Among the rumors already circulating strongly about the upcoming iPhone 17, one particular technical specification could be the most beneficial. According to recent leaks coming from reputable sources within Apple’s supply chain, all models in the iPhone 17 family would come equipped with a surprising amount of 12 GB of RAM. This information, initially spread by industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and later supported by leaker Digital Chat Station on Weibo, anticipates the largest RAM upgrade ever seen in the history of the iPhone.
The iPhone 17 models won’t be that different.
Kuo had previously indicated that the iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max would integrate 12 GB of RAM. The novelty that the information from Digital Chat Station brings is the extension of this improvement to all models in the line, including the standard iPhone 17.
Even in the conservative scenario where the standard iPhone 17 retains the 8GB of RAM found in the current iPhone 16 lineup, Kuo is confident that next year’s entire iPhone 18 family would feature 12 GB.
The magnitude of this change is not insignificant. Currently, all iPhone 16 models come equipped with 8GB of RAM, so a jump to 12GB would represent a significant increase. This expansion of random access memory would have significant implications for the performance and capabilities of future devices, especially regarding the integration and operation of Apple Intelligence, the suite of artificial intelligence features expected to debut with iOS 18.
The benefits of such a significant increase in RAM are diverse and promising. Some of these are listed below:
- Support for larger, more powerful AI models: Greater speed, responsiveness, and the ability to perform more sophisticated tasks without relying heavily on the latency and connectivity of cloud services.
- Smoother multitasking: iPhone 17 will be able to handle a greater number of apps running simultaneously in the background without slowing down. This will significantly improve the multitasking experience, allowing for faster and more efficient switching between different tasks.
- Improved performance for intensive tasks: Applications for video editing, high-end gaming, and, crucially, the AI functions themselves will directly benefit from increased RAM availability, offering smoother and more efficient performance.
- More capacity for future innovations: By equipping the iPhone 17 with 12GB of RAM, Apple is laying the groundwork for future software and feature innovations that may require more memory to operate optimally.
If these leaks are confirmed, the RAM upgrade will be one of the most notable features and a compelling argument for the next generation of iPhones, promising a smoother, more powerful user experience that’s ready for the capabilities of built-in artificial intelligence. We’ll know for sure in September of this year when, following its usual schedule, Apple officially unveils the iPhone 17.
