Most of Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 lineup may receive a significant memory upgrade that will power the next generation of Apple Intelligence features, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Thursday. The iPhone Series 17 RAM boost will even come to the rumored ultra-thin iPhone 17 “Air.”
iPhone Series 17 RAM boost to 12GB across premium models
The much-anticipated iPhone 17 Air, rumored to feature an ultra-thin design, won’t just stand out for its sleek profile. Based on supply chain analysis, Kuo believes the Air variant will join the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max in featuring 12GB of RAM, a substantial increase from the current 8GB standard across the iPhone 16 lineup. Only the iPhone 17 base model might remain at 8GB, but it remains unclear.
This marks a shift from earlier predictions, which suggested the 12GB RAM configuration would be exclusive to the top-tier iPhone 17 Pro Max. The memory boost across premium models indicates Apple’s commitment to enhancing on-device AI processing capabilities throughout its higher-end offerings.
Standard iPhone 17 RAM remains uncertain
At Least Three 2H25 New iPhone 17 Models to Feature 12GB DRAM; Micron and SK Hynix Stand to Benefit Most from Apple’s More Aggressive DRAM Upgrade Strategyhttps://t.co/r2WQQ1ZU84 pic.twitter.com/sQnxMQceeu
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) April 24, 2025
While the Air and Pro models appear set for the memory upgrade, the standard iPhone 17 model’s specifications remain less certain. According to Kuo, the base model is likely to retain 8GB of RAM, matching the current iPhone 16.
However, the analyst hasn’t ruled out the possibility of all models receiving the 12GB upgrade, noting that “potential supply shortages” will influence Apple’s final decision, which is expected by May.
Apple Intelligence driving hardware improvements
The iPhone Series 17 RAM boost directly supports Apple’s growing focus on on-device AI processing. Since introducing Apple Intelligence, the company has established 8GB as the minimum RAM requirement for these features. That explains why iPhone 15 Pro models support Apple Intelligence while standard iPhone 15 models do not.
Looking further ahead, Kuo predicts all iPhone 18 models planned for late next year will feature 12GB of RAM. And of course that suggests Apple views increased memory as essential for future AI capabilities. This follows a similar pattern with Mac computers, where Apple doubled base RAM from 8GB to 16GB last year to better support AI workloads.
Implications for users
For consumers, the iPhone Series 17 RAM boost should translate to smoother multitasking and more responsive AI features. Apple Intelligence capabilities like on-device language processing, complex image generation and contextual understanding all benefit from additional memory resources.
The memory increase also positions Apple to introduce more sophisticated AI features in future iOS updates. The hardware will be capable of handling more complex on-device processing without compromising performance.
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 17 lineup, including the new iPhone 17 Air, during its usual September event.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
