Which iPhones support Apple Intelligence, and does it matter if yours does not?

Apple Intelligence is decided by the model of iPhone, not by the version of iOS it runs or whether it is new or refurbished. An iPhone 15 does not have it; an iPhone 15 Pro does. That makes it one of the few features where the exact model name on a listing matters more than anything else, so here is Apple's list, what it means for our range, and how to check a phone in your hand.

The iPhones Apple supports

According to Apple, Apple Intelligence runs on:

• iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max;
• every iPhone 16 model;
• later models, including iPhone Air.

It does not run on the iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus, or on any iPhone 14, 13, 12, 11 or older model. Support is tied to the model, not to the iOS version: an iPhone 14 Pro updated to the newest iOS it can run still does not get it. Apple keeps the full, current list on its Apple Intelligence support page.

In our range: only the iPhone 15 Pro

We do not sell the iPhone 15 Pro Max or any iPhone 16 or later model, so the refurbished iPhone 15 Pro is the only phone in our range that runs Apple Intelligence. Refurbishment does not change which features a model supports.

What Apple Intelligence does

It is a set of features built into iOS rather than a single app. Depending on the iOS version, your language and your region, it includes things such as Writing Tools that proofread, rewrite and summarise text; summaries of notifications, messages and emails; Clean Up in Photos, which removes distracting objects from a picture; searching your photos by describing them; Genmoji and Image Playground for creating images; and a more capable version of Siri. With AirPods Pro 2 on up-to-date firmware, a supported iPhone can also offer Live Translation in supported languages.

Apple adds and changes features with each major iOS release, and it reserves some of the newest ones for more recent models, so even a supported phone such as the 15 Pro does not get every feature.

If you do not care about it

Plenty of people do not, and that is a sound basis for choosing. Without Apple Intelligence an iPhone still does everything it did before: calls, messages, the camera, Face ID, Apple Pay, apps and Siri in its classic form. It keeps receiving iOS updates for as long as Apple supports the model. What you give up is the list above, nothing more. A few practical points:

• Choose on what you use every day. Screen, battery, camera and size matter more to most people. The iPhone 15 gives you USB-C and the Dynamic Island without Apple Intelligence (see iPhone 15 vs iPhone 15 Pro), and the 14 Pro gives you a Pro screen and cameras (see iPhone 14 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro).
• You can switch it off. On a supported iPhone the features can be turned off in Settings, so buying a 15 Pro does not force them on you.
• It uses storage. Apple Intelligence downloads its models to the phone and needs several gigabytes of free space. Allow for that when you choose a size; our storage guide helps.
• Think about the years ahead. Because an iOS update will not add it to an iPhone 15 or older, the 15 Pro is the only way to keep the option open within our range.

How to check a phone

1. Open Settings → General → About and read the Model Name. If it says iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone Air or an iPhone 16 or later model, the phone supports Apple Intelligence.
2. Go to Settings → General → Software Update and install any update. Apple Intelligence needs a recent version of iOS.
3. Make sure the phone's language and Siri's language are set to the same supported language.
4. Open the Siri section of Settings (called Apple Intelligence & Siri in some versions of iOS). On a supported phone, this is where Apple Intelligence and the newer Siri are switched on; on other models you will only find the standard Siri settings.
5. Keep a few gigabytes free, because the features download to the phone after you turn them on.

If you are unsure which model suits you, our guide to which refurbished iPhone to buy compares the whole range.

Common questions

Does the iPhone 15 support Apple Intelligence?

No. Apple supports it on the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, but not on the iPhone 15 or 15 Plus.

Will an iOS update bring Apple Intelligence to my iPhone 14 Pro?

No. Support is tied to the model. The 14 Pro keeps receiving iOS updates while Apple supports it, but not Apple Intelligence.

Does a refurbished iPhone 15 Pro get the same Apple Intelligence features as a new one?

Yes. Features depend on the model, the iOS version, and your language and region, not on whether the phone is new or refurbished.

Do I need Apple Intelligence?

No. Everything else in iOS works without it. It is worth choosing a 15 Pro for if you want its writing, summary, photo and Siri features; otherwise choose on screen, battery and camera.