The Apple Intelligence China release date is December 2026, when Apple ships iOS 27.3 to the public. Testing starts on November 4 in the latest iOS developer beta. Apple confirmed the plan in a press release on its China newsroom, along with a partnership that brings Alibaba's Qwen into Siri, Writing Tools and Visual Intelligence.
Apple Intelligence China release date and timeline
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| November 4, 2026 | Features open for testing in the iOS developer beta |
| December 2026 | Public release in mainland China with iOS 27.3 |
| Later | Other Apple platforms, once approvals are in place |
Apple has not given an exact December date.
Which features are coming
- Writing Tools: rewrite, proofread and summarise text.
- Live Translation in Messages, FaceTime and Phone, plus face-to-face translation with AirPods.
- Smart Replies in Mail and Messages.
- Mail: Priority Mail, message summaries and Generate Summary.
- Photos: Clean Up, natural-language search and Memory Movies.
- Genmoji: custom emoji from text.
- Notifications: summaries, Priority Notifications and the Reduce Interruptions Focus.
- Notes and calls: audio and call transcript summaries.
- Type to Siri and Visual Intelligence.
How Alibaba's Qwen fits in
Apple has partnered with Alibaba to add Qwen to parts of Apple Intelligence. It is available in Siri, Writing Tools and Visual Intelligence. Siri can use it to answer questions about photos and documents, including PDFs and presentations. Writing Tools can use it to write new content from scratch. You sign in with a Qwen account or with Sign in with Apple.
Supported iPhones and settings
- iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16 and later
- iPhone Air
- iPhone Duo
Both your device language and Siri language must be set to English or Simplified Chinese. AirPods Live Translation needs AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods 5, AirPods Pro 2 or later, or AirPods Max 2, on the latest firmware.
What is not included
Siri AI and the other next-generation features Apple announced at WWDC 2026 are not part of this release. The first rollout is iPhone only.
How to turn on Apple Intelligence in China
- Check your iPhone. You need an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 or later, iPhone Air or iPhone Duo.
- Update to iOS 27.3 when it ships in December, in Settings > General > Software Update.
- Set the languages. Set both the iPhone language and the Siri language to English or Simplified Chinese.
- Turn on Apple Intelligence in Settings once the update is installed.
- Sign in to Qwen with a Qwen account or Sign in with Apple to use it in Siri, Writing Tools and Visual Intelligence.
Why the China launch matters
Mainland China is one of Apple's biggest markets. Greater China revenue rose 21% in Apple's latest quarter, so local AI features could help iPhone sales there. Until now, Chinese users could not use Apple Intelligence on the same phones that support it elsewhere. Apple had to find a local partner and clear regulatory approval before launching, which is why Alibaba's Qwen plays a central role.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can developers test Apple Intelligence in China now?
Yes, from November 4, in the latest iOS developer beta.
When is Apple Intelligence coming to China?
Apple says it will reach users in mainland China with iOS 27.3 in December 2026.
Does Apple Intelligence in China use Qwen?
Yes. Qwen is available in Siri, Writing Tools and Visual Intelligence.
Is Siri AI available in China?
No. Siri AI is not included in the iOS 27.3 release.
Summary
Apple Intelligence arrives in mainland China with iOS 27.3 in December, after testing begins on November 4. It covers Writing Tools, Live Translation, Genmoji and more, with Alibaba's Qwen in Siri. You need an iPhone 15 Pro or newer set to English or Simplified Chinese.
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