't anymore. Nothing is forever, but I wouldn't let that influence any purchasing decisions now.

 

[bmac4]

Right now, modern 8GB RAM devices are acceptably specced devices until they aren't anymore. Nothing is forever, but I wouldn't let that influence any purchasing decisions now.

Don't totally disagree, but it reports of true that LLMs take 2-4gb ram just to run, and then when things actually start being requested, that jumps even more. 8GB gets you to the table, but it doesn't get you too much further. I truly believe after the dust settles with the betas of AI, the iPhone 17s are gonna be the actual AI iPhones. 15pros and the 16 series will be able to run AI, but fully featured AI will be the 17.

I agree it shouldn't influence purchasing that much, but the reports are already saying the 16s are gonna be a supercyle. People want to get to the table. I for one am waiting and seeing. I am not sold that what was demoed will be fully fleshed out in a year. We shall see when the betas start being released.

 

[BellSystem]

Ah so you’re saying it’s hypocritical of Apple to keep innovating new technologies that require ever more processing power.

That’s an… interesting take. A tad idealistic or maybe your true point was just to complain?

Says the dude trying to show everyone how onboard with team Apple he is. Maybe your only point is to be cool.

 

[BellSystem]

Wow I have to spell this out….you know….cause you don’t get it. Tech evolves. New features often need stronger new models…..people choose to buy stronger new phone to get new feature - - or they choose not to. Let me know if you need follow up assistance.

Wow you are lost it’s funny. Just keep giving Apple your money so everyone knows just how hip you are. I get it. Apple is your only reason for living and you can’t take anyone’s criticism of them.

 

[ThatsMeRight]

Wow you are lost it’s funny. Just keep giving Apple your money so everyone knows just how hip you are. I get it. Apple is your only reason for living and you can’t take anyone’s criticism of them.

His comment was a bit harsh. I do agree with you that Apple's been really focused on profit maximalization and that that's more important to them than avoiding waste.

That said... in this case, I really think Apple was caught 'off guard' with the sudden rapid developments surrounding AI. The iPhone 15 Pro's development was likely finished in early 2023, as it needs to go to several stages of testing, verification and (pre-)production.

While there's been AI/LLM R&D for a long time, the whole idea of AI and LLM as we know it today was still really new at the time when the iPhone 15-series development was finished. The real breakthrough was really just 1 year before that. Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc. were all not ready yet. Especially if you take into account that they needed to analyze what was happening, increase their AI R&D, etc. iOS 17 wasn't even out at the time.

Generative AI generally requires a lot of memory. Apple researches only found a way to run LLMs on devices with limited memory late last year. They published their paper in december 2023, not even 6 months ago. And that was still largely theory: nothing incorporated in iOS, just standalone software.

No doubt all iPhone 16 models will have 8 GB of RAM as a minimum and we might even start seeing a push for 12 GB on the Pro models.

 

[ab2c4]

His comment was a bit harsh. I do agree with you that Apple's been really focused on profit maximalization and that that's more important to them than avoiding waste.

That said... in this case, I really think Apple was caught 'off guard' with the sudden rapid developments surrounding AI. The iPhone 15 Pro's development was likely finished in early 2023, as it needs to go to several stages of testing, verification and (pre-)production.

While there's been AI/LLM R&D for a long time, the whole idea of AI and LLM as we know it today was still really new at the time when the iPhone 15-series development was finished. The real breakthrough was really just 1 year before that. Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc. were all not ready yet. Especially if you take into account that they needed to analyze what was happening, increase their AI R&D, etc. iOS 17 wasn't even out at the time.

Generative AI generally requires a lot of memory. Apple researches only found a way to run LLMs on devices with limited memory late last year. They published their paper in december 2023, not even 6 months ago. And that was still largely theory: nothing incorporated in iOS, just standalone software.

No doubt all iPhone 16 models will have 8 GB of RAM as a minimum and we might even start seeing a push for 12 GB on the Pro models.

I think 12GB is rumored to be on the 17 Pro's, so the 16 Pro's will sadly not be expected to get it. If it happens that way I wonder if the 16 series (since all will have 8gb) will have less years of being supported.

 

[Iwavvns]

This surely complicates things.

