The iPhone 17 range from Apple may have 12GB of RAM in all variants.
Apple is anticipated to enhance all four iPhone 17 models with 12GB of RAM, a notable increase over the 8GB utilised in the iPhone 16 series.
This upgrade will encompass the normal iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the ultra-slim iPhone 17 Air, which is poised to supplant the existing Plus model.
Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that Apple has resolved to incorporate 12GB of RAM in the Pro, Pro Max, and Air variants. Kuo posits that supply chain considerations will ultimately dictate whether the standard iPhone 17 will feature 12GB, however he anticipates that, at a minimum, the other versions will benefit from this enhancement. Kuo further predicts that the standard iPhone 17 may rival the premium models if production circumstances permit.
Kuo anticipates that although the standard iPhone 17’s final decision may occur by May 2025, the entry-level edition may retain 8GB, while 12GB is expected to become common across all iPhone models with the iPhone 18 in 2026.
What is the impetus for the RAM upgrade?
The primary impetus for this RAM enhancement is to facilitate Apple’s expanding AI functionalities and augment multitasking efficiency. Increased memory will allow future devices to manage more intricate workloads and on-device models, facilitating enhanced performance and reduced latency.
This strategy enables Apple to remain competitive in the premium smartphone market, where rival companies are advancing hardware and software integration. Kuo’s analysis indicates that Apple’s planned enhancement of RAM will enhance the performance of the iPhone 17 series and simultaneously improve the outlook for Apple’s memory suppliers, Micron and SK Hynix. Micron is poised to benefit from the increasing demand for memory modules tailored for artificial intelligence. The price of 12GB DRAM is approximately 50% greater than that of 8GB, offering evident financial benefits for both Apple and its memory vendors.
Release of iPhone 17
The iPhone 17 series is anticipated to be revealed in September 2025, with RAM enhancements that will elevate the performance of Apple’s smartphones. The inclusion of 12GB of RAM in the base model, alongside its Pro equivalents, is yet to be confirmed; nonetheless, the shift to 12GB as the standard for the iPhone 18 series appears highly probable.
Apple’s emphasis on providing robust, AI-enhanced experiences may enable the forthcoming iPhone 17 models to establish a new benchmark for flagship smartphones, facilitating unprecedented multitasking and performance efficiency.
