Highlights

• The iPhone 17 Pro Max may feature 12GB RAM.
• Could be the iPhone to have different RAM configurations between Pro models.
• Apple is expected to use a 2nm A20 processor with a new packaging method in future iPhones.
• 2nm chip technology is expected to debut with Apple’s 2026 iPhone lineup.

Apple has been clear about the iPhone 16 series in many ways. The Cupertino Giant has main the beginning maintained that the 16 Series is “built for Apple intelligence.” One of the main minimum hardware requirements for Apple Intelligence is 8GB RAM. So, we have got the entire range of the iPhone 16 series including iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max with 8GB configurations.

iPhone 16 isn’t the first iPhone to have 8 GB RAM. Previously, we have seen 8GB RAM in iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models as well.

Now, you would assume this is the highest RAM we will get in an iPhone for some time including the upcoming iPhones. But it appears Apple has plans to take things further.

iPhone 17 Pro Max May Get 12GB of RAM

That iPhone 17 Pro Max may get 12 GB RAM is not a new update. For those who aren’t aware, Supply Chain Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had previously suggested that the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max could feature 12GB of RAM.

Among the 2025 new iPhone models, only the iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature the following specifications:

1. 12GB DRAM (while the ultra-thin iPhone, iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and SE4 will all have 8GB). Enhanced on-device AI capabilities will likely be a major selling point for…

— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) August 29, 2024

Initially, it was believed this upgrade would only apply to the Pro Max model. This if is true then it would be the first that Apple will have different RAM for both Pro models of a line.

Now a more recent source has suggested a similar update when it comes to RAM in the iPhone 17 Pro Max model.

Weibo user Mobile phone chip expert has recently suggested in one of their posts that at least one iPhone 18 model will switch to a new and denser chip packaging method and that this would include 12GB RAM. These advancements are expected to be driven by a 2nm processor, dubbed the A20, which could launch in 2026.

“The 2nm processor A20 of the 2026 Apple iPhone will adopt a new packaging method. APTS has been changed from the original InFo to the WMCM packaging method. Memory will also be upgraded to 12GB, and the whole network will be announced 2 years in advance,” Mobile Phone Chip Expert posted on Weibo. (Translated via Google Translate.)

Apple’s chipmaker, TSMC, is leading the development of this new technology. They are working on integrating various components—such as the CPU, GPU, and RAM—into a single unit, a method called System-on-a-Chip (SoC).

The 2nm chip technology will likely debut in Apple’s 2026 iPhone lineup.

Will All iPhone 17 Series Models Get 12GB RAM?

It’s not entirely clear if all future iPhones will get 12GB of RAM.

However, based on certain reports it appears to be likely that both iPhone 18 Pro models will.  The non-Pro iPhone models may also get a boost in RAM. Meanwhile, the chips in these iPhones may be less advanced compared to the Pro models.

FAQs

Q1. What is the minimum RAM requirement for Apple Intelligence?

Answer. One of the main minimum hardware requirements for Apple Intelligence is 8GB RAM, which is present in the entire iPhone 16 series including iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max.

Q2. What is the expected RAM configuration for the iPhone 17 Pro Max?

Answer. Supply Chain Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max could feature 12GB of RAM.

Q3. What new technology is Apple expected to use in its 2026 iPhone lineup?

Answer. The 2nm processor, dubbed the A20, will adopt a new packaging method, integrating components into a single unit called System-on-a-Chip (SoC). This could include 12GB RAM for at least one iPhone 18 model.

Q4.Will iPhone 18 Use Enhanced 2nm Chip Tech Integrating 12GB RAM ?

Answer. Apple’s 2026 iPhones will use TSMC’s next-generation 2-nanometer fabrication process in combination with a new packaging method that will integrate 12GB of RAM, a reputable source of accurate predictions about Apple’s plans has claimed.
In a Weibo post on Tuesday, Chinese-language user “Phone Chip Expert” said Apple’s A20 chip in iPhone 18 models will switch from the previous InFo (Integrated Fan-Out) packaging to WMCM (Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module) packaging, while memory will be upgraded to 12GB.

Q5.What are differences in packaging method between Info & WMCM?

Answer. In terms of the differences in packaging method, InFo allows integration of components, including memory, within the package but focuses more on single-die packaging where memory is typically attached to the main SoC (such as DRAM placed on top or near the CPU and GPU cores). It’s optimized for reducing the size and improving the performance of individual chips.

WMCM, on the other hand, excels at integrating multiple chips within the same package (hence the “Multi-Chip Module” part). This method allows more complex systems, such as CPUs, GPUs, DRAM, and other custom accelerators (e.g., AI/ML chips) to be tightly integrated in one package. It provides greater flexibility in arranging different types of chips, stacking them vertically or placing them side by side, while also optimizing communication between them.

Q6.What is the memory on iPhone 16 models ?

Answer. As for memory, all current iPhone 16 models feature 8GB of RAM, which is considered to be the minimum requirement for Apple Intelligence. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said he expects next year’s iPhone 17 Pro to feature 12GB of RAM, so it could be that Apple will make it a new standard across the succeeding iPhone 18 series.

Q7.What are nanometer generations ?

Answer .Terms like “3nm” and “2nm” describe generations of chip manufacturing technology, each with its own set of design rules and architecture. As these numbers decrease, they generally indicate smaller transistor sizes. Smaller transistors allow more to be packed onto a single chip, typically resulting in increased processing speed and improved power efficiency. This year’s iPhone 16 series is based on an A18 chip design built using a second-generation “N3E” 3nm process.
TSMC plans to start manufacturing 2nm chips in late 2025, and Apple is expected to be the first company to receive chips built on the new process. TSMC generally builds new fabs when it needs to increase production capacity to handle significant orders for chips, and TSMC is expanding in a major way for 2nm technology.

Q8.How is the track record of “Phone Chip Expert”?

Answer .The leaker “Phone Chip Expert” has a track record of accurate predictions. They were first to correctly reveal that the standard iPhone 14 models would continue to use the A15 Bionic chip, while the more advanced A16 chip would be exclusive to the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro models. More recently, they were the first source of information about Apple developing its own AI server processor using TSMC’s 3nm process, targeting mass production by the second half of 2025.

Also Read : iPhone 17 Series Expected Upgrades

Also Read: Base iPhone Models Will Get 120Hz Refresh Rates Only in 2025, Claims Analyst Ross Young

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