Apple has been reported to be bringing a 12GB RAM upgrade to the iPhone 17 series later this year, with the specifications uplift said to benefit multitasking, AAA gaming, and boost generative AI capabilities. Unfortunately, based on a recent report, the company is running into supply shortages that might not allow it to deliver the upgrade for the entire lineup, and assuming this is the case, an analyst believes that the memory increase will be applied to the entire iPhone 18 series next year.
Profitability could also be a reason why Apple may be forced to delay the 12GB RAM upgrade to the iPhone 18 family
Based on TF International Securities’ analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s recent assessment, the iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will be the only models shipping with 12GB RAM, with the base version sticking with 8GB memory due to supply constraints. Assuming these challenges persist, the analyst believes that the aforementioned upgrade will arrive to the iPhone 18 models as standard. In addition to addressing supply chain problems, perhaps the biggest reason why Apple will hold off on bringing 12GB RAM as standard on all iPhone 17 models is the price increase.
The latest estimate reveals that the average selling price to switch from 8GB RAM to 12GB RAM is around 50 percent higher, so while Apple’s suppliers, such as Micron and SK hynix, will benefit greatly from these orders, it is the iPhone maker that will have its component bill increased. One way to reduce this expenditure is to limit the number of models that will feature this upgrade. The base iPhone 17 could be chosen as the sacrificial lamb because Kuo believes that the other models will do well in terms of sales.
The ‘Pro’ variants have historically shipped in droves because they feature exclusive upgrades, with the iPhone 17 Air capturing the customer’s attention thanks to its ultra-slim form factor. In 2026, Apple could negotiate better deals for the iPhone 18 lineup, and by then, this technology would have matured to the point where the memory chips would be available at a lower cost. Of course, Kuo’s assessment of the iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 models could be entirely incorrect, so remember to treat this information with a pinch of salt, and we will be back with more updates.
News Source: Ming-Chi Kuo
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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