Kuo: Next Year's Upgrade to 12GB RAM Will Be Limited to iPhone 17 Pro Max

[MacRumors]

Just a day after a noted leaker on Chinese microblogging site Weibo suggested the iPhone 17 lineup in 2025 could see an upgrade to 12GB of RAM across the board, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that the upgrade will be limited to the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

If Kuo is correct, it means the smaller iPhone 17 Pro, the base iPhone 17, and the all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" will stick with the 8GB figure rumored for the entire iPhone 16 lineup this year. The fourth-generation iPhone SE expected in early 2025 will reportedly also carry 8GB of RAM.

The amount of RAM in Apple's devices is currently of increased importance, as Apple has judged that 8GB is the minimum required for the Apple Intelligence features coming in iOS 18, which means only the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max of Apple's current phones will support them. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus carry only 6GB of RAM.

While a move to 8GB across the board starting with next month's iPhone 16 lineup will enable all new iPhones to support Apple Intelligence going forward, a further bump to 12GB would likely allow for even more powerful AI capabilities, but it now appears that may be limited to Apple's highest-end model in 2025.

Aside from the increased 12GB of RAM, Kuo says the iPhone 17 Pro Max will also have an exclusive cooling system combining vapor chamber technology with graphite sheets. The other new iPhone models launching in 2025 will rely solely on graphite sheets for cooling.

Article Link: Kuo: Next Year's Upgrade to 12GB RAM Will Be Limited to iPhone 17 Pro Max

 

[syklee26]

If iPhone plus didn’t sell well, why is Apple making iPhone “slim?” Makes no sense.

 

[ThailandToo]

In another six to eight years it will catch up to where good Android phones have been - now at 16GB plus on flagship Android devices - more than a MacBook has!!! Forced obsolescence is good for GREEDY TIM!

 

[sc00ba]

Nice one Tim, just p**s your customers off more and more, every year, with each new novelty phone release🙄.

 

[N69AP]

Differentiating the Pro models this way doesn't motivate me to spend more on a Pro Max. It means I would either settle for the cheaper iPhone 17 or not upgrade at all.

 

[Funny Apple Man]

If iPhone plus didn’t sell well, why is Apple making iPhone “slim?” Makes no sense.

I have no idea, but I think a super slim iPhone sounds cool. Idk if many people will buy one, but I certainly will.

 

[Populus]

Oh? So no RAM increase on the 17? Then I guess we’ll have to wait for the iPhone 18…

Nah, actually this year could be a good one to upgrade. I will try the 16, for sure.

 

[nfl46]

We’re getting ever so close to that “all screen“ iPhone. Maybe we will get it during the 20th anniversary of the iPhone. I can see a smaller dynamic island happening next year.

 

[KoolAid-Drink]

I find it incredibly annoying that MR releases/shares rumors about future iPhones before the next iPhone (in this case, 16) is released. Feels kind of disrespectful to the unreleased iPhone, IMHO.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

If iPhone plus didn’t sell well, why is Apple making iPhone “slim?” Makes no sense.

Slim is to Slimming wallets... like the PRO tag is to PROfits. We only think they are about us buyers.

Apple would make a phone branded iPhone KuKu-Ka-chooo if they thought there was enough profit in it. iPhone Semolina Pilchard too.

 

[jz0309]

But iPhone 18 sure will have 12GB RAM, right Kuo?
And 19PM will go with 16GB and 4TB storage!
So 17 is a no go already

 

[summiter]

Just a day after a noted leaker on Chinese microblogging site Weibo suggested the iPhone 17 lineup in 2025 could see an upgrade to 12GB of RAM across the board, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that the upgrade will be limited to the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

If Kuo is correct, it means the smaller iPhone 17 Pro, the base iPhone 17, and the all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" will stick with the 8GB figure rumored for the entire iPhone 16 lineup this year. The fourth-generation iPhone SE expected in early 2025 will reportedly also carry 8GB of RAM.

The amount of RAM in Apple's devices is currently of increased importance, as Apple has judged that 8GB is the minimum required for the Apple Intelligence features coming in iOS 18, which means only the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max of Apple's current phones will support them. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus carry only 6GB of RAM.

