iPhone 17 Base Model Now Said to Feature A18 Chip and 8GB of RAM

[Citizen45]

This makes no sense.

They already tried carrying over the previous year's chip for both the iPhone 14 and 15 and those did not sell well.

Then they fixed it for the iPhone 16, giving it a new chip but a weaker version of it.

Why go back to the old system that clearly didn't work?

It's one thing to restrict them to an entire 4GB of RAM less than the Pro, but to also give an old SoC?

Apple really is getting greedy.

 

[JPack]

This makes no sense.

They already tried carrying over the previous year's chip for both the iPhone 14 and 15 and those did not sell well.

Then they fixed it for the iPhone 16, giving it a new chip but a weaker version of it.

Why go back to the old system that clearly didn't work?

It's one thing to restrict them to an entire 4GB of RAM less than the Pro, but to also give an old SoC?

Apple really is getting greedy.

Tariffs.

Apple still wants to say iPhone starts at $799.

New chip or more RAM would bump it to $899+.

 

[mcbumbersnazzle]

No, Apple has not done this before.

iPhone 14 received 6GB RAM upgrade.

iPhone 15 got the 14 Pro chip.

iPhone 17 is getting zero upgrades if rumor is accurate.

They all have last gen chip performance like I said lol. Look back at iPhone 13, it has practically the same CPU performance as the Pro Max. iPhone 17 is probably gonna just have the full A18 this time, like how the 14 was, still last gen

 

[JPack]

They all have last gen chip performance like I said lol. Look back at iPhone 13, it has practically the same CPU performance as the Pro Max. iPhone 17 is probably gonna just have the full A18 this time, like how the 14 was, still last gen

This thread is about chip and RAM. Apple has never gone stagnant on both before.

iPhone 16e = iPhone 17

Apple isn’t going to use A18 Pro. It’s a much bigger die with more cache and ProRes encode/decode.

 

[mcbumbersnazzle]

This thread is about chip and RAM. Apple has never gone stagnant on both before.

iPhone 16e = iPhone 17

Apple isn’t going to use A18 Pro. It’s a much bigger die with more cache and ProRes encode/decode.

How is it stagnant lol, the current A18 is like 15% slower. They're gonna add 1 extra A18 Pro GPU core, match its clock speed, cache, they can since tsmc n3e is "cheap" unlike n3b, exactly like what they did with the 14 btw, add 120Hz Promotion like rumoured and dumbass reviewers gonna rave about it like always. You act like this is the first time apple is selling phones with the same RAM, they used to sell base iPhone with 2GB / 4GB of RAM for 4 years straight!

 

[MacRazySwe]

This is highly subjective reporting by MacRumors. Doesn't feel professional.

For some, the iPhone 17 will be a fantastic upgrade - with more than adequate performance, and now (hopefully) a 120hz promotion display and the larger 6.3" display in a lighter aluminum chassis compared to the Pro.

Going by forum posts, it seems a lot of people are actually looking forward to this!

 

[Dog Bone Malone]

Good old Apple. Give with one hand, take away with the other. I knew there would be some shithousery coming down the line.

 

[Radin.Y]

I don't wanna say choice is bad, but this is getting very fragmented.
Steve Jobs was the product guy. He preferred simplicity. He wanted Apple to offer a tightly curated set of products—no clutter, no fragmentation.
iPad lineup is a disaster, iPhone is getting worse. Headphones are becoming like that. At least Macs have a better, clear lineup. Thank gawd they haven't ****ed up Apple TV and HomePods yet.

 

[plek]

Am currently on a 13 mini, but upgrading to an Apple refurbished 15 Pro seems like even more of a better deal.
Especially if the price drops further after the 17 series are released.

 

[Froilan]

The latest rumored specs for the iPhone 17 base model are underwhelming.

In a research note with equity research firm GF Securities this month, Apple analyst Jeff Pu said that the lowest-end iPhone 17 model will be equipped with the same A18 chip that is used in the iPhone 16 base model. The chip will continue to be manufactured with TSMC's second-generation 3nm process, known as N3E, he said.

The ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air is expected to have an A19 chip, while the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to have an A19 Pro chip. Both of those chips are expected to be manufactured with TSMC's third-generation 3nm process, known as N3P.

