One of the biggest smartphone announcements might be coming soon, and yes, I am talking about the iPhone 18 series. The rumour mill is churning new details about the expected devices, and as far as leaks through them are concerned, the latest lineup could include the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro Max and the highly anticipated iPhone Ultra, which will be the company's first foldable. The base version of this device might be making its way to the shelves next year, though, if leaks and rumours hold true. Although it is expected that the iPhone 18 and 18e might receive a bump in their RAM this time.
More RAM, But Not Every AI Feature
Apple may finally be giving its non-Pro iPhones a memory upgrade. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e are expected to come with 9GB of RAM, up from the current generation. The move is said to be aimed at making the phones better equipped for Apple Intelligence as iOS 27 brings more AI features directly into the operating system.
iOS 27 will bring tighter system-level integration with Apple Intelligence. My latest industry checks suggest Apple's lower-end 1H27 iPhones, powered by the A20 chip, will move to 9GB DRAM (1.5GB × 6 dies), up from 8GB (2GB × 4 dies) in the current A19 models, to keep the system…
— 郭明錤｜Ming-Chi Kuo (@mingchikuo) June 26, 2026
Kuo, citing his latest supply chain checks, says both models are likely to run on Apple's upcoming A20 chip and pair it with 9GB of DRAM. While that extra memory should help with on-device AI tasks and overall performance, it may not be enough to access every Apple Intelligence feature Apple has planned.
The Pro lineup is still expected to stay a step ahead. The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and the rumoured iPhone Ultra foldable are all tipped to pack 12GB of RAM, matching what is expected on the iPhone 17 Pro models. The second-generation iPhone Air is also rumoured to keep the same 12GB memory configuration.
That difference in RAM could matter more than it seems. Despite the upgrade, the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e are reportedly set to miss out on two of the new Apple Intelligence features Apple showcased with iOS 27 at WWDC.
These include a more expressive version of Siri that lets users adjust the assistant's speaking style and pace, along with a more capable on-device speech-to-text dictation system. Apple has already confirmed that both features need at least 12GB of RAM, which means they are likely to remain limited to the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro Max, the rumoured iPhone Ultra, and possibly the next iPhone Air if it also ships with 12GB of RAM.
This isn't the first time Kuo has pointed towards a RAM upgrade for Apple's mainstream iPhones. He had previously suggested that Apple was planning to increase memory on the entry-level iPhone 18 models to better support AI features. As things stand, the Pro models and Apple's rumoured foldable are expected to arrive around September, while the iPhone 18, iPhone 18e and the second-generation iPhone Air are tipped to launch in March 2027.