Only three existing iPhone models get access to all of the new on-device Siri AI features: the iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max, and iPhone Air.

While the base model iPhone 17 is excluded, it’s very likely that the non-Pro version of the iPhone 18 will get access to all of the new features …

iOS 27 support for existing iPhones

There are effectively three levels of support for iOS 27:

• iPhone 11 to iPhone 15: Technically supported, but no Apple Intelligence and Siri AI features
• iPhone 15 Pro and all iPhone 16 models: Apple Intelligence and Siri AI support, excluding the most powerful on-device model
• iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air: All new features supported

We’ve noted previously that there are still unanswered questions here, but the bottom line is that you currently need one of the most powerful new iPhones to get access to on-device Apple Intelligence features.

Apple says the reason for limiting the most advanced on-device features to so few iPhone models is that 12GB RAM is required.

All iPhone 18 models will likely offer full support

It seemed rather unlikely Apple would launch any new iPhone without support for the complete set of Siri AI features (with the possible exception of the iPhone 18e), but there is now additional evidence that this will include the base model iPhone 18.

Macworld reports on a KB Securities investment note indicating that the entire iPhone 18 lineup will get 12GB of memory.

The company will do this, analysts say, to increase adoption of Siri AI and encourage customers to buy new iPhones. Those who might not be prepared to buy an iPhone 18 Pro are more likely to stomach the cost of an iPhone 18.

Currently, this year’s base model is expected to stick to the $799 price point, making it the cheapest way to get access to Siri AI (other than a discounted iPhone Air).

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