While a move to 8GB across the board starting with next month's iPhone 16 lineup will enable all new iPhones to support Apple Intelligence going forward, a further bump to 12GB would likely allow for even more powerful AI capabilities, but it now appears that may be limited to Apple's highest-end model in 2025.

Aside from the increased 12GB of RAM, Kuo says the iPhone 17 Pro Max will also have an exclusive cooling system combining vapor chamber technology with graphite sheets. The other new iPhone models launching in 2025 will rely solely on graphite sheets for cooling.

Article Link: Kuo: Next Year's Upgrade to 12GB RAM Will Be Limited to iPhone 17 Pro Max

These micro evolutions every year are getting really tiresome.

Which is exactly what I’ve said every year for the last 5 as I’ve handed over my card to the cashier. 😆

 

[spcopsmac21]

Just a day after a noted leaker on Chinese microblogging site Weibo suggested the iPhone 17 lineup in 2025 could see an upgrade to 12GB of RAM across the board, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that the upgrade will be limited to the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

If Kuo is correct, it means the smaller iPhone 17 Pro, the base iPhone 17, and the all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" will stick with the 8GB figure rumored for the entire iPhone 16 lineup this year. The fourth-generation iPhone SE expected in early 2025 will reportedly also carry 8GB of RAM.

The amount of RAM in Apple's devices is currently of increased importance, as Apple has judged that 8GB is the minimum required for the Apple Intelligence features coming in iOS 18, which means only the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max of Apple's current phones will support them. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus carry only 6GB of RAM.

While a move to 8GB across the board starting with next month's iPhone 16 lineup will enable all new iPhones to support Apple Intelligence going forward, a further bump to 12GB would likely allow for even more powerful AI capabilities, but it now appears that may be limited to Apple's highest-end model in 2025.

Aside from the increased 12GB of RAM, Kuo says the iPhone 17 Pro Max will also have an exclusive cooling system combining vapor chamber technology with graphite sheets. The other new iPhone models launching in 2025 will rely solely on graphite sheets for cooling.

Article Link: Kuo: Next Year's Upgrade to 12GB RAM Will Be Limited to iPhone 17 Pro Max

And still a dynamic no thank you keep your island.

It’s looking like this 14PM will be my last iPhone for a very long time.

 

[B4U]

Neither my hands nor my pocket will grow bigger just to get the phone with most RAM though?

 

[spcopsmac21]

These micro evolutions every year are getting really tiresome.

Which is exactly what I’ve said every year for the last 5 as I’ve handed over my card to the cashier. 😆

Well how many times can you buy an iPhone 12SSSSS

 

[GMShadow]

Kuo has zero idea, he’s just throwing stuff at the wall to keep his name in the headlines.

 

[spcopsmac21]

We’re getting ever so close to that “all screen“ iPhone. Maybe we will get it during the 20th anniversary of the iPhone. I can see a smaller dynamic island happening next year.

How about no Dynamic Island. Please.

 

[JPack]

Come on, this is Apple. Everyone knows this is true. The other report about 12GB for all iPhone 17 was pure fantasy.

This is the same company that puts 8GB RAM in M3 MacBook Pro.

 

[2761216]

iPhone 18 Pro, you're my new friend!

 

[Apple_Robert]

Why do so many of you just assume a rumor is true and immediately start bashing Apple? It defies logic.

 

[Reason077]

Well how many times can you buy an iPhone 12SSSSS

I think you mean “iPhone 12SSSSS, now with USB-C(tm)”

 

[alfonsog]

Are they just going to keep numbering them forever… the iMac is not called iMac 7 the iPad isn’t iPad 10 it’s iMac (M3) or iPad (10th get) yet the iPhone keeps going up in numbers it should be iPhone (2024) or (gen 16) or whatever

 

[frost_horizon]

Majority of the customers don’t care about RAM in their phones

 

[citysnaps]

Why do so many of you just assume a rumor is true and immediately start bashing Apple? It defies logic.

My theory is because it feels good taking on The Man, and helps to establish forum cred.

 

[citysnaps]

Majority of the customers don’t care about RAM in their phones

Spot-on. I certainly don't.

The metric for me is performance, usability, and good cameras. If Apple could achieve the same level of performance with 4K of RAM I certainly wouldn't complain.