For most people, AI alone isn’t a good reason to replace a phone that still works. The built-in AI features on new phones, like writing tools, photo cleanup, summaries and smarter search, are handy, but many of them lean on the cloud, and most of what you’d use AI for day to day is available as an app on the phone you already have. Upgrading makes sense if your phone is old anyway, if you want a specific built-in feature that needs new hardware, or if you want to run larger AI models privately on the device, which is mostly a question of RAM.
Why are phone makers pushing AI so hard? #
A few reasons, and only some of them are about you:
- New chips have dedicated AI hardware. Modern phone processors include neural processing units (NPUs) that run certain AI tasks efficiently, like photo processing, speech recognition and small language models.
- Running AI on the phone is cheaper for them. Every request handled on your device is one they don’t pay a data center for.
- Privacy is a selling point. Keeping data on the device is easier to promise when the device can do the work.
- Phones need a reason to upgrade. Cameras and screens have improved slowly for years, and AI gives marketing something new to say.
What does each “AI phone” platform need? #
Apple Intelligence #
According to Apple’s requirements, Apple Intelligence works on iPhone 15 Pro models and iPhone 16 models or later, needs iOS 18.1 or later and 7 GB of free storage, and requires your device and Siri language to be set to a supported language. It’s not available on devices bought in mainland China with a mainland China Apple Account. Some features run on the iPhone, and others use Apple’s Private Cloud Compute servers. See does Apple Intelligence work offline for which is which.
Galaxy AI #
Samsung launched Galaxy AI with the Galaxy S24 series in January 2024 and has since brought it to many S-series, foldable, tablet and some A-series devices. Samsung originally said the features would be free until the end of 2025, and later confirmed that basic Galaxy AI features would stay free. It’s a hybrid: sensitive tasks are processed on the device where possible, and cloud computing is used for heavier ones.
Gemini Nano on Android #
Google’s on-device model, Gemini Nano, runs inside Android’s AICore system service on supported phones. Google’s developer documentation says it works without a network connection and keeps data on the device. Which phones support it, and which features use it, varies by model, so check the specific phone.
Which AI features really need a new phone? #
| Feature type | Needs new hardware? | Alternative on an older phone |
|---|---|---|
| System writing tools, notification summaries | Usually yes | Copy text into an AI app |
| On-device photo editing features | Often | Photo apps, some cloud-based |
| Voice assistant upgrades | Often, for the newest features | Assistant apps from the store |
| Chatting with a cloud AI (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude) | No | Install the app |
| Running an AI model privately on the phone | No, but more RAM helps | Local AI apps on 3 GB+ phones |
The honest pattern: the features tied to new phones are the ones built into the operating system. The general-purpose AI most people actually use is an app away.
Is the NPU a reason to upgrade? #
Not for running a chatbot. The NPU speeds up specific built-in features. Most apps that run open language models, including ones built on llama.cpp, do the work on the GPU or CPU instead. For those, the spec that matters most is RAM, because the whole model has to fit in memory. We explain the details in do you need an NPU to run AI.
What can you do with the phone you have? #
Quite a lot:
- Cloud chatbots run on almost any phone with a connection.
- Private, offline AI runs on phones with 3 GB of RAM or more. Personal LLM runs open models like Qwen 3.5 and Gemma 4 directly on the phone, on iOS 15.1 or later and Android 7 or later, and shows a “Fits your device” badge so you know which models your phone can handle before downloading. It’s free, needs no account, and works in airplane mode.
- Built-in on-device features from a few years ago, like Live Text on iPhones with an A12 chip or later, already cover a lot of everyday AI.
Before upgrading for AI, try the free options on your current phone for a week and see what you actually use.
Who should upgrade? #
- Your phone no longer gets security updates, or the battery is failing, and you’d replace it anyway.
- You want a specific built-in feature, such as Apple Intelligence, that your phone can’t run.
- You want to run the larger phone-sized models (around 9 billion parameters) privately, which needs 8 GB of RAM or more.
- Your current phone has 3 GB of RAM or less and even small models are frustrating.
Who should wait? #
- Your phone is two or three years old, gets updates and works well.
- You mostly use AI through cloud chatbot apps.
- You haven’t used the AI features your current phone already has.
- The main feature you want is still labeled beta or “coming later.”
If you do upgrade, what should you look for? #
- RAM: 8 GB or more if you want to run local AI models comfortably. Best phones for running a local LLM goes through current options.
- Storage: AI models take 1 to 6 GB each, and Apple Intelligence alone needs 7 GB free. Don’t buy the smallest storage tier.
- Years of software updates: AI features arrive through updates, and so do security fixes.
- Battery: AI tasks are power-hungry, so a larger battery helps.
Frequently asked questions #
Is it worth upgrading my phone for Apple Intelligence? #
Only if you’ll use its features often. It requires an iPhone 15 Pro or any iPhone 16 or later. If your phone is otherwise fine, try AI apps on it first; many of the same tasks are available that way.
Is Galaxy AI free? #
Samsung originally said Galaxy AI features would be free until the end of 2025, and later confirmed that its basic features will stay free. Check Samsung’s current terms for any premium features.
Do I need an AI phone to use ChatGPT or Gemini? #
No. Cloud chatbots run on their companies’ servers, so their apps work on nearly any recent phone with a connection.
Can an older phone run AI offline? #
Yes, if it has around 3 GB of RAM or more. Small open models run on the phone in apps like Personal LLM. They’re slower on older chips but work without any connection.
What matters most in a phone for AI? #
For built-in features, whether the phone is on the manufacturer’s supported list. For running AI models yourself, RAM first, then storage, then the chip.