Apple is requiring a $9.99 iCloud+ plan to use the iOS 27 Apple Intelligence Home app features with a single HomeKit camera, and iPhone users aren't happy about it.
iOS 27 includes text-based descriptions for motion alerts, a feature that uses Apple Intelligence. It recognizes people, animals, vehicles, packages, and general motion, and summarizes what's happening.
During the beta, we learned that a 2TB iCloud+ plan or higher would be needed to use video summaries, but at the time, Apple didn't say how many cameras would be supported.
Last week, Apple shared new details on Apple Intelligence limits, and it turns out the 2TB iCloud+ plan priced at $9.99 per month will only add AI summaries to a single camera. You'll need the $29.99 per month 6TB plan to get AI summaries for two cameras, or the $59.99 per month 12TB plan if you want to add up to five cameras. Apple One Premier subscribers are limited to a single camera since the bundle includes 2TB of iCloud+ storage.
Apple isn't offering an iCloud+ plan that lets users receive AI summaries for an unlimited number of cameras.
Using HomeKit Secure Video cameras has always required a paid iCloud+ plan, but the recording limits are at odds with the Apple Intelligence limits. You can use a single HomeKit Secure Video camera with a $0.99 per month 50GB iCloud+ plan, five cameras with the $2.99 per month 200GB plan, and unlimited cameras with the 2TB plan priced at $9.99 per month.
Someone who has a 2TB iCloud+ plan and has invested in multiple HomeKit Secure Video cameras will only be able to use the new Apple Intelligence feature with one of those cameras.
There are dozens of complaints about the subscription requirements on Reddit and on the MacRumors forums.
Apple warns that supported camera counts and other iCloud+ plan features could change over time. There will also be usage limits on Siri AI, photo editing tools, and Image Playground, with paid options to increase access. Apple hasn't announced pricing for features other than the Apple Intelligence Home app options.
Rumors suggest Apple will launch its own home security cameras as soon as next year, with the company also working on a home security and monitoring service. Apple's own home security cameras could require the iCloud+ subscription for advanced AI features.
