Concerning AI-powered functionalities on iPhones, there is both positive and negative news. On the positive side, it appears that the technology is poised to drive various beneficial new features in iOS 18. However, unfortunately, recent speculations suggest that some of the most exceptional features will be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro (and the rumored iPhone 16 series).
The reputable journalist Mark Gurman from Bloomberg has forecasted that “many of the on-device AI capabilities will necessitate an iPhone 15 Pro or newer for operation”. While he hasn’t specified the precise AI features, the latest rumors indicate that an enhanced Siri (including hands-free app control) and AI-based photo editing will be among the prominent on-device enhancements.
The probable technical rationale behind this is the A17 Pro chip in the iPhone 15 Pro, which is absent in the base iPhone 15 and delivers significant performance enhancements, such as the ability to execute twice as many operations per second compared to the A16 Bionic. The iPhone 16 is also speculated to feature an A18 Pro chipset with an upgraded neural processing unit (NPU).
Ultimately, a new attribute that could entice current iPhone users to opt for a new model is a broader advantage for Apple. Gurman affirms, “Apple is wagering that the new AI features for the iPhone will motivate users to upgrade their devices”.
Similarly, albeit to a lesser degree, the same scenario applies to Macs and iPads. Gurman mentions that Apple’s laptops and tablets “will demand at least an M1 chip” to support the company’s on-device AI functionalities. As the initial devices equipped with an M1 chip were the Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) and the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021), the urgency to upgrade may not be as high for these devices as it is for iPhone users.
Interpretation: A minor issue, currently
Apple typically doesn’t reserve major features for specific iPhone models, although this practice has become more prevalent in recent times.
For instance, the iPhone 15 introduced an 80% charge limit option and 24MP photos, features not found in the iPhone 14 series. The capability to capture Apple ProRaw and ProRes content was also confined to Apple’s recent ‘Pro’ models, starting from the iPhone 14 Pro Max onwards.
It appears that the AI-driven features in iOS 18 may escalate this trend further to spur iPhone upgrades, which have been declining in recent years. Nevertheless, there are indications that it might take several years before becoming a significant upgrade factor, at least matching the prominence of Apple’s iPhone cameras.
Initially, these model prerequisites shouldn’t affect off-device AI functions. For example, the ChatGPT application is compatible with any iPhone running iOS 16.1 or later, extending back to the iPhone 8 from 2017.
The exact integration of Apple’s reported deal with OpenAI for the chatbot into iOS 18 isn’t clear yet, but there will be numerous off-device AI alternatives for users with older iPhones. Furthermore, the speculated AI functionalities for iOS 18 presently don’t seem potent enough to leave behind older iPhones.
With most enhancements for applications like Notes and Voice Memos appearing as minor quality-of-life improvements, it may take some time before on-device AI emerges as a primary reason for upgrading – but the progression likely commences with iOS 18.
