You’ve probably seen the ads for Google’s newest AI, Gemini 3, and wondered if your iPhone is being left out of the party. It’s a fair question. For a long time, if you wanted the "good" Google stuff, you basically had to carry a Pixel. But things have changed fast.
Honestly, the short answer is yes. Gemini Advanced is absolutely available on iOS. But here’s the catch: it doesn’t work exactly like it does on Android, and finding the "Advanced" toggle can be kinda confusing if you’re just poking around the App Store. Plus, as of early 2026, the branding has shifted. Google recently started rolling out a new naming convention where "Gemini Advanced" is being folded into the Google AI Pro and AI Ultra tiers.
If you're looking to put Google's most powerful LLM on your iPhone, here is the ground truth on how to get it, what it costs, and why the Apple-Google partnership is making things weirdly interesting.
How to Get Gemini Advanced on Your iPhone Right Now
You won't find a separate app called "Gemini Advanced." Instead, everything lives inside the standard Google Gemini app (which finally became a standalone download on the App Store in late 2024).
To unlock the "Advanced" features—which now typically means access to the Gemini 3 Pro model and the "Deep Think" reasoning mode—you have to subscribe to a premium plan.
The Subscription Maze
Google has been messy with the names lately. To get the high-end AI on iOS, you usually subscribe via:
- Google AI Pro: This is the direct successor to what people called the AI Premium plan. It gives you Gemini 3 Pro, 2TB of storage, and "Deep Research" capabilities.
- Google AI Ultra: The newest tier for 2026. This includes "Agent Mode" and the highest rate limits for the Gemini 3 model.
You can actually subscribe directly through the iOS app using Apple’s In-App Purchase system. Just tap your profile icon in the top right of the Gemini app and look for the Upgrade button.
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One thing that's super important to note: If you already pay for a basic Google One storage plan (like the 100GB or 200GB ones), you’ll have to "change your membership" to the AI Pro tier. Apple’s subscription menu can be a bit finicky here, so sometimes it's easier to handle the upgrade on a desktop at gemini.google.com and then just sign into the app on your phone.
What Do You Actually Get on iOS?
Is it worth the $20-ish a month? That depends on if you actually use AI for work or just for asking what a "skibidi" is.
On an iPhone, Gemini Advanced (or AI Pro) unlocks Gemini Live, which is arguably the best part of the app. You can have a real-time, back-and-forth voice conversation. You can even share your camera feed so the AI "sees" what you’re looking at. If you’re trying to fix a leaky faucet or translate a menu in Tokyo, this is killer.
Features Available for Advanced iOS Users:
- Gemini 3 Pro Access: Better reasoning, fewer "hallucinations" (the AI lying to you), and better at coding.
- Deep Think Mode: A specific toggle that lets the model "pause" and verify its own logic before answering complex math or logic puzzles.
- Nano Banana Pro: Google’s internal code name for their high-fidelity image generator. It handles text inside images way better than the older models.
- 1 Million Token Context: You can literally upload a 1,500-page PDF and ask questions about a specific footnote on page 412.
The Siri Situation: The 2026 Plot Twist
Here is where it gets a little "inside baseball." You might have heard that Apple and Google signed a massive deal in early 2026.
Apple is now using Gemini models to power parts of Siri.
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However, this is not the same as having the Gemini app. If you use the Gemini-boosted Siri, it won't have the Google branding. It’ll just feel like Siri got a massive IQ boost. But if you want the full-throttle chatbot experience with the 2TB of cloud storage and the "Deep Research" tools, you still need that Gemini Advanced/AI Pro subscription.
Essentially, you have two ways to use Google's brain on an iPhone now: the "hidden" version inside Siri, or the "full" version in the dedicated Gemini app.
Why Some Features are Still "Android Only"
Don't let the marketing fool you; the iPhone version still has some "iOS tax" limitations. Because Apple is very protective of its system, the Gemini app on iPhone can't do certain things that the Android version can:
- System-level control: On a Pixel, Gemini can "read" your screen and interact with other apps directly. On iOS, it's mostly "sandboxed," meaning it can only see what you explicitly share with it.
- Replacing the Assistant: On Android, you can make Gemini your primary assistant. On iPhone, Siri is the boss. You can’t just say "Hey Siri" and have Gemini respond (unless you set up a convoluted Shortcuts routine).
Common Fixes for When "Advanced" Doesn't Show Up
I've seen a lot of people complain that they paid for the upgrade but the app still says they're on the free version. It's usually a sync issue between Apple's billing and Google's servers.
If this happens to you, go to Settings in the Gemini app and look for a button that says "Restore Purchases." If that fails, sign out of your Google account entirely and sign back in.
Also, check your email. Google often sends a "Welcome to Google AI Pro" email to the address associated with the subscription. If that email went to an old Gmail you never use, but you're signed into the app with your primary one, the features won't activate.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're ready to jump in, follow these steps to ensure you don't overpay or get stuck in a billing loop:
- Check for a Trial: Google almost always offers a 1-month or 2-month free trial for the AI Pro tier. Check the "Offers" tab in the Google One app or the Gemini app before paying full price.
- Audit your Storage: Since the AI Pro plan includes 2TB of storage, you can probably cancel any smaller iCloud or Dropbox plans you're paying for to offset the cost.
- Download the Google App: Even if you use the standalone Gemini app, keep the main "Google" app updated. It handles the underlying "Google Lens" technology that Gemini uses to see through your camera.
- Verify Regional Availability: While Gemini Advanced is widely available, some features like "Gemini Agent" are still limited to the US and UK markets in early 2026. Check your regional settings if a specific button is missing.