The highest internal storage in an iPhone that Apple has ever shipped is 1TB, but as the AI booms, video requirements, app data updates, and many other categories increase their storage requirements, the company has to find ways to increase that amount. One research firm believes that Apple will be successful in this attempt when it switches to QLC or quad-level cell NAND flash. However, the transition is not expected to happen this early, as the first models boasting up to 2TB storage could launch in 2026.
iPhone 18 series could be Apple’s first to flaunt up to 2TB of internal storage, but switching to QLC NAND flash will have drawbacks
It is not the first time that Apple has been reported to introduce QLC NAND flash to its iPhones. The technology giant has previously said to bring this technology to the iPhone 14 series, and when these claims did not come true, the company was then reported to be working on QLC flash memory for the forthcoming iPhone 16 family. Now, TrendForce believes that this storage variant will replace TLC (triple-level cell) currently present in iPhones to allow Apple to bump up that internal memory to 2TB. Unfortunately, while QLC is denser than TLC, it is slower than the latter.
Also, since there are more cells present in a single cell, they are less durable, meaning that they will handle fewer write cycles than TLC. Fortunately, before the QLC NAND flash comes close to wearing out, buyers will likely upgrade to a new iPhone. Apple is expected to bring various changes to the iPhone 18, such as bringing Samsung into the fold to supply 48MP camera sensors, putting Sony’s monopoly at risk, and possibly introducing its first 2nm SoC, thanks to the help of TSMC.
Apple is also exploring how to store Large Language Models (LLMs) using NAND flash instead of RAM, which will allow the company to run a plethora of commands on a multitude of machines, so a transition to QLC NAND flash could help in this matter. Currently, Apple Intelligence requires a capable Neural Engine and a minimum of 8GB RAM to run a combination of on-device and cloud-based AI features.
While Apple would have various reasons to upgrade the maximum-supported onboard, it is not hard to believe that the California-based giant’s competitors will not take the same route as various Android phone makers attempt to one-up each other in any way they can.
News Source: TrendForce
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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