Pu also expects the iPhone 17 to be equipped with 8GB of RAM, matching the iPhone 16.

Last month, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the iPhone 17 Air and both iPhone 17 Pro models will all be equipped with an increased 12GB of RAM. He said that Apple was still deciding on 8GB or 12GB of RAM for the iPhone 17 base model at that time, and if Pu's information is accurate, the company has settled on 8GB for the device.

Overall, the base iPhone 17 is shaping up to be a minor upgrade over the equivalent iPhone 16, with both devices expected to have the same overall design. Key new features that are rumored for the iPhone 17 include a 120Hz display and a 24-megapixel front camera, compared to 60Hz and a 12-megapixel front camera on the iPhone 16.

The base iPhone 17 will also feature a slightly larger 6.3-inch display compared to the 6.1-inch iPhone 16, according to display industry expert Ross Young.

Apple is expected to unveil the entire iPhone 17 series in September.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Base Model Now Said to Feature A18 Chip and 8GB of RAM

Why not just add another GPU core and use the A18 Pro chip like they did going from the iPhone 14 Pro to the regular 15, or use the A18 chip but with one more GPU core?

 

[darngooddesign]

Good old Apple. Give with one hand, take away with the other. I knew there would be some shithousery coming down the line.

Good old rumors... rustling jimmies for years.

 

[The Game 161]

No, Apple has not done this before.

iPhone 14 received 6GB RAM upgrade.

iPhone 15 got the 14 Pro chip.

iPhone 17 is getting zero upgrades if rumor is accurate.

120hz lol

 

[darngooddesign]

120hz lol

The internet: Apple sucks because the regular iPhone is stuck at 60hz
Also the internet: Apple sucks because the regular iPhone is getting ProMotion

 

[antonrg]

Oh la la, Apple really cannot help themselves but to cut costs and corners even on the standard models. And no, people buy base models and expect it to have latest tech on it. It's not a cheap phone. Pro is something with extra stuff on it, not the standard.

 

[antonrg]

I don't wanna say choice is bad, but this is getting very fragmented.
Steve Jobs was the product guy. He preferred simplicity. He wanted Apple to offer a tightly curated set of products—no clutter, no fragmentation.
iPad lineup is a disaster, iPhone is getting worse. Headphones are becoming like that. At least Macs have a better, clear lineup. Thank gawd they haven't ****ed up Apple TV and HomePods yet.

Thankfully they have actually been doing quite well on the Mac front. I am surprised. Usually, they just leave it in the dust.

 

[darngooddesign]

I don't wanna say choice is bad, but this is getting very fragmented.
Steve Jobs was the product guy. He preferred simplicity. He wanted Apple to offer a tightly curated set of products—no clutter, no fragmentation.

The lineup under SJ might have been super simple when he rejoined, but it rapidly ballooned with multiple sizes of laptops and iMacs, a Cube, all with different processor/HD/Optical drive options and a wide range of different iPod types. At one point the only real difference between the aluminum 13" MacBook and the aluminum 13" MacBook Pro was that the latter had a backlit keyboard and a different HD size.

iPad lineup is a disaster, iPhone is getting worse. Headphones are becoming like that. At least Macs have a better, clear lineup. Thank gawd they haven't ****ed up Apple TV and HomePods yet.

The iPads are simple with small, good, better, best.
Headphones are simple with good, better, best.

 

[The Game 161]

I don't wanna say choice is bad, but this is getting very fragmented.
Steve Jobs was the product guy. He preferred simplicity. He wanted Apple to offer a tightly curated set of products—no clutter, no fragmentation.
iPad lineup is a disaster, iPhone is getting worse. Headphones are becoming like that. At least Macs have a better, clear lineup. Thank gawd they haven't ****ed up Apple TV and HomePods yet.

i have no idea why people keep bringing steve Jobs into product lines in 2025. The world he lived in is totally different to the tech world that we have now. More choice is always better no matter how messy it may seem. It also creates more money having a range of different level of product lines.

You can say things are getting worse in your opinion but certainly not for those who buy these devices in high numbers.

