Apple Intelligence HomeKit Camera Features Require Costly iCloud+ Plans

Apple Intelligence and HomeKit Secure Video Pricing Tiers

Under the newly detailed pricing structure outlined on an Apple support page and cited by The Verge, users must subscribe to specific storage plans to access AI-driven camera features. To add Apple Intelligence capabilities to a single camera, users need the $9.99-per-month 2TB iCloud Plus plan or a $39.95-per-month Apple One Premier subscription. Adding the features to a second camera requires stepping up to the 6TB plan at $29.99 a month, while supporting up to five cameras demands the 12TB plan priced at $59.99 per month. These new software tiers represent a substantial price jump over historical HomeKit Secure Video costs. As reported by The Verge, HomeKit Secure Video started at $1 a month for the 50GB iCloud Plus plan, covering recorded footage from one camera alongside smart alerts and facial recognition. Prior to the Apple Intelligence rollout, users could access support for up to five cameras on the 2TB plan for $9.99 a month. Recordings from HomeKit-connected cameras do not count toward personal storage quotas, according to The Verge.

New Software Capabilities in iOS 27 and tvOS 27

The software upgrades arrive alongside iOS 27 and tvOS 27 updates, which bring significant functional improvements to the Apple Home ecosystem. The Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) keynote showcased a major emphasis on Apple Intelligence, extending AI features into the Home app alongside updates to Calendar, Mail, Messages, Phone, and Passwords. In addition to AI video features, the HomeKit frameworks now support 4K video resolution for the first time. According to The Verge, the updated system provides enhanced speed, reliability, and detailed descriptions of what is happening in recorded footage, while also allowing users to follow action across multiple cameras from a single feed. Much of the analytical processing is performed locally by an Apple TV running the tvOS 27 beta acting as the home hub.

Competitive Landscape and Existing Features

According to reporting by The Verge, competing services from Amazon’s Ring and Google Nest charge approximately $20 a month for subscription tiers that bundle similar AI-powered camera features, with both competitors offering more features than Apple currently does. Despite the high cost for AI enhancements, standard HomeKit Secure Video features remain unchanged for existing subscribers. The Verge notes that standard capabilities continue to record activity such as people, pets, parcels, and vehicles without requiring the new Apple Intelligence pricing tiers, ensuring that foundational security functions stay accessible at traditional subscription rates.