What Siri AI and Apple Intelligence Change for Your Devices
Siri AI compatibility describes which iPhones, iPads, Macs, and other Apple products can run the new Apple Intelligence features, including the redesigned Siri assistant, on-device AI models, and the standalone Siri app introduced with iOS 27, macOS 27, and iPadOS 27, and it explains how support varies by hardware generation and memory limits. The new Siri AI is designed to be more conversational, understand what is on your screen, run tasks across apps, and respond both through voice and a dedicated app. To do this, Apple uses a basic on-device AFM 3 Core model and a more advanced AFM 3 Core Advanced model, plus cloud processing when needed. The result is a split experience: many newer devices can run Siri AI, but only a smaller group unlocks the full feature set, including advanced dictation and voice customization.
iPhone Support: Full Siri AI vs. Basic Apple Intelligence
On iPhone, Siri AI access depends on both iOS 27 support and Apple Intelligence requirements. iOS 27 runs on iPhone 11 and later plus the latest iPhone SE and iPhone Air, but those older models do not gain Siri AI because they lack Apple Intelligence support. For Siri AI and the basic AFM 3 Core model, you need at least iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, the iPhone 16 family (16, 16 Plus, 16e, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max), the iPhone 17 lineup (17, 17e, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max), or the iPhone Air. Full access to the advanced AFM 3 Core Advanced model, which enables more accurate dictation and richer voice controls, is limited to iPhone 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. According to ZDNET, these are the only iPhones that currently support the most powerful on-device AI model.
iPad and Mac Compatibility with Siri AI and Apple Intelligence
For tablets, Siri AI compatibility starts with Apple Intelligence support. iPadOS 27 itself runs on a wider set of models, but Siri AI requires an iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip, any iPad Air with an M1 chip or newer, and any iPad Pro with an M1 chip or newer. Only iPads with M4 or later chips and at least 12GB of memory move up to the AFM 3 Core Advanced model for the most powerful on-device features. On the desktop side, any Mac with an M1 chip or newer supports Siri AI and Apple Intelligence basics. That includes MacBook Air and Pro with M1 and later, iMac with M1 and later, Mac mini with M1 and later, Mac Studio with M1 Max and newer, and Mac Pro with M2 Ultra and newer. Macs with M3 chips and at least 12GB of RAM unlock AFM 3 Core Advanced.
Apple Watch, Vision Pro, and the New Standalone Siri App
Beyond iPhone, iPad, and Mac, Siri AI also reaches Apple Watch and Vision Pro, but with extra limits. On Apple Watch, Series 9 and later, Ultra 2 and later, and Apple Watch SE (3rd generation) can use Siri AI features only when paired to a nearby iPhone that itself supports Apple Intelligence. If your watch is paired to an older iPhone or the iPhone is out of range, Siri AI falls back to the classic assistant. Vision Pro owners with M2 or newer chips can run Siri AI; the M5 version also supports the advanced AFM 3 Core Advanced model. Across all these platforms, iOS 27, macOS 27, and iPadOS 27 introduce a standalone Siri app that mirrors other AI chat apps, letting you type or speak to Siri AI, see conversation history, and access Apple Intelligence tools from a single place.
