2027 iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e to Get 9GB RAM and A20 Chip

[MacRumors]

The lower-end iPhone 18 models set to launch in spring 2027 will feature 9GB DRAM, up from 8GB, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Kuo says the A20 chip Apple plans to use for the devices will have 1.5GB x 6 dies for a total of 9GB RAM, instead of 2GB x 4 dies as the current lower-end iPhone 17 models use.

By lower-end iPhones, Kuo is likely referencing the iPhone 18 and the iPhone 18e, both of which are rumored to be coming around March or April of 2027. Apple plans to introduce the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone this fall, and those devices are expected to feature 12GB RAM (1.5GB x 8 dies) like the current iPhone 17 Pro models.

Apple will add more RAM to the iPhone 18 models to make sure the devices work well with AI workloads and are able to support all of the Apple Intelligence features coming in iOS 27.

Apple yesterday raised prices across its Mac and iPad lines, but iPhone 17 pricing hasn't gone up. Apple will likely implement price hikes when the iPhone 18 Pro models come out, and since Apple raised the cost of even the low-end iPad and the MacBook Neo, the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e probably won't be exempt from an increase.

Article Link: 2027 iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e to Get 9GB RAM and A20 Chip

 

[MacUserFella]

That one extra gigabyte of RAM will raise the price of both phones by $100, I just know it

 

[sw1tcher]

Kuo says the A20 chip Apple plans to use for the devices will have 1.5GB x 6 dies for a total of 9GB RAM, instead of 2GB x 4 dies as the current lower-end iPhone 17 models use.

Increase RAM by 1GB while increasing prices by at least $100.


MacUserFella beat me to it.

 

[Slo Pesci]

Since the 17 now has 120hz and always on display I dont think they could add anything to the 18 that would make me want it.

 

[abatabia]

Yup, all for the low starting price of $999.

My amazing 17 is good for a while, thank you.

 

[BGrifter]

Lmao

and in related news, lol

 

[Lizzard899]

NO ONE IS GONNA BUY A PHONE if they keep raising prices. APPLE IS A JOKE. IVE BEEN SAYING FOR 2 YRS APPLE WILL BE OUTTA BUSINESS BY 2032 if they keep this up. Looks like im gonna be right

 

[JPack]

The idea that iPhone 18 was going to get 12GB always seemed far fetched. This 9GB is probably be what MacBook Neo 2 will end up using as well.

12GB LPDDR5X went up by 89% from Q1 to Q2. Something that cost $70 now costs $145. You can't put that in a $799 or even $899 device.

Mobile DRAM Prices Forecast to Surge 89% Amid Consumer Memory Shortage

Mobile LPDDR5X DRAM prices are projected to surge 89% quarter-on-quarter in Q2 2026, hitting $145.9 per unit, as wafer capacity shifts to HBM and AI server memory.

en.sedaily.com

 

[cigz]

Stupid if true. Like what is this additional 1GB supposed to do? No one's gonna feel the difference compared to 8GB

 

[ghostanime2001]

9 GB RAM with 1.5 GB x 6 dies.whats this even mean vs. 2 GB x 4 dies..?

 

[vegetassj4]

Get a 20 chip what?

Thank you, I'll be here all week.

 

[crsh1976]

Seems like we've entered the dark ages of tech this week.

 

[JoEw]

So Apple's best AI features won't work on this device from day 1?

This company is a joke

 

[Yr Blues]

So Apple's best AI features won't work on this device from day 1?

This company is a joke

Wealthy people lease their phones, so it's nothing.

 

[JPack]

So Apple's best AI features won't work on this device from day 1?

This company is a joke

It's the AI era, meaning the "Pro" AI model needs a Pro phone. No different than when cameras were the rage. You didn't get ProRAW on the base iPhone.

 

[Sami13496]

You mean 8GB right?

