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iOS 18.2 requires 7 GB of free storage to use Apple Intelligence features such as Siri, Genmoji, and Writing Tools.
Apple Intelligence features process data on-device and require large amounts of storage space to run advanced AI models.
In iOS 18.4, a significant overhaul of Siri AI may further increase storage requirements, making a higher storage model more desirable.
There’s no doubt that Apple Intelligence features have been in the spotlight this fall. As Apple integrates new AI features into the iPhone, demand for storage space increases. According to Apple, users who want to use new Apple Intelligence features like Siri, Genomoji, and Writing Tools powered by ChatGPT will need at least 7GB of free space.
This follows the company’s announcement on its support page that devices running iOS 18.2 require at least 7GB of free storage for the Apple Intelligence feature to activate and run smoothly. Interestingly, the initial requirement was 4GB.
However, with the iOS 18.2 update, Apple added a number of new features such as Visual Intelligence and Image Playground that run directly on the device to ensure data processing and privacy, increasing the space required. This is because users have to download the AI model, which takes up a lot of storage space.
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What’s interesting is that all iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices have these features, and they require consistent spacing across devices, regardless of model. So it’s clear that users need enough space to activate and take advantage of all Apple Intelligence features. Users must accept all available features once their storage requirements are met and cannot selectively turn these features on or off.
Apple also plans to introduce new AI features to all eligible devices in a future update. However, there are reports that iOS 18.3 will be a minor update that includes bug fixes, so it may not be released soon. However, iOS 18.4 is expected to bring a major overhaul to AI-powered Siri and further increase storage limits.
If your device has limited storage space, you should use the iCloud service. Also, if you buy a new iPhone, you should choose a higher storage variant model so that you can use Apple Intelligence features without interruption.
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Ashish Singh
Ashish Singh is Digit’s Copy Editor-in-Chief. Previously, he worked as Senior Deputy Editor of Jagran English from 2022 and has been a journalist since 2020 after his experience with Times Internet. Ashish specializes in technology. In his free time, he can be found exploring new gadgets, playing games, and discovering new places. View full profile
