Danny Weber
According to leaks, the base iPhone 18 may feature 12GB RAM, enabling full Apple Intelligence access. This upgrade could make it more popular than the iPhone 17. Price concerns remain.
The base iPhone 18 could be much more appealing than the iPhone 17 thanks to a single key hardware upgrade. According to leaker Digital Chat Station, Apple is considering equipping the standard model with 12GB of RAM, unlocking access to more advanced Apple Intelligence features.
Following WWDC 2026, it became clear that iOS 27 is leaning heavily into on-device AI, but some features demand beefier hardware. Most Apple Intelligence features are expected to work on iPhones with 8GB of RAM, but the complete feature set—including more advanced voice features like expressive voices and advanced dictation—will be limited to premium models such as the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The standard iPhone 17 comes with 8GB of RAM, so it will only support a subset of the new AI features. If the base iPhone 18 does indeed get 12GB, the gap between the base and Pro lineup will shrink for buyers who prioritize Apple Intelligence. The upgrade should also boost multitasking and improve stability in demanding apps and games.
That's why the iPhone 18 could end up more popular than its predecessor. If Apple holds the starting price at $799 and continues selling the iPhone 17 at $699, the new model will be very well positioned: more RAM, broader AI access, and better future-proofing for upcoming iOS versions.
But maintaining that price could be challenging. Apple, like other device makers, is contending with a DRAM shortage and climbing memory costs. The company has previously managed to keep prices in check by buying components in bulk ahead of time, but Tim Cook has already indicated those stockpiles are dwindling. That raises the risk of a price hike for the iPhone 18.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple could absorb the higher memory costs without passing them to consumers. In his view, Apple is in a stronger position than many rivals because its services business generates enough revenue to offset some of the expense. Still, given the timeline before the iPhone 18 launch, the final specs and price could shift.
© A. Krivonosov