Apple A20 Pro: iPhone 18 Pro May Get Faster LPDDR6 Memory

Apple may be preparing one of its biggest memory subsystem changes in years for its flagship chips. According to new rumors, the A20 Pro for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max could move from the familiar 64-bit memory bus to a 96-bit bus. For Apple, that would mark a notable break from a layout it has used for about 13 years.

Early insider claims suggested that the A20 Pro would use 96-bit LPDDR5X 8533 with bandwidth of around 102 GB/s. Then an important detail surfaced: a 96-bit LPDDR5X setup would reportedly take up 15–20% more space than a 64-bit configuration. LPDDR6, according to the same sources, could deliver a 96-bit bus in roughly the same footprint as 64-bit LPDDR5X. Since leaked A20 Pro schematics do not show a clear increase in the DRAM area, LPDDR6 is now being described as the more likely option.

A move to wider and faster memory would fit neatly into Apple’s new strategy. The company is betting on an upgraded Siri and Apple Intelligence, with some tasks running directly on the device while more complex requests go to Private Cloud Compute. Local AI models need not just more RAM, but also more bandwidth, so 96-bit LPDDR6 could become one of the key differences in the iPhone 18 Pro.

That upgrade, however, could cost Apple a lot more. Estimates suggest DRAM costs for each iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max could rise to $145, compared with roughly $39 for the iPhone 17 Pro. Those calculations are based on 12 GB of LPDDR5X; if Apple really moves to the more expensive LPDDR6, the final cost may climb even higher.

Against that backdrop, another controversial move starts to make more sense: saving money on flash storage. Rumors claim that 256 GB and 512 GB iPhone 18 Pro versions will use TLC NAND, while 1 TB and 2 TB models may move to slower QLC NAND. Apple may be trying to offset the higher memory bill while keeping margins on its flagship iPhones intact.