iPhone 17 Air Now Rumored to Feature 12GB of RAM Like the Pro Models

[Zdigital2015]

I’m not one to jump on the more DRAM or else wagon, but at this point, Apple needs to nut up and get all the 17 models up to 12GB of DRAM across the board. Even I’m tired of this nickel and diming BS and I still stand by my 8GB/512GB 13” MBP. However, if Apple want to compete with AI, and I’m unclear if they are resolved to do so, then it’s time to stop trying to increase their gross margins and provide some compelling hardware, especially on their flagship product. I’m not saying Apple has to decrease gross margin, but every time they make a consumer friendly update to their products (ie Mac mini and MBA/MBP starting at 16GB) they see increased sales, good will and positive PR. Then some internal gremlin in finance says, “people are too happy, let’s f*** this party up” and bean counter, feature drip Apple comes back with a vengeance. Stop it, Tim.

 

[tomtad]

Sounds a bit like another slap in the face to iPhone 16 buyers. They will get a limited version of Apple Intelligence features (when they finally release) due to lack of RAM.

Siri no longer works on my 4S

 

[mikethebigo]

Completely agreed. If true, it’s quite insulting.

Oh, I see where are you going to… you mean that maybe some iPhone 17 models, despite physically having 12GB of RAM, may come with just 8GB enabled, right?

It seems like it is becoming difficult to find 4 GB memory modules in the supply chain. I would be suspicious if any iPhone came out this year with dual channel 8 GB RAM.

It also just marks a gross expansion of marketing’s power in the company. Just like how they pushed Apple Intelligence features that did not work or did not exist. If Apple is shipping hardware with working parts disabled for the purpose of market segmentation, it just really sucks.

 

[Zorn]

I really wish they would just delineate the difference between the Pro vs. mainline as just having crazy camera stuff.

 

[bluecoast]

If everyone who bought iPhones with 8gb suddenly aren’t going to be able to use the next iteration of apple intelligence - or even what was promised at wwdc 24 - … expect even more class action suits!

 

[bluecoast]

Same goes for my wife. She desperately wants something thinner and lighter, but stereo speakers (and overall sound volume) are a must have. The 12GB is really just a cost issue (on a premium device), but having good sound does require space, so I'm not too confident about the latter.

Tbh I don’t get this as I mostly listen to / watch things on my iPhone with my AirPods but we are all different of course.

I don’t know if people behave like this where you are, but I constantly see people have video calls on the streets with the speakerphone on.

And people watching videos on public transport with the speakers on.

So an iPhone with not so great audio output sounds great to me !

 

[dandyryan]

still dont understand why it only has 1 camera if it's priced higher than the standard.
the wide angle lens is a must have for any non-budget phone.

 

[N0ughtsAndCr0sses]

What’s the point of being so thin when it has that ridiculous camera protuberance on top?

For you to ask questions on the internet.

Create traffic, others might be dumb enough to contradict, apple watching and get early feedback. Etc.

 

[dustin_]

[deleted]

 

[tomtad]

I really wish they would just delineate the difference between the Pro vs. mainline as just having crazy camera stuff.

That's exactly what they're doing.

You have the normal iPhone, or if you want to pay extra for something more premium the new larger, thinner Air.

Apple is leaving the Pro to pursue the best camera system which comes with extra heft.

 

[Quackington]

Is the extra ram expected to help fix the Siri and Apple Intelligence issues?

 

[Sami13496]

I don’t care what are the numbers on the spec sheet as long the phone is fast and responsive.

 

[cdsapplefan]

Cook 🧑‍🍳: We’ll just save that extra 4gigs to sell the Air Crowd on next year 😉

 

[victorvictoria]

I'd like it better if it didn't have that big ugly wart on the back!

 

[jmgregory1]

Who cares how much ram it has, when people are going to buy it for its looks. It’s definitely tempting, as I LOVE my M4 iPad Pro 13” and its ultra thin form. It reminds me of when I owned the then thinnest cell phone on the market, a Sanyo that was so thin and svelte that it felt like it came from the future compared to the typical chunky cell phones back in the early 2000’s. I’ll likely bite on the “upgrade” to the 17 Air, if Apple indeed moves away from titanium with the Pro Max, as I really love my 15 Pro Max in raw titanium, assuming they also give the Air a Pro-Motion screen.

 

[dampfnudel]

If all 17 models end up being equipped with 12GB of RAM, I think Apple Intelligence will be the main reason. Maybe 8GB isn’t enough and Apple is struggling getting everything to work properly on 8GB devices. 12GB may be the magic number.

 

[Oscar_440]

More indication to me that some of the more advanced AI features in iOS19 or 20 will require more than 8GB.

I wonder if the "first iphone designed for AI" marketing will age poorly if actual-LLM-Siri needs 12 or something.

What I do not know is why Apple put just 8Gb on the 16 pro models instead of 12. It's always the cheap of Tim... We will see in what AI things the entire 16 line up gets out.
Hopefully, the action lawsuit about all this will move on.

 

[klasma]

What’s the point of being so thin when it has that ridiculous camera protuberance on top?

It’s not even that thin, barely a quarter less than the iPhone 12, and thicker than the iPad Pros.

 

[klasma]

12GB of RAM and safari will still unload all your tabs. What's the point of all this memory if nothing is allowed to stay in it?

The point is it doesn’t cost Apple much and is a spec point against the features they have to remove due to the thinness.

 

[klasma]

still dont understand why it only has 1 camera if it's priced higher than the standard.
the wide angle lens is a must have for any non-budget phone.

One reason it’s priced higher is that it has a Plus-sized screen.

 

[PsykX]

16 GB should be standard already...

I'm not against more, but at the end of the day, it's just a phone.
I have 8 GB on my 16 Pro and it's plenty.
They would increase the phone prices for 16 GB and unless there's a really good reason, I would not be ready to pay for this.

 

[arcite]

Completely agreed. If true, it’s quite insulting.

Oh, I see where are you going to… you mean that maybe some iPhone 17 models, despite physically having 12GB of RAM, may come with just 8GB enabled, right?

Scandalous really. Typical Tim Cook penny pinching upselling.

 

[yaayayaa]

AOD/ Promotion has already been rumored, if it includes a 0.5x cam then this can be the perfect phone for me

 

[Trey M]

What’s the point of being so thin when it has that ridiculous camera protuberance on top?

Believe it or not, some people use cases which makes this complaint a non-issue

 

[victorvictoria]

Who cares how much ram it has, when people are going to buy it for its looks. It’s definitely tempting, as I LOVE my M4 iPad Pro 13” and its ultra thin form. It reminds me of when I owned the then thinnest cell phone on the market, a Sanyo that was so thin and svelte that it felt like it came from the future compared to the typical chunky cell phones back in the early 2000’s. I’ll likely bite on the “upgrade” to the 17 Air, if Apple indeed moves away from titanium with the Pro Max, as I really love my 15 Pro Max in raw titanium, assuming they also give the Air a Pro-Motion screen.

Man, your affection for your Apple Hardware makes this shareholder's heart go pitty-pat! You should definitely buy that iPhone 17 Air! And maybe a 15" M4 MacBook Pro, if you don't already have one! Know what I love? Early adopters!