The standard iPhone 18 could get a bigger memory expansion than previously expected, and this could solve one of the biggest limitations the phone was expected to have.
According to analyst Jeff Pu in a research note 9to5Mac saw itApple is expected to equip the iPhone 18 with 12 GB of RAM, compared to the iPhone 17’s 8 GB. This is also much more than the 9 GB previously predicted by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
12GB can unlock more Apple AI features
The extra 3GB could be especially important for iOS 27. Apple’s AFM Core Advanced model, which provides Advanced Dictation Preview and the new expressive Siri voices, requires at least 12GB of RAM to run locally.
We’ve previously covered how the rumored 9GB configuration prevents the standard iPhone 18 from running these features, despite switching to Apple’s new A20 chip. Asserting Pu would remove that hardware limitation.
There is some disagreement about the cheaper iPhone 18e. Pu expects the model to have 9GB of RAM, which could leave it without the same AI capabilities, despite also using the A20.
Apple needs a lot of memory
Given Apple’s current memory issues, it would be particularly noteworthy if the standard iPhone 18 was given 12GB. Allegedly, the packaging of the A20 Pro chips intended for the autumn iPhone 18 Pro models is already being hampered due to the lack of DRAM.
Apple is also testing DRAM from Chinese manufacturer CXMT as it seeks additional supplies. Memory prices have risen so much that Apple has already raised the prices of several Macs and iPads.
The release of the standard iPhone 18 is not expected until the spring of 2027, so Apple will have more time to provide enough memory. Pu’s 12GB prediction also remains unconfirmed, especially since it conflicts with Kuo’s previous claim of 9GB.
The bigger question is what the extra RAM might mean in terms of pricing. The 12GB + 1TB iPhone 18 Pro Max is already expected to cost nearly $300 more than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the memory expansion of the base iPhone 18 model could put similar pressure on the starting price. Apple may have to decide how much of the cost of the added component it is willing to absorb.
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