Not all iPhones get Apple’s fancy new AI tools:Even with iOS 26, you might miss out on ‘Apple Intelligence’ — all because of your iPhone’s chip

Recently, Apple has rolled out iOS 26, and it brings a stylish new design, smoother performance, and updated apps. If you’ve got an iPhone 11 or newer, you’ll be able to download the update and enjoy the fresh features. But here’s the catch: while your phone may get iOS 26, it might not get the coolest part of the update — Apple’s new AI system called ‘Apple Intelligence’. Here’s who doesn’t get it Even if your iPhone supports iOS 26, Apple Intelligence won’t work unless you have a phone with the A17 Pro chip or newer.
That means only the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the iPhone 16 series will get the full AI experience. If you have a regular iPhone 15 or anything older — like the iPhone 14, 13, or 12 — you’ll miss out on the AI features, even though you’ll get the update. The same rules apply for iPads and Macs. Only devices with an M1 chip or newer can use Apple Intelligence on iPads and Macs. Why is Apple doing this Apple says it’s all about performance and privacy. The AI tools are designed to run directly on your device — no cloud — so they need powerful chips to handle everything smoothly and securely. What everyone will get with iOS 26 Even if your iPhone doesn’t support the AI features, iOS 26 still brings some fun and useful updates: Full ‘next-gen’ iPhone experience If you bought a recent iPhone, like the regular iPhone 15, and expected all the fancy AI tools, this might feel like a letdown. Apple is making it clear: to get the full “next-gen” iPhone experience, you’ll need the Pro models. But for everyone else, iOS 26 still brings a clean, modern vibe and some helpful new features, just without the AI magic.