This year’s entire iPhone 16 lineup comes with 8GB of RAM to run Apple Intelligence features, and we can expect 12GB in future models.
Previous reports suggested that the iPhone 17 Pro Max would come with 12GB, but it looks like this could be the case for both iPhone 18 Pro models…
Apple Intelligence requires 8GB RAM
8GB RAM appears to be the minimum required to run Apple Intelligence features.
All four iPhone 16 models are 8GB, with last year’s models offering 6GB for the Standard and Plus models and 8GB for the Pro and Pro Max. The latter is the only older iPhone that has access to Apple Intelligence.
Future iPhones will be 12GB
Even before the launch of the iPhone 16, Ming-Chi Kuo hinted that 12GB would be included in the iPhone 17 Pro Max next year. he said he would do this do not have The same goes for the tiny iPhone 17 Pro. If accurate, this would be the first time Apple used RAM as a differentiator between the two Pro models.
Looking further ahead, Weibo users Mobile phone chip expert reports that at least one iPhone 18 model will switch to a new, denser chip packaging method, which will include 12GB RAM.
The 2026 Apple iPhone’s 2nm processor A20 is expected to adopt a new packaging method. APTS has changed from the original InFo to the WMCM packaging method. The memory is also upgraded to 12GB and the entire network is announced two years in advance.
Apple’s chipmaker TSMC has been at the forefront of system-on-chip (SoC) technology. Rather than using separate chip packages for CPU, GPU, RAM, etc., these chips are all integrated into one unit. A variation on this theme is known as a multi-chip module (MCM), and TSMC is expected to be the first to launch its most advanced form of 2nm chips in 2026.
Mobile phone chip expert The company says this latest technology can be expected to debut with the iPhone 18 lineup, which comes with 12GB RAM as part of the package. This leaker has an impressive track record and was the first to report that the A16 chip was exclusive to the two iPhone 14 Pro models, and that Apple was developing its own 3nm chip for AI servers. .
Probably both iPhone 18 Pro models will have 12GB
In the original report, it was unclear which 2026 models would be equipped with RAM. However, Kuo has previously suggested that the 2nm process required for the new packaging method will be limited to the two Pro models, suggesting that both can be expected to come with 12GB RAM.
However, this does not exclude the possibility that even non-Pro models will have 12GB RAM on a less advanced chip.
Image: Lumafield/iFixit
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