In the fifth developer beta, a screen appears prompting users to switch to a larger memory plan, arguing that this will provide more Apple Intelligence. For the first time, specific figures are also visible. The memory plan therefore no longer determines the amount of storage available, but rather the number of gigabytes.
For weeks, evidence has been mounting that Apple is tying the functionality of Apple Intelligence to the size of the iCloud+ subscription. Following the observation that the Home AI in iOS 27 requires at least the 2TB plan, and Tim Cook's announcement of higher AI limits for an additional fee, the current beta now shows an interface that implements exactly that. Stephen Robles discovered it in the fifth beta released on Monday (via 9to5mac).
Key Facts at a Glance
- iOS 27 Beta 5 shows in the Home app how many cameras the user's iCloud+ plan allows AI summaries for.
- A new screen explicitly advertises more Apple Intelligence for higher memory levels.
- The 2TB plan apparently covers five cameras, the 12TB plan fifteen.
- The tiered pricing is likely to apply to other functions with usage limits as well.
- No information is available regarding the other levels or their availability in Europe.
Where the new screen appears
The path leads via the Home app: Home settings, then Apple Intelligence, then the section for cameras and voice. Since the fifth beta, this section displays how many cameras the current plan allows AI-powered summaries of recordings for.
On the same page, a button leads to the iCloud+ plans. The screen that opens advertises in its heading the option to upgrade to a plan with more Apple Intelligence, mentioning expanded features and increased storage. The current plan is displayed, along with the option to upgrade to the next higher tier.
The overview is not yet complete: not all levels appear, which is not surprising in a beta version and should be fixed by the time of release.
Five cameras or fifteen
So far, only one observer from the ongoing beta test has provided concrete figures. According to this observer, the 2TB plan should allow summaries for five cameras, and the 12TB plan for fifteen. This is not confirmed, and it remains unclear what the intermediate limits are or whether smaller plans will even have access.
| iCloud+ plan | Price per month (DE/AT) | Cameras with AI summarization |
|---|---|---|
| 50 GB | 0.99 euros | not specified |
| 200 GB | 2.99 euros | not specified |
| 2 TB | 9.99 euros | 5 |
| 6 TB | 29.99 euros | not specified |
| 12 TB | 59,99 Euro | 15 |
For German-speaking countries, this results in an unpleasant calculation. Anyone wanting to increase from five to fifteen cameras will pay €50 more per month – €600 per year for ten additional cameras, or €5 per camera per month. The price increases sixfold, while the number of cameras triples. In Switzerland, the price increments range from 1 to 60 Swiss francs.
When the memory plan becomes the functional currency
What's remarkable isn't so much the tiered pricing structure itself, but rather what it reveals about the underlying pricing logic. Previously, you subscribed to an iCloud+ plan based on storage needs: lots of photos, large subscription. In the future, someone with 300 gigabytes of data could end up on a 12 TB plan simply because they have twelve cameras in their household.
For users, this means that choosing a plan takes on a second dimension, one that isn't reflected in the storage capacity. We expect Apple to fine-tune the tiered pricing before the fall release – the fact that the two most expensive tiers are the only ones to see the jump from five to fifteen cameras, while nothing is displayed for the 200 GB and 6 TB options, seems unfinished in its current form.
The situation in the EU remains unclear. Apple Intelligence is available there, but the new Siri AI on iPhone and iPad is blocked due to the Data Access Management (DMA); Switzerland, as a non-EU country, is not affected. Apple has not announced whether and to what extent the tiered restrictions will apply in Switzerland. Anyone considering upgrading to a higher tier should wait for the release in the fall – which plan is most worthwhile based solely on storage requirements remains unchanged for now.
iOS 27: Here's what's next
The final version is expected in September, along with the new iPhone models. Until then, further betas are likely to follow, in which the camera limits may still change. So far, the only certainty is that pairing is coming – the complete list of all levels is still missing. For an overview of what else is changing with iCloud in this generation, see the iCloud updates in iOS 27. (Image: Apfelpatient)
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