The entry-level iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e, expected to arrive in spring 2027, are reported to increase their memory from the current 8GB to 9GB. The prediction comes from well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who says the memory layout will be reworked alongside the new A20 chip. Behind the change is the need to handle on-device AI workloads such as the Apple Intelligence features expanding in iOS 27. The details are still unannounced forecasts and may change before launch.

Entry-Level Models Move from 8GB to 9GB

According to Kuo, the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e, which serve as the more affordable models in the lineup, will raise their RAM from 8GB to 9GB. A smartphone's memory acts as the working space for running multiple apps and processes at once, and a larger capacity makes it easier to handle demanding tasks smoothly.

A 1GB bump may look minor, but it is a meaningful shift for the lower-priced iPhones. Given that the current iPhone 17 entry models stopped at 8GB, the move suggests Apple wants to give even its cost-conscious models enough headroom to run newer AI features comfortably.

A Reworked Die Configuration for the A20 Chip

The key to the memory increase lies in the design of the newly adopted A20 chip. Kuo notes that the A20 will combine six 1.5GB dies (the small pieces of semiconductor) for a total of 9GB. The current iPhone 17 entry models used four 2GB dies to reach 8GB.

Even with the same overall memory, how the dies of differing capacities are combined affects both the total and the efficiency. Apple's switch to a finer 1.5GB x 6 arrangement likely balances the required total capacity against the chip's overall design and cost. It reads as a tuning choice aimed at uses like AI processing, which continuously draw on a sustained block of memory bandwidth.

A Split Launch: Higher-End Models Arrive This Fall

For this generation, even the timing of the launch is expected to differ from previous years. Apple has typically released its latest iPhone series together in the fall. However, a source in the supply chain suggests that the standard iPhone 18 will slip to early 2027.

Specifically, the higher-end iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the first foldable iPhone are expected to debut this fall, with the entry-level iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e following around March or April 2027. The higher-end models are expected to carry 12GB of RAM, using eight 1.5GB dies just like the current iPhone 17 Pro, setting a clear gap against the 9GB of the entry models.

The Goal Is AI Processing, and Price Changes May Follow

The biggest reason for the memory increase is support for AI processing. Apple plans to expand many Apple Intelligence features in iOS 27, and running AI on the device itself demands more memory. Giving the entry models extra headroom appears intended to create an environment where new features can be used regardless of price tier.

There is also some uncertainty around pricing. Apple has already revised the prices of the Mac and iPad lines, citing rising costs for semiconductor memory and storage. The iPhone 17, on the other hand, has kept its pricing. Apple may move to raise prices when the iPhone 18 Pro arrives, and some observers believe the entry-level iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e would not be exempt at that point.

Reports Disagree: 9GB vs 12GB

That said, it is worth noting that reports do not line up on the memory capacity of the entry models. While Kuo expects the affordable models to carry 9GB, South Korea's KB Securities reports that the standard iPhone 18 will pack 12GB. The two differ in how they draw the line between an "entry model" and the "standard iPhone 18," which results in the gap in the figures.

Both views agree on the broader direction, however: increasing memory to support Apple's AI strategy. Which configuration ultimately ships will have to wait for an official announcement from Apple.

Summary

Kuo predicts that the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will raise their memory from 8GB to 9GB to match the new A20 chip. The new arrangement of six 1.5GB dies points to giving on-device AI processing, such as Apple Intelligence in iOS 27, more room to work. A split rollout with higher-end models this fall and entry models in spring 2027, along with possible price changes, is also being discussed. At the same time, reports disagree on the figures, and nothing is confirmed. Until an official announcement, it is best to treat all of this as a current forecast.