Apple will launch Apple Intelligence features in China. The first set includes live translation, photo cleanup and writing tools. A beta opens on 11 November 2026. Full release comes with iOS 27.3 in December 2026. Supported devices start with iPhone 16 and later. iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone Duo and iPhone Air are also included. Siri and device language must be set to English and Simplified Chinese. Apple partnered with Alibaba to integrate Tongyi Qianwen. Users can access Tongyi Qianwen in Siri, writing tools and visual intelligence. The update excludes Siri AI and other next-gen features announced at WWDC 2026. Real-time translation works in Messages, FaceTime and Phone apps. It also works with AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2 and later models. Writing tools can rewrite, proofread and summarize text. Visual intelligence identifies objects and places via the iPhone camera.
What changed
Apple Intelligence features were unavailable in China.
What it unlocks
Using Apple Intelligence features on iPhone in China.
- 11 Nov 2026 beta start
- Dec 2026 iOS 27.3 release
- iPhone 16 and later, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone Duo, iPhone Air
What you need to act on it
- iOS 27.3 or later
- Siri and device language set to English and Simplified Chinese
- Supported iPhone model
Sources