 

[dumastudetto]

People have been begging for higher refresh rates for years. We already know these displays cost substantially more than the 60Hz models to put in the devices. So Apple has to decide whether to make savings elsewhere in the overall product specification, or increase prices. For most people, a much more fluid scroll experience will be more noticeable than a better SoC with more RAM.

 

[apple contributor]

Oh come on. Like, I get it, and I know that planning big moves is hard, but if this is gonna be true, then Apple seems to have some really big problems coming to planning. The iPhone 14 kept the A13 Bionic chip, but then the iPhone 16 got A18, so it was back on track, and now downgrading it again. What a mess in specs

 

[rwh63]

One more thing….iPhone 17 mini!!!!

 

[ElvenPrince995]

No upgrade as expected from this dumb company that has totally lost it's way. Rumors were saying iPhone 17 was supposed to be a huge upgrade and here we are again. Another fail. 8 gigs of RAM and same design like iPhone of few years ago.

 

[Radin.Y]

i have no idea why people keep bringing steve Jobs into product lines in 2025. The world he lived in is totally different to the tech world that we have now. More choice is always better no matter how messy it may seem. It also creates more money having a range of different level of product lines.

You can say things are getting worse in your opinion but certainly not for those who buy these devices in high numbers.

The Paradox of choice.
You’re forgetting that too many choices confuse the average consumer. Not everyone is geeky and/or a tech enthusiast who knows ins and outs of all the options.

Yeah sure the tech scene has changed, but certain disciplines remain fundamental. Clear distinction, purpose for categories should be the basis of product development.

iPad mini is great. Gets updated infrequently. The “iPad” gets numbers, but others don’t. iPad mini is smaller but more expensive than the “iPad.”
Air and Pro are well differentiated.
Cheaper option iPhone: E
Cheaper option watch: SE
Cheaper option iPad: iPad!

Wouldn’t it be better to create distinctions and a consistent naming scheme across the board to let customers know exactly where each product stands?

I think choice is good, but too many is bad for business.

 

[Radin.Y]

The lineup under SJ might have been super simple when he rejoined, but it rapidly ballooned with multiple sizes of laptops and iMacs, a Cube, all with different processor/HD/Optical drive options and a wide range of different iPod types. At one point the only real difference between the aluminum 13" MacBook and the aluminum 13" MacBook Pro was that the latter had a backlit keyboard and a different HD size.

The iPads are simple with small, good, better, best.
Headphones are simple with good, better, best.

Oh I remember those laptops. Aluminum MacBook Pro (circa 2009) and the plastic MacBook were hardly any different. It was never perfect. Transition periods between product restructuring can be messy too. That was around the time they got rid of MacBook all together, if I recall correctly.

iPad lineup is well understood by the likes of us, but not as well as it could be.

The Paradox of choice.
You’re forgetting that too many choices confuse the average consumer. Not everyone is geeky and/or a tech enthusiast who knows ins and outs of all the options.

Yeah sure the tech scene has changed, but certain disciplines remain fundamental. Clear distinction, purpose for categories should be the basis of product development.

iPad mini is great. Gets updated infrequently. The “iPad” gets numbers, but others don’t. iPad mini is smaller but more expensive than the “iPad.”
Air and Pro are well differentiated.
Cheaper option iPhone: E
Cheaper option watch: SE
Cheaper option iPad: iPad!

Wouldn’t it be better to create distinctions and a consistent naming scheme across the board to let customers know exactly where each product stands?

I think choice is good, but too many is bad for business.

This is what I mean. I don’t know if it’s coming across as well as I want it to

 

[Tsepz]

I wonder if they’ll be introducing a Dex style “dock and have a desktop” type system, that would definitely be something that more ram would help with

That would be pretty awesome, they already have AirPlay to work that so guess they would just need to workout a desktop-like UI for it that works well with iPhone.

 

[russell_314]

The internet: Apple sucks because the regular iPhone is stuck at 60hz
Also the internet: Apple sucks because the regular iPhone is getting ProMotion.

If people didn’t have something to complain about this forum wouldn’t exist. There’s an old saying about people complaining about a new rope. Basically no matter what people are going to complain. 😂


Seriously though people not satisfied with the existing situation is good in the sense that people always want better. Sometimes it can be a good thing.