Recent reports from analysts indicate that Apple’s next line of entry-level iPhones 18, expected to be launched in spring 2027, is expected to include 9 GB of RAM, aiming to improve the ability to support artificial intelligence developed by the company.
Renowned supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo estimates that entry-level versions, such as the likely iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e, will feature 1 GB of additional RAM, surpassing the capacity of the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e models.
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For premium models, such as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, Kuo anticipates that RAM will remain at 12 GB, which aligns with the specifications already present in the current iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
In a recent publication on Platform X, Kuo detailed that the next iPhones, expected in spring, will come equipped with A20 chips using 1.5 GB x 6 cores. This technical arrangement shows an evolution compared to the A19 chips, which employed 2 GB x 4 cores.
In turn, when considering the A20 Pro processor, the projection is that Apple’s chips will integrate 8 cores of 1.5 GB, culminating in a total capacity of 12 GB of RAM.
The justification for Apple to increase RAM in the most affordable models, according to the analyst, lies in the intention of optimizing the performance of its Artificial Intelligence. The extra memory is primarily intended to ensure that the “system operates fluidly in the face of the demands of AI tasks”.
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During the WWDC event, held on June 8, 2026, Apple revealed iOS 27. This new version of the operating system is scheduled to introduce advanced AI features, such as improved Siri, to iPhones in the autumn of the northern hemisphere.
In this scenario, the information released by Kuo aligns perfectly, as Apple will be interested in ensuring that all of its new iPhones deliver maximum performance when implementing the innovations introduced by iOS 27.
However, the real impact in terms of performance gains for AI that the increase from 8 GB to 9 GB would bring to iPhones scheduled for spring remains uncertain, leaving open the question of how this would translate into the user experience for more advanced artificial intelligence features compared to high-end models.
It is already known that Siri, equipped with its artificial intelligence capabilities, can operate on any device with 8 GB of RAM. This compatibility is confirmed by the fact that iOS 27 and its new Apple Artificial Intelligence tools are supported by these devices.
The caveat, however, lies in Apple’s recently launched integrated AI models. These features are exclusive to the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone Air, a condition imposed by the need for 12 GB of RAM to operate.
The big question is whether an iPhone 18 with 9 GB of RAM will also be able to run the integrated AI models. So far, the information available is that devices with 8 GB do not support these models, while those with 12 GB do. The exact line that defines the limit between these two capabilities is still unknown.
According to expectations, Apple should present the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, along with the iPhone Ultra, this fall. The iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e models, in turn, would be launched later, in spring 2027.