Base iPhone 18 Rumored to Feature Significant 50% RAM Increase
The standard iPhone 18 model is rumored to receive a significant hardware upgrade. It may boost its memory by 50% compared to its predecessor. This information suggests Apple is planning to equip the base model with 12GB of RAM. This change would standardize the memory across the entire premium iPhone lineup.
The rumor points to a major shift in Apple’s strategy for memory specifications. Currently, the standard iPhone 17 is the only model in its generation to feature 8GB of RAM. In contrast, the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max models already boast 12GB of RAM. The alleged move to 12GB for the base iPhone 18 would eliminate this gap. This brings all flagship models to the same memory capacity.
The primary catalyst for this rumored RAM increase is the escalating demand for on-device Artificial Intelligence (AI) processing. Features under the umbrella of Apple Intelligence, such as advanced photo editing and sophisticated voice assistants, require significant memory. This is necessary to run efficiently directly on the device. By unifying the RAM at 12GB, Apple would ensure the base iPhone 18 is better equipped. It can handle a future of more intensive local AI workloads and improved multitasking performance. This change suggests a strategic move to future-proof the entire product line.
Further supporting this rumor are details from the supply chain. Apple has reportedly requested its primary memory supplier, Samsung, to ramp up production of LPDDR5X chips for the next iPhone production cycle. This is notable because Samsung’s high-performance LPDDR5X DRAM chips are only manufactured in 12GB and 16GB configurations. The absence of an 8GB variant for this advanced chip type strengthens the speculation. The base iPhone 18 will, by necessity, feature the larger 12GB module. Apple is also reportedly in discussions with other suppliers, including SK Hynix and Micron, to secure additional mobile DRAM supply.
It is important to note that the iPhone 18 lineup is already subject to separate launch timeline rumors. While the premium models like the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a rumored foldable iPhone are still expected to launch in the traditional Fall timeframe, reports suggest the standard iPhone 18 and a potential new iPhone 18e model could see a staggered release in the following Spring.
This rumored RAM increase represents a massive performance boost for the base model. It marks an aggressive step forward in the phone’s ability to handle next-generation computing.
 origin: Macrumors
