No RAMpocalypse at Apple: iPhone 18 in for 50% RAM boost, super-efficient 2nm A20 chip on track

What RAM-pocalypse? After rumors of downgraded display tech, the standard iPhone 18 is poised for a massive upgrade, with analyst Dan Nystedt reporting that the base model will most likely feature 12GB of RAM for the first time. That’s more than the MacBook Neo, which (the last time we checked) was a laptop.

The 50% RAM boost would bring the entry-level iPhone 18 on par with the iPhone 17 Pro and the freshly-leaked iPhone 18 Pro Max. Of course, Cupertino's move is most certainly driven by the heavy memory demands of Apple Intelligence, set to arrive with iOS 27. Apple is expected to preview iOS 27 at WWDC on June 8, 2026 - unless something goes wrong… again.

TSMC’s first 2nm chip for iPhone 18 is super-powerful and efficient; A20 Pro SoC could take things up a notch with stronger GPU

The iPhone 18 lineup is expected to debut Apple's A20 chip, built on TSMC’s cutting-edge 2nm process. According to Nystedt, this transition promises a 15% boost in computing performance without compromising power efficiency.

That said, it remains to be seen if Apple will go for a fragmented SoC strategy, like last year. If this trend continues, we might see an A20 Pro chip powering the iPhone 18 Pro models, and an A20 for the more affordable iPhones. However, both the A20 and the A20 Pro are likely to get 12GB of RAM, while the Pro SoC could see a GPU boost.

It’s important to note that, in a departure from Apple’s traditional release schedule, the standard iPhone 18 is rumored to launch in the spring of 2027, alongside the iPhone 18e and a second-generation iPhone Air. Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 Pro and Apple's long-awaited foldable iPhone Ultra remain on track for a typical fall 2026 release.