recent years iPhone The focus of upgrades is no longer just the camera, appearance or screen size, memory capacity has gradually become the focus of everyone’s attention. Especially after Apple Intelligence officially becomes Apple’s core direction in the next few years, the amount of RAM will directly affect whether the mobile phone can fully support the new generation of AI functions. The latest news points out that it is expected to debut in 2027 iPhone 18 The standard version may be equipped with 12GB RAM for the first time, which is not only 50% higher than the previous generation, but also catches up with the specifications of the previous year’s Pro series. This has also made many people begin to rethink the value of the standard version of the iPhone.
▲Picture source:AppleInsider
iPhone 18 big memory upgrade? The standard version is rumored to be equipped with 12GB RAM for the first time
In the past, Apple has always had quite clear distinctions in the product positioning of the iPhone. The Pro series carries the latest technology and flagship specifications, while the standard version maintains a relatively affordable price, allowing more consumers to enter the iPhone ecosystem. This difference is not only reflected in the number of camera lenses, screen refresh rate or material design, but the memory configuration is also a very important part of it. Usually only the Pro series will get higher capacity RAM first, while the standard version tends to maintain more conservative configurations. However, this situation may change significantly starting from iPhone 18.
According to the latest revelations from analyst Dan Nystedt on social platform X, the standard iPhone 18 will be equipped with 12GB RAM for the first time. This is not just a small upgrade, but a huge leap compared to the standard version of iPhone 17, which is equivalent to a 50% increase in memory capacity at once.
What’s more noteworthy is that this specification is actually in line with the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max to be launched in 2025. In other words, the memory configuration that originally belonged to the high-end Pro series is likely to be officially transferred to the standard version in the future.
This rumor making the rounds again, add 12GB of RAM. https://t.co/vP14mEn5le
— Dan Nystedt (@dnystedt) April 24, 2026
The core reason behind such a change is probably Apple Intelligence. The AI function itself is a very memory-consuming application. In particular, Apple focuses on a large number of device-side computing, which means that AI can complete analysis, generation and processing directly on the phone instead of relying entirely on cloud servers. Although this can improve privacy and security and make responses faster, it also places higher demands on memory.
Such as notification summary, email rewriting, real-time speech understanding, smart photo retouching, personalized Siri, and even more advanced generative AI functions in the future, all require a large amount of memory support. If the standard iPhone does not have enough memory, it will be difficult to fully support these functions. Therefore, the iPhone 18’s increase in memory to 12GB is not a pure specification competition, but to truly fully implement Apple Intelligence.
▲Picture source:MacRumors
In addition to the memory upgrade, another key is the new A20 chip. According to previous supply chain news, Apple has seized the first batch of 2nm process production capacity from TSMC, which is expected to be used in the A20 chips used in the iPhone 18 series. This also means that iPhone 18 is likely to become one of the first smartphones to use the 2nm process. Compared with the 3nm process currently used in the iPhone 17 series, the 2nm process can theoretically bring about a 15% improvement in computing performance, while maintaining similar or even better power consumption control, without sacrificing battery life due to increased performance.
This is especially important for AI functions, because AI computing itself is prone to high load, high heat generation and high power consumption. If there is no better chip process to support it, the user experience can easily be affected. A20 paired with 12GB RAM is the core combination where Apple Intelligence can truly fully unleash its power.
However, there is less happy news for budget buyers. According to current rumors, Apple may adjust the pace of iPhone releases in the future. In the past, the standard version and the Pro series have usually debuted simultaneously in the fall, but starting with iPhone 18, this practice may change.
It is expected that the first to debut this fall will be the iPhone 18 Pro series, the rumored folding iPhone, and the new generation iPhone Air. The standard version of iPhone 18 may not be officially launched until early 2027 and will be launched together with iPhone 18e.
This arrangement is indeed embarrassing for people who want to buy the standard version. Because if you don’t want to spend more budget to go straight to Pro, you have to wait a few more months. But if what you get in the end is 12GB of RAM, a stronger A20 chip, and full support for Apple Intelligence features in future iOS 27, then the wait may be worth it.
Judging from the product strategy in recent years, Apple is slowly downplaying the fact that “the standard version is the version with compromised specifications”. Especially after the AI era officially begins, many core experiences cannot be reserved only for high-end users, otherwise the appeal of the standard version will quickly decline.
If the iPhone 18 is indeed equipped with 12GB RAM for the first time, it will not only be a specification upgrade, but also mean that Apple has begun to redefine the role of the standard iPhone.
In the future, choosing the standard version may no longer be just because of budget, but because it is truly sufficient and even worth it. For most consumers, this may be the most important change.
Further reading:
iPhone 18 Pro 系列、iPhone Ultra 摺疊機最新金屬機模曝光！與 iPad mini 、17 Pro Max 比一比
Source: KOCPC Chinese