Apple is set to launch iPhone 17 pre-orders on Friday, marking a significant shift in its product strategy as every iPhone model sold directly by Apple will support Apple Intelligence for the first time.
Historically, Apple has offered discounted previous-generation iPhones alongside its newest releases. This year is no exception, with price reductions of $100 on select older models. However, unlike previous years, Apple has streamlined its inventory to ensure all available iPhones are compatible with Apple Intelligence.
This move addresses the fragmentation issue that arose with the introduction of iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence in June 2024. Initially, Apple Intelligence was limited to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, leaving other models like the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, and iPhone 14 series without support for the new AI features.
The iPhone 16 series, launched in September 2024, included updated specifications to ensure all four models supported Apple Intelligence. Despite this, Apple continued to offer iPhone SE 3, iPhone 14, and iPhone 15 models that lacked AI compatibility in its fall 2024 lineup.
Earlier in 2025, Apple discontinued the iPhone SE 3, iPhone 14, and iPhone 14 Plus with the introduction of the iPhone 16e. However, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus remained available, creating an inconsistency in Apple’s product line. This week, Apple removed the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus from its fall 2025 lineup, solidifying its commitment to Apple Intelligence across its entire iPhone range.
The current fall 2025 lineup now exclusively features iPhones that support Apple Intelligence: iPhone 16e, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Apple also discontinued the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max this week, aligning with its established practice of not selling previous-generation Pro models after a new iPhone series launch.
While Apple Intelligence is acknowledged to be behind competitors like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, Apple is actively working to improve its capabilities. The company guarantees that all iPhone hardware currently sold in its stores will support Apple Intelligence features available in iOS 26 and future updates. Consumers seeking older iPhone models not sold by Apple may find limited availability through electronics stores or mobile carriers.
