By the WahLiao desk · Last verified 1 October 2026
For most people in Singapore, no: you do not need to buy a new phone or laptop just to use Super Intelligence, the kind of AI behind ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini. The chatbot apps do their thinking on the company’s servers, so ChatGPT runs on any iPhone with iOS 17 or later (iPhone XS and XR from 2018 onwards) and Gemini runs on Android 9 or later with 2 GB of RAM. What an “AI” device adds is a set of built-in features, some run on the device itself, such as Apple Intelligence (iPhone 15 Pro and every iPhone 16 or later), Galaxy AI (Galaxy S24 series onwards) and Copilot+ PC features on Windows laptops with a 40+ TOPS chip. Today the cheapest new phone that has them is the Pixel 10a at S$799 at the Google Store; the cheapest Apple option is the iPhone 17e from S$1,099, and the cheapest Mac is the MacBook Neo from S$999.
The single most useful rule: upgrade when your current device is slow, out of storage or no longer getting security updates. If it still works, install the chatbot app and see whether you actually miss anything.
AI phones and laptops: quick facts
| What “AI” means on a device | A chip section called an NPU (neural processing unit) that runs some Super Intelligence features on the device, plus cloud features on top |
| Apple Intelligence | iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 or later; Macs with M1 or later and MacBook Neo. Free with the software. Supports localised English for Singapore since iOS 18.4 |
| Galaxy AI | Galaxy S24 series onwards, plus some tablets and wearables. Samsung says basic features are free; future enhanced features may be paid |
| Copilot+ PC | Windows laptop with a 40+ TOPS NPU, 16 GB RAM and 256 GB storage |
| Cheapest entry points (official SG stores) | Pixel 10a S$799; MacBook Neo S$999; iPhone 17e S$1,099; Galaxy S26 from S$1,438; Surface Laptop 13-inch S$1,699 |
| Chatbot apps need | ChatGPT: iOS 17 or later. Gemini: Android 9 or later, 2 GB RAM |
The WahLiao Verdict
| Phone still fine? | Keep it. The chatbot apps already work on it. |
| Buying anyway? | Every current iPhone, Pixel and Galaxy S phone includes the “AI” features. Do not pay extra for the label. |
| Laptop for school or office | Copilot+ is a nice extra, not a must. Choose on battery, screen and RAM. |
| Worth the premium | Only if you will use offline transcription, live call translation or photo editing every week. |
| Best value move | Spend on a subscription you will use, not on a phone you did not need. |
What makes a phone or laptop “AI”
Almost every device sold in 2026 is marketed as “AI”. The real difference is where the work happens. A chatbot such as ChatGPT or Claude sends what you type to large models in a data centre and sends the answer back, which is why it works on a five-year-old phone with a decent connection. (For how those models produce answers, see How Super Intelligence works.)
An “AI” device adds an NPU, a part of the chip built to run smaller models quickly and without draining the battery. That lets some features run on the device: summarising notifications, cleaning up a recording, transcribing a meeting, removing a stranger from a photo. On-device processing can be faster and keeps more of your data on the phone, but the bigger jobs still go to the cloud. Apple, Samsung, Google and Microsoft all mix the two, and they do not always tell you which is which for each feature.
So the honest question is not “is this an AI phone?” but “which built-in features do I want, and will I use them?”
Apple Intelligence: which iPhones and Macs, and does it work in Singapore
Apple’s support page lists Apple Intelligence on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and all iPhone 16 models or later; iPad Air, iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPads with M1 or later; and every Mac with M1 or later, plus the new MacBook Neo. It is part of the free software update, not a subscription. Features include Writing Tools, notification summaries, Clean Up in Photos and the option to pass harder questions from Siri to ChatGPT.
Singapore users are covered. Apple added localised English for Singapore and India with iOS 18.4 in April 2025, so you can keep your iPhone set to English (Singapore). Some individual features have narrower language lists, and Apple says availability can vary by language and region. Budget storage too: Apple says Apple Intelligence needs up to 8 GB free on most devices and up to 14 GB on the iPhone 17 Pro and similar high-end models.
On price, every iPhone Apple Singapore currently sells supports it: iPhone 17e from S$1,099, iPhone 16 from S$1,249, iPhone 17 from S$1,449, iPhone Air from S$1,749 and iPhone 18 Pro from S$1,899. On the Mac side, MacBook Neo starts at S$999, MacBook Air at S$1,899 and MacBook Pro at S$2,699. If you already own an iPhone 15 Pro or any M1 Mac, you have Apple Intelligence already.
