UMVA has learned that Apple's upcoming iPhone lineup is set to receive a significant boost in terms of RAM, with the entire iPhone 18 series expected to feature 12GB of RAM.
This move is seen as a strategic play by Apple to increase adoption of its advanced Siri AI features, which were recently unveiled at the WWDC26 keynote. The new features, including more expressive voices, were initially only available on iPhones with at least 12GB of RAM, excluding the popular baseline iPhone 17.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the iPhone 18 lineup, including the vanilla iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max, will all come equipped with 12GB of RAM, allowing users to access the full range of Siri AI features. This is a major upgrade from the 8GB of RAM found in the iPhone 17.
The decision to upgrade the RAM across the entire iPhone 18 lineup is expected to drive sales of the device, with analysts predicting that the iPhone 18 will start at the same price point as its predecessor: $799. This is a welcome surprise for consumers, given the rising component costs due to the RAM shortage.
A closer look at Apple's recent RAM upgrades reveals a significant jump from 8GB to 12GB, which is a larger increase than usual. Historically, RAM increases on the baseline iPhone have been limited to 1GB or 2GB at a time. However, the move to 12GB is seen as the next logical step, as demonstrated by the Pro models.
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are also expected to feature 12GB of RAM, continuing the trend set by their predecessors. This upgrade will enable users to take full advantage of Apple's advanced AI technology.
However, fans of Apple's more affordable handsets will have to wait until the spring of 2027 to get their hands on the iPhone 18. Apple's plan to stagger the launches, with Pro models in the fall and the standard and e models in the following spring, has been confirmed by a major supplier.
