![\"Apple](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Apple-Visual-Intelligence-vs-Circle-to-Search-Apple-search-buttons.jpg\"\/ "\\"Apple")
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Ryan Haines \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n
TL;DR<\/p>\n
Apple\u2019s rumored iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e could get an unusual 9GB RAM upgrade to better support Apple Intelligence features in iOS 27.
\nThe iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and rumored foldable iPhone are expected to stick with 12GB of RAM, as that\u2019s already sufficient for AI workloads.
\nIf accurate, this move suggests Apple Intelligence is now shaping iPhone hardware decisions \u2014 and could even influence Android brands to experiment with similar RAM strategies.<\/p>\n
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo\u2019s X post<\/a>, Apple\u2019s upcoming lower-end iPhones are expected to ship with 9GB of RAM instead of the 8GB found in their predecessors. If the information proves accurate, it would mark the first time Apple has used such an unconventional RAM capacity in an iPhone.<\/p>\n At first glance, that extra gigabyte might not sound particularly exciting. However, the benefit is expected to show up when Apple\u2019s AI features become more deeply woven into iOS 27<\/a>. More RAM gives the system extra breathing room, helping tasks stay responsive instead of slowing your phone down.<\/p>\n Kuo says Apple plans to achieve the jump to 9GB using six 1.5GB memory dies, rather than the four 2GB dies used in the current generation. Although Kuo doesn\u2019t mention specific model names, his reference to Apple\u2019s \u201clower-end iPhones\u201d strongly suggests the standard iPhone 18 and the rumored iPhone 18e, which are expected to launch in the first half of 2027.<\/p>\n The higher-end iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and Fold Ultra<\/a> reportedly won\u2019t receive a memory upgrade, remaining at 12GB of RAM. That\u2019s likely because they already have enough headroom for Apple\u2019s current and upcoming AI features, making an increase less necessary.<\/p>\n One interesting question is why Apple would settle on 9GB RAM instead of jumping straight to 12GB across the lineup. Kuo doesn\u2019t offer an explanation, but industry-wide constraints on memory supply could be one reason. Apple has already adjusted pricing across parts of its Mac and iPad lineup<\/a> in response to changing RAM costs, so it\u2019s possible the company is trying to balance improving AI performance with keeping hardware costs under control.<\/p>\n If this rumor pans out, it highlights how Apple\u2019s AI ambitions are starting to influence hardware decisions just as much as software features. It could even set a precedent that Android brands follow, largely because Apple is doing it, with manufacturers potentially experimenting with similar non-standard RAM configurations to better balance AI workloads and cost efficiency in future flagship and mid-range phones.<\/p>\n![\"Ming](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-29-at-1.21.06-PM.png\"\/ "\\"Ming")
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