The iPhone 18 might receive the necessary RAM enhancement it requires.

      Apple might grant the standard iPhone 18 a larger RAM upgrade than initially anticipated, which could address one of the main limitations that was expected for the device.

      Analyst Jeff Pu noted in a report shared with 9to5Mac that Apple is likely to provide the iPhone 18 with 12GB of RAM, an increase from the 8GB found in the iPhone 17. This is also significantly more than the 9GB that analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had previously forecasted.

      An additional 3GB might be crucial for iOS 27. Apple's AFM Core Advanced model, used for Advanced Dictation Preview and the new expressive Siri voices, necessitates at least 12GB of RAM for local operation.

      Earlier discussions indicated that a 9GB configuration could hinder the standard iPhone 18 from utilizing these features, even with the transition to Apple's upcoming A20 chip. Pu's statement would eliminate that specific hardware constraint.

      There is some disagreement regarding the more affordable iPhone 18e. Pu anticipates that this model will feature 9GB of RAM, which might limit its AI functionalities even though it will also be equipped with the A20 chip.

      Apple is in need of substantial memory

      Equipping the standard iPhone 18 with 12GB would be particularly significant, given Apple's ongoing memory challenges. Reports indicate that DRAM shortages are currently delaying the packaging of A20 Pro chips for this fall's iPhone 18 Pro models.

      Apple is also evaluating DRAM from the Chinese manufacturer CXMT in its search for additional resources. Memory costs have increased sufficiently that Apple has already adjusted prices for several Mac and iPad models.

      The standard iPhone 18 is not anticipated until spring 2027, providing Apple with more time to secure adequate memory supply. Pu's prediction of 12GB remains unverified, particularly as it contradicts Kuo's earlier assertion of 9GB.

      A more critical consideration is the potential impact of the extra RAM on pricing. The 12GB + 1TB iPhone 18 Pro Max is already projected to be nearly $300 more expensive than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and increasing the memory for the base iPhone 18 model could similarly affect its starting price. Apple may need to determine how much of that additional component cost it is willing to absorb.