iPhone Users Who Pay for Enough iCloud Storage Get New iOS 27 Perks

[Lumenorbit69]

Apple AI's total feature set is now based on whether you have iCloud+ top tier or not. Monetizing everyone to death.

 

[svish]

Too bad that it is available only for the top tier. Should have been made available for all paid tiers. Very disappointing.

 

[IAmStumped]

Cant wait for the price increase for iCloud+ on all tiers. You know it’s coming.

Already happened last month in several countries:

Apple Raises iCloud+ Prices in 8 Countries

Apple has increased the price of iCloud+ in Nigeria, Türkiye, Vietnam, Japan, Egypt, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Indonesia, according to an updated version of its iCloud support document. Price increases range from 11 percent to 55 percent depending on the plan and the country. Nigeria saw...

www.macrumors.com

 

[Hammerd]

“Your wife has arrived with her lover”

 

[zengod]

If you are subscribed to an iCloud+ plan with at least 2TB of storage, you will receive new perks in the Home app on iOS 27, according to Apple.

Starting with iOS 27, Apple said iPhone users who are subscribed to an iCloud+ plan with at least 2TB of storage receive access to three new Apple Intelligence features in the Home app: generated video descriptions for HomeKit Secure Video cameras, the ability to search for camera clips, and automatic surfacing of noteworthy clips.

According to Stephen Robles, the Home app on the fifth developer beta of iOS 27 now indicates how many HomeKit Secure Video cameras are eligible for generated video summaries. Robles told us he had a total of 8TB of iCloud+ storage (6TB plus 2TB from Apple One), and this made him eligible for video summaries for up to 15 cameras.

iOS 27 Beta 5 in the Home App tells you how many cameras get Apple Intelligence features. I thought I was on the highest iCloud plan, but *apparently* not! pic.twitter.com/WkbgD5Opon— Stephen Robles (@stephenrobles) August 11, 2026​

Based on the screenshots that Robles shared in a social media post, it appears that upgrading to the maximum 12TB iCloud+ plan may have an even higher limit.

Apple also said select iCloud+ plans provide increased daily usage limits for other new Apple Intelligence features, including image generation in the revamped Image Playground app. However, Apple has yet to list the specific limits for each iCloud+ plan, with those details likely to be shared by time iOS 27 is out of beta in September.

Apple said the new features are limited to higher iCloud+ plans because they rely on "powerful server models," which are undoubtedly more expensive to run. In other words, Apple is limiting these AI features to paying customers.

Article Link: iPhone Users Who Pay for Enough iCloud Storage Get New iOS 27 Perks

Homekit ? Thought Apple dropped support for that years ago after I bought a load of hardware which never really worked. Does it support the same devices Google, Alexa and the rest of the world use yet ?

 

[BeatCrazy]

I know Robles is a tech guy so it makes somewhat more sense for him, but 9+ cameras in (what I presume is) a normal-sized house is insane.

Nah. I have 6 outside (none inside) and that doesn't cover everything.

 

[bax2023]

That's why I sold my iP 16 PM, deleted all subscriptions and bought S26 Ultra. I've left only with MacBook M4 Pro with no account linked to it. That one will also soon be sold. MP 2019 is also out of the door. Bye bye Apple - the most money hungry tech company on the planet.

 

[tooloud10]

iOs 27 is great, but the way Apple offering Apple Intelligent base on RAM amount and iCloud storage tire is gross

News flash: customers that pay more get more service, this is hardly a new thing

 

[Ethrem]

No thanks. I'll keep my $.99 iCloud no matter what AI garbage you add, Apple.

 

[alexandr]

Homekit ? Thought Apple dropped support for that years ago after I bought a load of hardware which never really worked. Does it support the same devices Google, Alexa and the rest of the world use yet ?

They strongly considered it once they found out your devices never really worked, but ultimately decided against it.

 

[jarman92]

Storage is now expensive, price increases imminent on all lines in 3,2,1….. or maybe October.

So it's a "rip-off" because of a potential future price increase? Under that standard, everything is a "rip-off."

 

[antnythr]

iCloud ULTRA plan incoming

 

[jarman92]

Nah. I have 6 outside (none inside) and that doesn't cover everything.

By "insane" I meant more "paranoid" than "unusual." Why does one need to monitor every inch of one's property 24/7? Bird-watching?

 

[DblHelix]

How many people out of 1.5B+ users actually have HomeKit videos camera. I have to imagine that Apple is providing other advantages other than "oh look. I can have 20+ camera active. Outside of 2TB, what are you really providing us.

Encrypted video transmission and I believe person and animal identification, basic things. But also, most cameras can be added to home assistant and home bridge allowing them to be added as homekit video cameras

 

[BeatCrazy]

By "insane" I meant more "paranoid" than "unusual." Why does one need to monitor every inch of one's property 24/7? Bird-watching?

Paranoia has nothing to do with it.

