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Apple's next-generation entry-level iPhones are expected to get more RAM. Instead of 8 GB, the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e could soon have 9 GB – powered by the new A20 chip. This appears to be Apple's response to the growing demands of its AI features.
While the high-end models of the next iPhone generation are expected this fall, the more affordable versions are still pending. Now, a new clue has emerged regarding the specifications of these entry-level devices: Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo anticipates a significant increase in RAM. This information aligns with the existing picture of the iPhone 18 and demonstrates how consistently Apple is aligning its entire product range with artificial intelligence.
More RAM for beginners
According to Kuo, the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will be equipped with 9 GB of DRAM – one gigabyte more than the corresponding iPhone 17 models. This is made possible by the planned A20 chip: it will provide the memory via six dies of 1.5 GB each, resulting in a total of 9 GB. The current entry-level iPhones use four dies of 2 GB each, for a total of 8 GB. Apple is therefore changing not only the total amount of memory, but also how it is structured.
How the models differ from each other
Kuo is likely referring to the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e as the more affordable devices, both of which are not expected until March or April 2027. The more powerful models – iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the first foldable iPhone – are expected to be released this fall. More information is emerging regarding storage for these Pro devices: 12 GB is rumored, divided into eight 1.5 GB dies, similar to the iPhone 17 Pro models.
This contradicts earlier assumptions that also predicted 12 GB for the standard iPhone 18. According to the current forecast, this storage capacity will remain exclusive to the Pro models, while the entry-level models will have 9 GB.
Why storage is growing at all
The reason for the increase lies in artificial intelligence. According to the report, Apple is increasing the RAM in the iPhone 18 models so that the devices can smoothly handle AI tasks and support all of Apple's next-generation intelligence features in iOS 27. More memory allows larger AI models to be stored and executed directly on the device – an area that becomes more demanding with each generation.
Will the price remain stable?
It remains to be seen what the additional hardware will mean for the price. Apple recently raised prices for Macs, iPads, and the Vision Pro, but the iPhone 17 remained unaffected. An increase is considered likely for the iPhone 18 Pro models once they are released this fall. And since even budget devices like the entry-level iPad and the MacBook Neo have become more expensive, the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e are unlikely to escape a price hike either. Nothing has been confirmed yet – so there's plenty of room for further clues until spring 2027. (Image: Shutterstock / Wongsakorn 2468)
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