iPhone 18 Could Come With 12GB of RAM

[deconstruct60]

Apple's standard iPhone 18 could feature 12GB of memory for the first time, according to analyst Dan Nystedt.

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Nystedt also flagged an earlier rumor claiming that Apple has secured TSMC's first 2nm chip production run for the A20 chip set to power the iPhone 18 lineup.

Maybe. Maybe not. AMD certainly got the first N2 wafer. AMD is already shipping samples to enterprise vendors.

Leaked AMD Zen 6 EPYC Venice samples spotted with 64-192 cores across 1P & 2P setups on Congo, Kenya, and Nigeria Platforms

AMD's first 2nm-based Zen 6 processors are set to debut in data centers, with the EPYC 9006 'Venice' family launching in the second half of 2026.

www.tweaktown.com

The QA and qualification/certification time is longer for AMD's chips. But that doesn't necessarily means that "production" is delayed. AMD won't be making as many dies/wafers as Apple , but it probably isn't going to be zero either.

AMD is probably going to give their largest datacenter (or maybe supercomputer) sites access to the initial batches. So not able to be purchased by random person. But probably many multiples of wafers of stuff. Can spin that as not 'Producition" . However, if those folks are paying for them it is 'production' in a revenue sense.

There is a shortage of server CPUs at this point. There is zero reason AMD would 'squat' on releasing these if there are no defect or issues involved. Apple's chip is simpler so it could hit the mass production quicker (just because there is less to do), but the notion that this is some large or significant production gap is probably overblown.

 

[JohnC1959]

Tired of the Apple RAM management nonsense. My iPhone 17 Pro reloads apps All the time. Sometimes I just exit to check an SMS and voila the previous app reloads. Need more RAM 12GB is not enough.

I'm curious what cues you in to the fact that it reloaded? Do you mean it restarted as in not in the same state as you left it or do you mean some other way of telling? While I'm curious for my own edification to know this, I also know that in general there can be other reasons than RAM for what you see. I'm not sure about iOS, but for a computer OS like MacOS the only difference between having plenty of RAM or not is very slight slowdown that can't be detected for normal human/UI aspects but can be noticed for very intense operations (like complex video rendering).

 

[numberfive]

unlike rumors, this post is completely made up

 

[deconstruct60]

If TSMC's 2 nm process is anything like the N3(B), there should be plenty of binned A20's for a 3rd gen Neo.

It isn't. TSMC both extended N3 generation and simplified N2 to lower the risk profile. N3B was relatively very aggressive.

it is also substantially different in that there are multiple lead adopters. AMD got the first N2 wafer; not Apple. Intel deferring their N3B usage to much later didn't help N3B. A bit of a game of pushing risk payments ( Apple not wanting to pay all of it, but TSMC not paying all it either... lots of problems pop up with a major wafer consumer 'dissappers' and doesn't pay on time. ) .

Now is almost opposite problem. There is aggressive buying and lots of money being thrown around. TSMC didn't have to go 'overboard' to try to sell the value on the node improvement.

The wafer costs are higher so there is even bigger 'need' for a 3rd gen Neo to consume more chips to drive the unit cost down. Binned or not. The A20 Pro being a different die that needs to be paid for is primarily why need it in a Neo. (the binning is likely how much 'extra' make in doing so).

 

[Gloor]

I'm on iPhone 14 Pro with 6gb and its fine. Honestly, everytime they bump specs up they also increase some usage so in the end the phone feels almost always the same. Also with ram there is never enough so it doesn't really matter how much you have as you will always run out. Either way, software is what makes the difference. Lets hope they keep optimising

Tired of the Apple RAM management nonsense. My iPhone 17 Pro reloads apps All the time. Sometimes I just exit to check an SMS and voila the previous app reloads. Need more RAM 12GB is not enough.

 

[mulatosnarf]

and 16gb for the pro? Guess I’m upgrading again

 

[Bubble99]

This is really odd because IOS is very lightweight OS.

It was not long ago it was supporting iPhones with only 2GB of RAM.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Funny considering the iPhone 16 was "built for Apple Intelligence" with 8GB of RAM and nothing to show for it as of yet.

