- Apple has introduced AI-powered security camera summaries in iOS 27, utilizing Apple Intelligence to recognize people, animals, vehicles, packages, and general motion.
- During the beta phase, Apple indicated that a higher iCloud+ plan would be necessary for video summaries, but did not specify how many cameras would be supported.
- The 2TB iCloud+ plan priced at $9.99 per month will only add AI summaries to a single camera.
- To receive AI summaries for two cameras, users must subscribe to the $29.99 per month 6TB plan; for up to five cameras, the $59.99 per month 12TB plan is required.
- Apple One Premier subscribers are limited to a single camera since the bundle includes 2TB of iCloud+ storage.
- Apple has warned that supported camera counts and other iCloud+ plan features could change over time.
- Using cameras has always required a paid iCloud+ plan, but the recording limits are at odds with the Apple Intelligence limits.
- Apple isn't offering an iCloud+ plan that allows users to receive AI summaries for an unlimited number of cameras.
- For more cameras, users must upgrade to the 6TB or 12TB plans, which significantly increases the cost for the Apple Intelligence features.
Apple's iOS 27 introduces AI camera summaries, priced at $9.99 for one camera and $59.99 for five. Users with the 2TB iCloud+ plan are limited to a single camera, requiring higher-tier plans for additional cameras.34578
The 2TB plan costs $9.99 monthly, while the 6TB plan is $29.99 for two cameras, and the 12TB plan is $59.99 for five cameras. This pricing structure has drawn criticism from users who feel the costs are excessive.9
“That’s way too expensive,” one user remarked, highlighting the disparity between the new pricing and previous plans that started at just $1 per month for basic features.
Apple's AI features, which include text-based descriptions for motion alerts and recognition of people, animals, and vehicles, are seen as valuable but not justifying the steep price increase. Users have expressed frustration over the limitations imposed by the Apple Intelligence feature, which requires a paid iCloud+ plan to access.1
“To get it on all five cameras, I’d need to pay an *additional* $60 a month,” lamented another user, indicating that the total annual cost could reach $1,200 for comprehensive access.
Overall, while the new features are impressive, the pricing model has left many users feeling dissatisfied and questioning the value of the service.
“The 2TB iCloud+ plan, which previously supported unlimited HomeKit Secure Video cameras, now limits AI summaries to a single camera, forcing multi-camera users to upgrade to 6TB or 12TB plans. Apple One Premier subscribers also face the same single-camera restriction, and Apple warns that supported camera counts could change over time.”
MacRumors