I live in a typical suburban neighborhood, but there is still enough "drama" to warrant having visibility of most of you home's exterior. We've had the occasional package theft, my bike was stolen from my (open) garage, I park a couple of cars outside (that could be the target of a break in), we've had a cat get outdoors/escape, and just general safety awareness for the major entry points into my home.

 

[DblHelix]

So it's a "rip-off" because of a potential future price increase? Under that standard, everything is a "rip-off."

They already raised the price 2 bucks just last week or so

 

[HMI]

Cool! Now I just need a house and video cameras to watch it!
Almost there!

 

[Hatton920]

Apple says this in a footnote:



So apparently yes, as long as the owner of the Home has an AI-enabled iPhone to handle the processing.

Just to confirm you don’t need to be the owner to get the ai summaries. My partner is the owner and I have shared my 2TB plan with her and have the summaries. She’s not on the beta.

 

[LogicalApex]

Today's Apple requires a lot of detailed reading of the footnotes at the bottom of pages to figure out what you're getting these days. They've taken to hiding a lot of important details.

 

[california_kid]

I didn't need it but now that Apple is only offering it to some owners, I want it NOW!

 

[BeatCrazy]

.... I figured it’s easier than buying high gig models of iPhone for family instead.

At my house, it's more likely that a family member will lose, break, or somehow irreparably damage their phone, so relying on local storage is a ticking time bomb for losing all the data. So iCloud+ it is...

 

[spook]

How about give me free space

 

[dampfnudel]

So now, not only Apple is differentiate Apple Intelligent features with RAM amount. Not only regular iPhone does not getting all Apple Intelligent features, but now customer are being left over if they don’t subscribe with 2TB iCloud storage.

Now, if you want all Apple Intelligent feature, you need Pro iPhone with 2TB iCloud storage, get it. Double dipping.

Is Apple running out of money? They are milking their customer left and right.

Apple doesn’t want to be left out of the late stage capitalism money grab. Maybe at some point you’ll have to pay for a subscription to unlock full functionality with your camera or something else.

 

[Flight Plan]

We have the Apple One Premier plan which includes 2TB of iCloud storage. We have just under a dozen HKSV cameras set up and after updating to dev beta 5, the Home app is now showing eligibility for AI descriptions/summaries for only 5 of our cameras unless I purchase an additional 2TB of storage for $9.99 a month.

Apparently being on the highest tier of the Apple One plan doesn't count. Hoping this is just a bug in dev beta 5 but we shall see!

I also hope it's a bug.

Lol. Moved our home monitoring system locally and off of paid cloud services. What a rip-off. Getting everything off of iCloud & cancelling it altogether this year because these prices are only going up for less benefits.

🍏

That's why I use Eufy cameras. No cloud, no subscriptions.

if I stop paying ring probably works out about the same , only id feel better about it if it was a apple doorbell rather than third party

My Eufy cams work fine. The doorbells work very well.

How is it a "rip-off?" 🤨 This is an additional feature of an existing subscription for no extra money, and AFAIK Apple hasn't removed any benefits from iCloud+.

I agree that it's not a "rip off". People blow things way out of proportion these days.

Apple AI's total feature set is now based on whether you have iCloud+ top tier or not. Monetizing everyone to death.

Nobody is dying from monetization. You can still choose to opt out and find another path forward.

Too bad that it is available only for the top tier. Should have been made available for all paid tiers. Very disappointing.

I agree, and I think the rules are too complex.

News flash: customers that pay more get more service, this is hardly a new thing

You're right, it's not a new thing. And it's not even a "wrong" thing.

No thanks. I'll keep my $.99 iCloud no matter what AI garbage you add, Apple.

Certainly that's a valid option, and if enough people did it, Apple would sit up and take notice.

By "insane" I meant more "paranoid" than "unusual." Why does one need to monitor every inch of one's property 24/7? Bird-watching?

Yes. Bird watching, deer watching, dog and cat watching, and also as an early-warning alligator, bear, and panther warning system.

I also want to know when humans are on my property. Every inch? Sure, why not? I take my home security seriously. You don't need to do it. But you SHOULD stop judging people for their own decisions regarding themselves and their families.

Paranoia has nothing to do with it.

I live in a typical suburban neighborhood, but there is still enough "drama" to warrant having visibility of most of you home's exterior. We've had the occasional package theft, my bike was stolen from my (open) garage, I park a couple of cars outside (that could be the target of a break in), we've had a cat get outdoors/escape, and just general safety awareness for the major entry points into my home.

The big thing now is to break into a car, open the trunk and glove box/console box, and grab any and all papers. Stuff the papers into a pillowcase, and move on to the next car. It's all about ID theft, because that is more valuable to a thief than your factory car stereo or radar detector, or your dashcam.

At my house, it's more likely that a family member will lose, break, or somehow irreparably damage their phone, so relying on local storage is a ticking time bomb for losing all the data. So iCloud+ it is...

Just ensure that the family iphones all get backed up to iCloud at night. Simple. Done.

 

[McScooby]

So it's a "rip-off" because of a potential future price increase? Under that standard, everything is a "rip-off."

Where did I say it was a rip-off?🙄