- 0-20%: Unlikely - Lacks credible sources
- 21-40%: Questionable - Some concerns remain
- 41-60%: Plausible - Reasonable evidence
- 61-80%: Probable - Strong evidence
- 81-100%: Highly Likely - Multiple reliable sources
55%
Plausible
A price freeze is already rumored to be a part of the iPhone 18 launch discussion, with Apple expected to become the most popular smartphone maker in the world if it doesn’t make its upcoming devices pricier due to the ongoing DRAM shortage. However, that’s not the only reason why the company’s upcoming flagship series could pick up in droves, because the Cupertino firm is reportedly planning a swath of chip and memory upgrades, including bringing its first 2nm SoCs to market, the A20 and A20 Pro.
The iPhone 18 could ship with 12GB RAM as standard, with Apple also planning to use its next-generation custom 5G modem and baseband chip in the newer models
Despite the base iPhone 18 model being said to observe some manufacturing cost reductions, including a display downgrade, Commercial Times reports that Apple will still outfit this model and the remaining lineup with the best internals possible. Aside from the A20 arriving to the cheaper version and the A20 Pro reserved for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, the report states that 12GB RAM will become a standard.
This upgrade makes the base iPhone 18 a more viable option for buyers who don’t want to spend $1,000 or more on the ‘Pro’ variants, with the increased memory helping to run on-device AI commands fluidly while also coming in handy for keeping background applications running for longer, not to mention having more RAM allocated for games to enable better visuals.
In addition, Apple is expected to introduce its second-generation C2 5G modem, which will succeed the C1 and C1X and could be the company’s first to offer mmWave support. An added advantage is that the C2 will offer upgraded satellite connectivity thanks to the New Radio Non-Terrestrial Networks (NR-NTN) standard.
The N2 wireless networking is also reported to make its debut, though we have yet to witness the extent of its improvements compared to the N1. As for how Apple can incorporate these upgrades while observing a price freeze over the iPhone 18 family while dealing with exorbitant memory and NAND flash price increases, TF International Securities Ming-Chi Kuo weighed on that subject a while back.
According to Kuo, Apple’s Services business generates sufficient revenue to provide the technology giant with an ample financial cushion, as he recommends the company should absorb DRAM costs amidst the market chaos to help it become the most popular smartphone maker in 2026. While the aforementioned upgrades appear highly promising, we have yet to see if Apple will charge customers more for these changes.
News Source: Commercial Times
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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