iPhone 18 Rumored to Feature 12GB of RAM
▼ Summary
– Standard iPhone 18 could feature 12GB of RAM for the first time, matching the iPhone 17 Pro models.
– Analyst Dan Nystedt also noted a rumor that Apple secured TSMC’s first 2nm chip production for the A20 processor in the iPhone 18 lineup.
– The 2nm process offers 15% better computing performance than 3nm without sacrificing power efficiency.
– The RAM increase is likely tied to Apple Intelligence, as on-device AI workloads are memory-intensive.
– Apple reportedly plans to delay the standard iPhone 18 launch until early 2027, while Pro models and a foldable iPhone ship in fall 2026.
According to analyst Dan Nystedt, Apple’s standard iPhone 18 may finally receive a 12GB RAM upgrade, marking a notable first for the entry-level model. In a post on X, Nystedt claimed the base iPhone 18 will match the memory capacity Apple reserved for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max last September. This would represent the inaugural instance of a non-Pro iPhone shipping with that much memory.
Nystedt also highlighted an earlier rumor indicating Apple has secured TSMC’s initial 2nm chip production for the A20 processor expected to power the entire iPhone 18 lineup. According to that report, TSMC’s 2nm process offers 15% better computing performance compared to 3nm, with no trade-off in power efficiency. For context, the iPhone 17 series relies on TSMC’s N3P 3nm node.
The push to 12GB of RAM on the standard model is likely tied to Apple Intelligence. Apple is anticipated to unveil expanded AI features with iOS 27 at WWDC on June 8. On-device AI workloads demand significant memory, and ensuring the entry-level iPhone can fully support Apple Intelligence would give Apple a compelling reason to raise the standard model’s memory to last year’s Pro tier.
The iPhone 18 is not expected to debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro this fall. Apple is reportedly planning to postpone the standard model until early 2027, releasing it alongside the iPhone 18e and a second-generation iPhone Air. Meanwhile, the Pro models and the long-awaited foldable iPhone will ship during the usual autumn launch window.
(Source: MacRumors)