If you're considering upgrading to a newer iPhone in the next few months, make sure it's the 15 Pro (Max) and not the regular 15. Otherwise you'll miss out on a lot of new AI features in iOS 18...

I think it’s safe to say that everyone on these forms has survived more than 20 years on this planet without AI. I have survived on this planet for 60 years without AI, and somehow I’m still alive and happy. AI is nothing more than “the next popular fad”. Or, “one more thing people can use to make mankind dumber”, depending on who you ask.

 

[h.gilbert]

I am so angry. I purchased an iPhone 15 a few months ago, before any rumors of AI. I was replacing my old iPhone 6. Actually, it still works pretty well, but I just felt it was time to make a change. Now I regret the decision. While I don't need those genemoji things, the capability to use AI for productivity (yes, even on an iPhone) is what I needed, considering the number of emails I receive and write. Checking the language is just the tip of the iceberg of what I wish to use. Now probably no one is going to buy the iPhone 15, damn. The point is, I don't change phones often (iPhone 6 to iPhone 15), so the next one I'll get will probably be in 2033...

You could always sell. On eBay here a 15 sells for £500-550, and a 15 Pro £650-700. So same, or less, price difference than it would've been had you bought the 15 Pro in the first place.

 

[Sami13496]

Anyone else who doesn’t care about all this AI stuff and just wants that sleek iPhone 17 Slim?

 

[Iwavvns]

Anyone else who doesn’t care about all this AI stuff and just wants that sleek iPhone 17 Slim?

You got my vote. I think all this AI stuff is only going to increase the code base, thereby needing to increase ram and storage space.. and increasing the price of the devices. All this AI junk, along with several of the other recent features, should have been an optional download from the App Store. But, I guess Apple needs something to justify increasing prices year over year.

 

[Crow_Servo]

Anyone else who doesn’t care about all this AI stuff and just wants that sleek iPhone 17 Slim?

I care AND I want the 17 Slim. That’ll be the best of both worlds hopefully. More advanced AI capabilities in a lighter form factor. Then I’ll have a slim iPhone and a slim iPad Pro.

 

[Apple$]

Why can't Apple release a stripped down Apple Intelligence Lite for the iPhone 14 Pro/15? Just include the improved Siri, ChatGPT and the notification summarization? I don't care for the Genmoji or any other features.

 

[Macbookey]

Why can't Apple release a stripped down Apple Intelligence Lite for the iPhone 14 Pro/15? Just include the improved Siri, ChatGPT and the notification summarization? I don't care for the Genmoji or any other features.

The only game Apple can play to increase upgrade cycles is to withhold features. Think about the percentage of the keynote talking about features that only 2 models of iPhones can run. Even a 9 month old 15/15Plus cannot do it. Think about the number of iPhones updating to iOS this September that will be disappointed with the lack of “marquis” features being excluded. The non Macrumors crowd expecting the hyped up features to just work, only to find out that dumb Siri is still their assistant. This is the type of stuff one has to get used to. Apparently 14 Pros can’t even limit charging percentage. If you care about AI or genmoji, you have to decide the cost and value hit. If you could care less, you will be just fine. “Tonerheads” run Apple. Just ask Xerox for reference. So many platforms, and the marketing friendly Federighi overseeing all of it. The results of that speak for themselves.

 

[yegon]

I’ve got two new iPad Pros on which I will likely completely ignore the AI tools. My trusty 13 Pro Max will save me the bother of disabling/ignoring them for another couple of years.

 

[Geekett]

Nano matte screen only on iPad Pro 1 to, AI only on iPhone 15 pro…
Apple is becoming more and more obviously overgreedy
I’ll keep my iPhone 15 as long as possible. At least one device without intrusive AI
However, since my iMac M1 will be compatible with AI, curious to see if it might be helpful
But am afraid it’s just a new technology mermaid to hook more people, including me

 

[geta]

Why can't Apple release a stripped down Apple Intelligence Lite for the iPhone 14 Pro/15? Just include the improved Siri, ChatGPT and the notification summarization? I don't care for the Genmoji or any other features.

Why stop there? they should make a super extra lite version for iPhone 11 and above.

 

[whateverest]

I am wondering if iPhone SE 2025 will have sufficient SOC/RAM combination for full feature set. On the other hand, Apple cannot really go for releases not featureing that..