In a landmark keynote at WWDC 2024, Apple unveiled groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) enhancements across its devices and iOS applications, signifying a major advancement in smart technology. However, not all recent iPhone models will benefit from these updates. Specifically, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, launched last year, will be excluded from receiving the new AI features due to hardware limitations.
According to Apple expert Ming-Chi Kuo’s detailed analysis on Medium (via HT Tech), the primary reason for this exclusion lies in the hardware differences between the standard and Pro models of the iPhone 15 series.
The standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are equipped with the A16 Bionic chip and 6GB of RAM. In contrast, the iPhone 15 Pro models feature the A17 Pro chipset with 8GB of RAM, which is adequate to support the advanced AI functionalities.
Kuo explained that the 6GB RAM of the A16 Bionic chip is insufficient for handling the extensive AI operations, as the device’s other functions already utilize this memory capacity. Conversely, the A17 Pro chip, with its additional memory, can manage AI tasks effectively. This difference in memory configuration is crucial for AI processing capabilities, making the A17 Pro-equipped devices suitable for the new features.
Additionally, the M1 chipset, which also supports 8GB of RAM, can run Apple’s AI technology. Kuo noted that Apple’s AI system relies on an on-device 3B large language model (LLM), which, even after compression using a mixed 2-bit and 4-bit configuration, requires about 0.7-1.5GB of DRAM to function continuously.
These insights highlight the importance of memory configuration in enabling advanced AI processing. By setting high hardware standards, Apple encourages users to upgrade to newer models to access the latest smart features. This decision might surprise iPhone 15 users, as their relatively new devices will not support the upcoming AI functionalities despite being part of the latest generation.
As smartphone manufacturers continue to integrate more sophisticated AI technologies, hardware specifications, particularly memory capacity, will play a crucial role in determining a device’s ability to support these advanced features. Apple’s move sets a precedent in the industry, emphasizing the need for robust hardware to keep up with the evolving demands of AI technology.