I was thinking along these lines too, sure would be "interesting" if when it finally comes out it only supports iPhone 17 Pro and up, leaving out the base 17 like they did the base 15 the first time around.

 

[JohnC1959]

Funny considering the iPhone 16 was "built for Apple Intelligence" with 8GB of RAM and nothing to show for it as of yet.

I was thinking along these lines too, sure would be "interesting" if when it finally comes out it only supports iPhone 17 Pro and up, leaving out the base 17 like they did the base 15 the first time around.

I doubt that. Two reasons... First RAM rarely is the make or break factor for any software given virtual memory so RAM normally only means it runs faster. But second is that Apple would be in BIGGGGG trouble if their key first AI phone doesn't support AI.

 

[DVD Plaza]

It will be more to prepare for the Neo 2 than anything else.

 

[Black_Mage]

Not that the iPhone needs that much RAM, but the next Neo will certainly benefit from the increase.

 

[kaycrystal626]

Just an excuse for them to raise the price!

 

[Rafagon]

Funny considering the iPhone 16 was "built for Apple Intelligence" with 8GB of RAM and nothing to show for it as of yet.

This is all Tim's mess. Don't worry, he will be gone soon. Good riddance!

 

[KENESS]

Do some work on FinalCut or Ableton or compile some project builds and you will insta throw your NEO from the Window

Sounds like completely normal tasks for a Neo and a wise product purchase decision.

In an unrelated matter, I'm frustrated my Phillips screwdriver struggles with the concrete foundation wall demolition project I'm working on.

 

[bodonnell202]

And yet iOS 27 will still run on 4GB RAM?

Of course, just without Apple Intelligence (no loss really) just like on iOS 18 and iOS 26

 

[Neblinio]

I was waiting for a base iPhone 17 price drop to buy one, but now I'm wondering if the extra RAM and 2nm chip can make up for the rumored component downgrades, especially considering the base 18 is still ~11 months away.

 

[svish]

Great if this happens. Will make sure that it gets all the new Apple Intelligence features for many years to come.

 

[DribbleCastle]

Tired of the Apple RAM management nonsense. My iPhone 17 Pro reloads apps All the time. Sometimes I just exit to check an SMS and voila the previous app reloads. Need more RAM 12GB is not enough.

huh? what kind of apps are you using? Some kind of big game or something? I've never had that happen on my iphone or iPad Pro. I mean, sure, maybe some old Safari tabs, but apps are reloading anyway.

 

[johnnytravels]

Great for keeping Apple Maps open in the background so it can reload ads in realtime

 

[johannnn]

Tired of the Apple RAM management nonsense. My iPhone 17 Pro reloads apps All the time. Sometimes I just exit to check an SMS and voila the previous app reloads. Need more RAM 12GB is not enough.

Specific apps you mean right? Like Apollo the old Reddit client never ever reloaded. But the official Reddit app always reloads. It’s just a strategy to make people scroll more and retain engagement and see more ads

 

[stevej26uk]

Strange considering the article the other day saying the iPhone 18 was going to be a downgrade

 

[MilaM]

Engineers would probably like to have more RAM to work with. But I'm afraid the accountants will say no.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Tired of the Apple RAM management nonsense. My iPhone 17 Pro reloads apps All the time. Sometimes I just exit to check an SMS and voila the previous app reloads. Need more RAM 12GB is not enough.

Is that what causes Instagram, for example, to "refresh" when I switch my phone to Spotify or Messages and then go back an my place in my feed is gone and I'm at the top of a new feed again? If so, I will say that ever since getting my iPhone 17 Pro Max that it does not happen very often. I thought it was an app updates that fixed it, but I guess it could be the extra RAM?

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

and WHY would I do that on a Neo? if I need to do "heavy lifting", the Neo is not the right computer for me, should have gotten MBA or MBP. Personally, I do the "heavy lifting" on my Mac Studio

Maybe not you because you have something more powerful, but let's talk about schools and education -- don't you think Final Cut would be used in classrooms and on projects?

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Sounds like completely normal tasks for a Neo and a wise product purchase decision.

In an unrelated matter, I'm frustrated my Phillips screwdriver struggles with the concrete foundation wall demolition project I'm working on.

Your problem is you need a bigger hammer. 😉