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Analyst Says Lower‑End iPhone 18 Will Ship With 9GB RAM While Pro Models Keep 12GB

Supply‑chain checks point to a memory cut driven by higher component costs that could change which iOS 27 on‑device AI features entry models can run.

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iPhone 18 will probably look a lot like this iPhone 17, but it will have a smaller RAM boost inside than previously expected.
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Overview

  • Supply‑chain analyst Ming‑Chi Kuo reported on Friday that Apple’s standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e are likely to use 9GB of RAM configured as six 1.5GB dies, reversing earlier leaks that suggested a 12GB bump for base models.
  • Multiple outlets say Apple plans a split rollout with the lower‑end iPhone 18 models arriving in spring 2027 and the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and a foldable iPhone following on a fall 2026 cadence.
  • Pro and foldable high‑end models are still expected to carry 12GB of RAM, preserving the current class divide used to gate the most demanding on‑device AI models in iOS 27.
  • Analysts warn that rising memory and component costs are likely to push iPhone 18 Pro prices higher than the iPhone 17 Pro family, with forecasts ranging roughly from $100 up to about $200 extra for Pro models.
  • Final device specs and feature access remain unconfirmed until Apple announces them, but the change to 9GB reflects broader memory‑market pressure and follows recent Apple price increases on Macs and iPads that signal possible cost pass‑through to iPhones.