IPhone 18 Gets More RAM, Still Can’t Run Two Apple Intelligence Features
What You Need to Know
- IPhone 18 and 18e will have 9GB RAM, up from 8GB in iPhone 17 models.
- Two iOS 27 Apple Intelligence features require 12GB RAM minimum, unavailable on base models.
- IPhone 18 Pro models launch September 2025; standard models launch March 2027.
- RAM and storage chip shortages are driving up iPhone 18 pricing expectations.
Apple’s lower-end iPhone 18 models are getting a RAM bump next year, but the extra memory still won’t be enough to unlock two new Apple Intelligence features arriving with iOS 27.
Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will ship with 9GB of RAM, up from 8GB in the current iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e. The increase is intended to keep Apple Intelligence running smoothly on the base models. The Pro lineup, including the rumored foldable iPhone Ultra, stays at 12GB, matching the iPhone 17 Pro series.
The features that 9GB still can’t run
The gap between 9GB and 12GB turns out to matter more than the upgrade itself. Two iOS 27 features, the ability to customize Siri’s voice expressiveness and pace, and a major accuracy improvement for speech-to-text dictation, require the advanced on-device Apple Intelligence model that needs a minimum of 12GB to operate. So supported iPhone models in the 18 lineup will still hit a ceiling on what Apple Intelligence can actually do.
The release timelines also split the lineup in two. The iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and Ultra are expected in September 2025, while the standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and a second-generation iPhone Air are reportedly set for around March 2027. The iPhone Air is presumed to carry 12GB as well, which would put it above the base iPhone 18 despite launching around the same time.
Pricing adds another layer of friction for buyers considering the base models. RAM and NAND storage chips are currently expensive due to a supply shortage, and Apple raised prices on more than a dozen products last month. Analysts estimate the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e could cost $100 to $200 more than their iPhone 17 counterparts, meaning buyers would pay more for hardware that still can’t run the full Siri experience arriving on Pro models.
The 9GB figure is a floor raise, not a feature unlock. For users who want the complete iOS 27 Apple Intelligence feature set, the math still points to the Pro tier.
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