Apple is set to introduce several exciting new features with iOS 27, particularly in the realm of Apple Intelligence. However, accessing some of these advanced capabilities will require the latest, most powerful iPhones, and unfortunately, the iPhone 17 will not be among them. This pattern echoes what occurred in 2024, when the base iPhone models were excluded from certain features.
Back in June 2024, Apple announced Apple Intelligence with limited device support, specifically for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The older iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus units weren’t compatible, marking a departure from Apple’s usual tradition of supporting older devices for extended periods. This shift was primarily driven by the hardware demands of AI—particularly on-device AI—which necessitated at least 8GB of RAM, a specification the more affordable models lacked.
Now, with the release of iOS 27, this trend appears to be continuing. The newest base model iPhone, the iPhone 17, will again be excluded from certain AI features due to hardware limitations. For example, some of the most powerful on-device AI models supported by iOS 27 require the iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max, or the iPhone Air.
Additionally, a new Siri AI voice customization feature will not be available on the iPhone 17. This consistent trend of recent devices being left out hints at a significant shift in how Apple is deploying its AI technology—favoring newer, more capable hardware to deliver these advanced features.
While it’s encouraging that many AI features will still be accessible to iPhone 17 users, the fact remains that they will miss out on certain cutting-edge capabilities enjoyed by the Pro and Air models. This shift marks a notable change in Apple’s support strategy and highlights the increasing hardware requirements needed to power its latest AI innovations.