Apple is rolling out a significant update to Siri with the release of iOS 27, centering on advanced on-device artificial intelligence. According to Apple’s WWDC 2026 keynote, these high-end features—including expressive voice controls and precision dictation—are restricted to the latest hardware, specifically the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, M4-powered iPads, M3-powered Macs, and the M5-equipped Apple Vision Pro.
Which Devices Support the New AI Features?
Access to Apple’s most powerful on-device models requires specific hardware configurations. As stated by Craig Federighi, SVP of software engineering, during the WWDC 2026 keynote, the most capable AI features are reserved for the company’s most powerful systems. This creates a hardware-based divide where even recent models, such as the iPhone 16 Pro, will lack the full suite of new capabilities.
What Makes the New Siri Different?
The updated Siri focuses on personalization and linguistic accuracy. Apple demonstrated “expressive voices” during the keynote, a feature that allows users to adjust the pitch and speed of the digital assistant’s speech. Furthermore, Apple introduced advanced dictation, which the company claims captures speech as polished text with improved precision. This system automatically manages punctuation, capitalization, and formatting in real-time, allowing for more natural user interaction.
Why Is Apple Limiting Features by Hardware?
The restriction of AI features to newer hardware reflects the technical demands of running complex models directly on a device. While Apple has not provided a complete list of excluded features for older devices, the company is prioritizing a positive experience on hardware capable of handling the computational load. By focusing on the iPhone 17 Pro series and M-series chips with at least 12GB of memory, Apple ensures that advanced dictation and expressive voice synthesis run without latency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my iPhone 16 Pro get all the new AI features?
No. While the iPhone 16 Pro supports iOS 27, it will miss out on specific on-device features like expressive voices and the most advanced dictation tools, which are exclusive to the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air.
Do all iPad models support the new AI functionality?
Only iPad models equipped with an M4 chip or later, and featuring at least 12GB of unified memory, are compatible with the full range of new on-device AI features.
What is the benefit of the new expressive voices?
The feature allows users to customize their personal assistant by fine-tuning the pitch and speed of the voice, providing a more tailored user experience.
Are you planning to upgrade your hardware to access these new AI features, or will you stick with your current device? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or sign up for our newsletter for more updates on the latest iOS developments.
