### Apple Intelligence: Storage Needs in iOS 26
Apple Intelligence is now in its second year, and iOS 26 introduces a host of new and enhanced AI capabilities. However, there is encouraging news regarding iPhone storage needs in this newest update.
#### Apple Intelligence Maintains the Same 7 GB Storage Requirement in iOS 26
Previously, Apple Intelligence debuted in iOS 18.1 with a range of features, followed by a consistent flow of new enhancements throughout iOS 18.2 and beyond. One significant observation was that the storage needs for Apple Intelligence increased over time, raising alarms about future storage demands.
At present, the requirement remains at 7 GB per device, potentially totaling 21 GB for users wishing to utilize AI on an iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Given that Apple Intelligence is mainly designed to operate on-device, this requirement makes sense. However, the thought of escalating storage demands for AI caused concern for numerous users.
Luckily, iOS 26 delivers good news. In spite of the rollout of over 20 new features and improvements, the storage requirements for Apple Intelligence have not changed. A recently revised support document verifies that Apple Intelligence still only needs **7 GB of free storage** on your device.
This is somewhat unexpected considering the storage increases seen during the iOS 18 series. Potential reasons for this consistency could include better efficiency in Apple’s on-device models or that many of the new functionalities in iOS 26 utilize existing and upgraded models instead of entirely new ones.
The release of new iPhone 17 and iPhone Air models featuring 256 GB of base storage, combined with the stable storage requirements for Apple Intelligence, is a positive development for users.
### Conclusion
As Apple keeps advancing its AI features, the stable storage requirement for Apple Intelligence in iOS 26 is a reassuring factor for users. The blend of new functionalities and manageable storage needs creates a favorable user experience. How much iPhone storage are you prepared to sacrifice for Apple Intelligence features? Share your thoughts in the comments.
