iPhone 18 gets RAM boost but will miss advanced Apple Intelligence features in iOS 27

iPhone 18 May Receive RAM Boost to Handle Apple Intelligence Better

* Kuo said iPhone 18 could feature 9GB of RAM, up from 8GB on iPhone 17 * Apple's Pro phones will use 12GB RAM, as per the analyst * iPhone 18 series launch is slated for September The iPhone 18 series is expected to launch later this year, and rumours so far suggest the lineup could include the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Ultra. Meanwhile, the vanilla iPhone 18 is slated to debut next year. According to an analyst, the standard model will receive a modest RAM upgrade over the current iPhone 17 to support Apple Intelligence features better. More RAM is expected on the iPhone 18e, too. RAM Upgrades on iPhone 18 In a post on X, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that Apple's lower-end iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e models will arrive with 9GB of RAM. If accurate, it would be an increase from the 8GB memory that is available on the current iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e. According to the analyst, the additional memory is likely to help deliver smoother performance as iOS 27 introduces tighter system-level integration with Apple Intelligence. Citing the latest supply chain checks, Kuo stated that the two handsets, expected to be powered by Apple's A20 chip, will adopt a 9GB DRAM configuration to handle on-device AI workloads better. The analyst added that the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the rumoured iPhone Ultra foldable will continue to feature 12GB of RAM, matching the memory configuration expected on the iPhone 17 Pro models. The second-generation iPhone Air is also expected to retain 12GB of RAM. Despite the RAM bump, however, the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e are reportedly expected to miss out on two advanced Apple Intelligence features that Apple announced when previewing iOS 27 at WWDC. These include the ability to customise Siri's voice expressiveness and speaking pace, as well as a more accurate on-device speech-to-text dictation system. Apple has explicitly confirmed that both features require at least 12GB of RAM, which is likely to make them exclusive to the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone 18 Ultra. Rumours have also suggested that the iPhone Air successor could also get 12GB of RAM, which would make it compatible with the advanced Apple Intelligence features, too. The latest claim corroborates an earlier report from the same analyst, who previously suggested that Apple would increase the RAM on its entry-level iPhone 18 models to improve AI performance. Apple is expected to introduce the Pro models and foldable iPhone around September, while the standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and second-generation iPhone Air are tipped to debut around March 2027.

Apple iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e may debut next year but miss on these iOS 27 AI features

We already know that Apple is reportedly planning to split the launch cycle into two. This year, we may get to see the launch of iPhone 18 Pro series and its first ever foldable, the iPhone Ultra. And the iPhone 18 launch will be postponed to next early 2027 and may happen with iPhone 18e. Recently, a few reports suggested that the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will launch with 9GB of RAM, a minimal upgrade over the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e. This comes after supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that Apple will only offer a 1GB increase in RAM to ensure that the Apple Intelligence features continue to function properly. While this makes sense given rising memory prices, it may result in the loss of two new important Apple Intelligence features in iOS 27: the ability to customize Siri's expressiveness and pace, as well as a "major boost in accuracy" for speech-to-text dictation. Why? The answer is simple. These latest on-device Apple Intelligence features require at least 12GB of RAM. This means that only the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be able to handle these features smoothly. Also read: Amazon Prime Day 2026: Best deals on iQOO smartphones Apple iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e specs As per the reports, the iPhone 18 may get 6.3-inch LTPO OLED panel with a fluid 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate while the iPhone 18e may get smaller 6.12-inch LTPS OLED display limited to a standard 60Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, both phones may feature Apple A20 chip, built on an advanced 2nm process. Both the devices may run on iOS 27 and get battery upgrades. As for the camera, the iPhone 18 may get a dual lens setup including a 48MP main sensor and an upgraded 48MP ultra-wide lens, alongside a 24MP selfie camera. The iPhone 18e can get a single 48MP main camera along with 12MP selfie camera. Apple iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e price and release timeline If the reports are believed to be true, both iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e may launch in either March or April next year. In terms of prices, you can expect the iPhone 18 to climb up to around Rs 95,000 price tag amid the rising memory prices. On the other hand, the iPhone 18e could be priced in between Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000. Note, all these details are not confirmed and the readers are advised to take these updates with a pinch of salt.