Apple is reportedly increasing RAM on the standard iPhone 18, bringing it up to 12GB for the first time. The detail comes from Dan Nystedt, who says the base model may finally match the memory Apple introduced on the Pro models last year.
If that happens, it would mark a shift in how Apple differentiates its lineup. For context, Apple introduced 12GB RAM for the first time on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models, keeping the standard model a step behind. The iPhone 18 could close that gap.
Rumor: Apple has secured TSMC’s first 2nm chip production run for the iPhone 18’s A20 chip, a key to boosting performance, media report, adding TSMC’s 2nm tech delivers 15% better computing power than 3nm, with no loss in power efficiency. $AAPL $TSM #iPhone18 #semiconductors…
— Dan Nystedt (@dnystedt) March 25, 2025
A shift driven by AI and performance
A big reason for this could be Apple Intelligence and the AI features Apple is working on for iOS 27. These features run directly on the device, so having more RAM helps them run smoothly, even on the standard model.
There’s also a hardware angle here. Earlier reports have suggested Apple has secured early access to TSMC’s 2nm process for the A20 chip expected to power the iPhone 18 series. The new node is said to deliver around 15% better performance compared to the current 3nm chips, without increasing power usage.
Apple currently relies on TSMC’s 3nm process for the iPhone 17 lineup, so this would mark a noticeable step forward in efficiency.
Launch timing may not follow the usual pattern
The standard iPhone 18 may not launch alongside the Pro models.
Reports suggest Apple is considering a split release, with Pro models arriving in the usual fall window, while the base model could be pushed to early 2027. That would place it alongside other variants like the iPhone 18e and a second-generation iPhone Air.
If that plan holds, it would be a departure from Apple’s typical release cycle and could change how the lineup is positioned across the year.
Is 12GB RAM something you’d notice, or just another spec on paper? Let us know in the comments below.