Computers store and process data in binary, where everything is based on powers of 2:

• 2^0 = 1
• 2^1 = 2
• 2^2 = 4
• 2^3 = 8
• 2^4 = 16
• 2^5 = 32
• 2^6 = 64

RAM chips themselves are designed with capacities that are powers of two because it makes the memory addressing hardware simple and efficient. For example, a chip might contain:

• 512 MB
• 1 GB
• 2 GB
• 4 GB
• 8 GB
• 16 GB

Manufacturers then combine these chips into RAM modules. That’s why you commonly see modules like 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB, and so on.

9 GB?

It’s technically possible, but it would require combining chips in unusual ways, which:

• Costs more to manufacture.
• Complicates design and testing.
• Doesn’t provide much market benefit.

 

[Wizec]

Is this an onion article? 😆

 

[Astuces iOS]

9gb of ram for what? just keep 8gb and drop the prices

 

[ab2c4]

Strange, it reminds me of the Macbook Pro M3 Pro with 18gb (I have one actually). Odd configuration and always wondered why 18 or in this case 9. Its barely more than the 16 and 8 configurations, is it purely marketing for people who don't understand tech and think "wow, we get 1gb more!"?

Its either running in single or triple channel RAM I guess.

 

[ab2c4]

You mean 8GB right?

Computers store and process data in binary, where everything is based on powers of 2:

• 2^0 = 1
• 2^1 = 2
• 2^2 = 4
• 2^3 = 8
• 2^4 = 16
• 2^5 = 32
• 2^6 = 64

RAM chips themselves are designed with capacities that are powers of two because it makes the memory addressing hardware simple and efficient. For example, a chip might contain:

• 512 MB
• 1 GB
• 2 GB
• 4 GB
• 8 GB
• 16 GB

Manufacturers then combine these chips into RAM modules. That’s why you commonly see modules like 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB, and so on.

9 GB?

It’s technically possible, but it would require combining chips in unusual ways, which:

• Costs more to manufacture.
• Complicates design and testing.
• Doesn’t provide much market benefit.

9gb and 18gb (and even 36gb) are a real thing both in the Mac and Windows world.

 

[JoEw]

It's the AI era, meaning the "Pro" AI model needs a Pro phone. No different than when cameras were the rage. You didn't get ProRAW on the base iPhone.

"built for Apple Intelligence" was advertised on last years phones.

 

[JPack]

You mean 8GB right?

Computers store and process data in binary, where everything is based on powers of 2:

• 2^0 = 1
• 2^1 = 2
• 2^2 = 4
• 2^3 = 8
• 2^4 = 16
• 2^5 = 32
• 2^6 = 64

RAM chips themselves are designed with capacities that are powers of two because it makes the memory addressing hardware simple and efficient. For example, a chip might contain:

• 512 MB
• 1 GB
• 2 GB
• 4 GB
• 8 GB
• 16 GB

Manufacturers then combine these chips into RAM modules. That’s why you commonly see modules like 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB, and so on.

9 GB?

It’s technically possible, but it would require combining chips in unusual ways, which:

• Costs more to manufacture.
• Complicates design and testing.
• Doesn’t provide much market benefit.

No, Kuo means 9GB. It's not unusual at all, in fact it's expected.

The config would use six 12Gb density dice.

Samsung currently ships 12GB LPDDR5X as eight 12Gb chips. A20 with 9GB would simply be six 12Gb chips.

 

[AusMness]

Literally what does this accomplish
Why 9
Not 12 or even 10 but 9?

 

[Sami13496]

9gb and 18gb (and even 36gb) are a real thing both in the Mac and Windows world.

18 and 36 I get. It is possible with combining. But 9, how?

 

[EugW]

The idea that iPhone 18 was going to get 12GB always seemed far fetched. This 9GB is probably be what MacBook Neo 2 will end up using as well.

12GB LPDDR5X went up by 89% from Q1 to Q2. Something that cost $70 now costs $145. You can't put that in a $799 or even $899 device.

The RAM is likely dependent upon the SoC used. If the MacBook Neo gets A19 Pro, then it's likely 12 GB RAM. However, if the Neo does indeed get A19 Pro with 12 GB RAM, I wouldn't be shocked if they raise the price yet again.