Galaxy AI and Google Pixel
Samsung’s Singapore Galaxy AI page lists smartphones from the Galaxy S24 series onwards, plus selected tablets, watches and earbuds, with availability varying by model, region, language and carrier. Features include Interpreter for live translation, Transcript Assist, Writing Assist, Call Screening, Photo Assist and Now Brief, and many need a Samsung account. On cost, Samsung’s own wording is that “Galaxy AI basic features provided by Samsung are free” and that future enhanced features or new services may be paid. It has not announced a Singapore price for any paid tier, so treat “free forever” claims with care. The Galaxy S26 and S26+ start from S$1,438 and the S26 Ultra from S$1,828 on Samsung Singapore; older S24 and S25 models, often cheaper at retailers, also get Galaxy AI.
Google builds Gemini into its Pixel phones. The Google Store Singapore lists the Pixel 10a from S$799 and the Pixel 11 from S$1,299, with features such as Circle to Search, Gemini Live using your camera, Camera Coach and live translation of phone calls. Remember that the Gemini app itself, and Circle to Search on many other Android phones, are not Pixel-only, so the gap between a Pixel and a decent mid-range Android phone is smaller than the adverts suggest.
Copilot+ PCs: the 40 TOPS rule and Recall
Microsoft’s label for an “AI” Windows laptop is Copilot+ PC. Its specification requires a processor with an NPU capable of 40+ TOPS (trillion operations per second), 16 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD. Qualifying chips include Snapdragon X series, AMD Ryzen AI 300 and 400 series and Intel Core Ultra 200V and 300V series. The exclusive features include improved Windows search, Click to Do, Paint Cocreator and Recall.
Recall takes regular snapshots of your screen so you can search for something you saw earlier. Microsoft says it is off by default, you must opt in, it needs Windows Hello biometric sign-in, and it can be paused or removed entirely. If you share a laptop or handle client files, leave it off; our guide to your data and the PDPA explains why.
Prices vary widely. Microsoft Singapore lists the Surface Laptop 13-inch from S$1,699, with the note that Copilot+ features need configurations with 16 GB or more of RAM. Acer’s Singapore store lists laptops under its Copilot+ PC section from about S$1,400 to S$3,600, but check the exact model: some listings use older chips below 40 TOPS. The ordinary Copilot app and the chatbot websites work on any Windows 11 laptop.
What to buy: a side-by-side
| Your situation | What to do | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|
| Phone from 2020 or later, still fast | Keep it, install ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude | S$0, or a subscription |
| Phone slow or out of security updates | Buy a current model; it will have the AI features anyway | From S$799 (Pixel 10a) or S$1,099 (iPhone 17e) |
| Student or office laptop | Prioritise 16 GB RAM, battery and screen; Copilot+ or Mac is a bonus | From S$999 (MacBook Neo); Copilot+ from about S$1,400 |
| Heavy daily user of transcription or translation | An AI flagship makes sense | S$1,400 to S$1,900+ |
If you want better answers rather than better hardware, the money usually goes further on a plan. Our guide to free versus paid plans in S$ compares them, and eligible Singaporeans can get six months of a premium tool free after a SkillsFuture AI course. For parents weighing a first phone or laptop for a child, see Children and Super Intelligence.
AI phones and laptops: FAQ
Do I need a new phone to use ChatGPT or Gemini?
No. ChatGPT needs iOS 17 or later on iPhone, and Gemini needs Android 9 or later with 2 GB of RAM. Most phones from the last five to six years qualify.
Is Apple Intelligence available in Singapore?
Yes. It supports localised English for Singapore since iOS 18.4, on iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 or later. Some individual features vary by language and region.
Is Galaxy AI free?
Samsung says its basic Galaxy AI features are free, and that future enhanced features or new services may be offered on a paid basis. No paid Singapore tier has been priced.
What is a Copilot+ PC and do I need one?
It is a Windows laptop with a 40+ TOPS NPU, 16 GB RAM and 256 GB storage that unlocks features such as Recall and Click to Do. It is useful but not necessary: Copilot and chatbot websites run on any Windows 11 PC.
Is on-device AI more private?
Often, because some data stays on the device, but many features still send requests to the cloud. Check each feature’s settings rather than assuming.
Read next
This page belongs to Super Intelligence. Next, read Children and Super Intelligence.
Sources checked 1 October 2026: Apple Support, Apple Intelligence devices, languages and storage; Apple Newsroom, localised English for Singapore; Apple Singapore, iPhone prices; Apple Singapore, Mac prices; Samsung Singapore, Galaxy AI features and terms; Samsung Singapore, Galaxy S26 prices; Samsung Singapore, Galaxy S26 Ultra prices; Google Store Singapore, Pixel 10a; Google Store Singapore, Pixel 11; Microsoft, Copilot+ PC specifications; Microsoft Learn, 40+ TOPS NPU; Microsoft Support, Recall; Microsoft Singapore, Surface Laptop prices; Acer Store Singapore, Copilot+ PC listings; App Store Singapore, ChatGPT requirements; Google Help, Gemini app requirements. Prices are official store list prices and change with promotions. General information, not financial advice. Last updated 1 October 2026.
