- Published on
Want a Smarter iPhone? It'll Cost You
- Authors
- Name
- DeepHorus
In the latest iOS 27 beta, Apple has directly linked Apple Intelligence usage to iCloud+ plans. A new page in the Home app shows that the 2TB plan supports only 5 cameras using AI summaries, while the 12TB plan supports 15. At the bottom of the page, a prompt reads "Upgrade iCloud+ to get more Apple Intelligence usage," clearly guiding users to pay for an upgrade.
Domestic users have been waiting for the China version of Apple Intelligence for two years. In July this year, "Apple Intelligence" completed its filing, and the official launch is imminent. However, news of the charges came first. In fact, Apple confirmed at WWDC in June that some AI features would have daily usage caps, and this beta further subdivides usage by iCloud+ tier.
Notably, 2TB iCloud+ originally supported an unlimited number of HomeKit Secure Video cameras, and surveillance recordings did not count against storage. Now AI summaries are limited to 5, which clearly tells users: if you want to use more AI, you have to pay more. Choosing iCloud+ as the billing vehicle is clever—AI costs are hard to explain to users in terms of "GB," but familiar plan tiers make pricing intuitive.
Apple CEO Tim Cook also hinted at last month's earnings call that users could "buy up the stack" through iCloud+ to get more AI usage. If this model is formally implemented, its impact will go far beyond the iPhone. Apple is developing smart glasses, AirPods with cameras, and a home hub, all of which require stronger cloud computing power. Subscription services will become a new growth point beyond hardware.
The entire AI industry has already seen a wave of charging. ChatGPT, Gemini, and others offer paid plans. Domestically, Doubao has been testing paid subscriptions since May, and Qwen has also begun charging for office and video generation. The industry consensus is that everyday functions remain free, while high-energy-consumption tasks are charged based on usage. Apple's difference lies in embedding AI usage into the existing iCloud+ system, so users don't need to learn a new billing method.
With the launch of the China version of Apple Intelligence, domestic users will directly face this choice: Are you willing to spend money to make your iPhone smarter? The answer may soon be revealed. This choice is not only about personal experience but will also affect the commercial path of Apple's AI services.
