Despite the global memory shortage and the forced price increases on most devices, Apple will still increase the RAM in the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e. According to leaks, both new devices will get 9 GB of RAM instead of 8 GB. This is less than the previously promised 12 GB, but better than nothing at all. Especially since this upgrade is a necessity for Apple, and they’re not doing it without reason. More RAM is needed for new features coming in iOS 27.
iPhone 18 and 18e will get 9 GB of RAM and an A20 processor
iPhone 18 Specifications
The source of the news is analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has long specialized in Apple’s supply chain. According to his data, the affordable iPhone 18, expected to launch in spring 2027, will get 9 GB of RAM instead of the current 8 GB.
Kuo clarifies an important technical detail: the A20 chip will work with memory in a 1.5 GB × 6 configuration, totaling 9 GB. Currently, the base iPhone 17 uses a different scheme — 2 GB × 4, which equals 8 GB. The future iPhone 18e will also get the same configuration.
On one hand, this is surprising because the budget model should be inferior to the higher-end one in some way. But on the other hand, it’s logical: the new Siri AI requires a lot of resources, and 8 GB was clearly insufficient for implementing all the planned features of iOS 27.
Why Apple Is Adding 9 GB of RAM to the iPhone 18
The new Siri will be very resource-demanding
The main reason is artificial intelligence. The additional memory is needed for Apple Intelligence, whose capabilities will expand in iOS 27. RAM is where the device keeps data it’s currently working with. The more RAM there is, the more tasks the phone can handle simultaneously and the more stable functions that require on-device computations will work.
Neural networks and real-time query processing are especially memory-hungry. That’s why even a 1 GB increase for base models is a buffer that Apple is building in advance so that affordable iPhones don’t fall behind the higher-end models in supporting new AI capabilities.
How the iPhone 18 Differs from the iPhone 18 Pro
It’s important not to get confused by the 2027 lineup here. Apple, according to rumors, will separate the release of models by timing and specifications.
- iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e — base models, launching in spring 2027, 9 GB of RAM
- iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and the foldable iPhone — premium models, launching in fall, expected to have 12 GB of RAM (1.5 GB × 8 configuration)
So there will remain a noticeable gap in memory between the base and Pro models — 9 vs. 12 GB. For most everyday tasks, the difference will be imperceptible, but in heavy AI scenarios and multitasking, the advantage will stay with the Pro.
iPhone 18 Price in Russia and Worldwide
A separate question is the price. Right now there are no exact figures, but indirect signals are concerning. Apple has already raised prices on Mac and iPad lineups, although the iPhone 17 pricing hasn’t changed yet.
An iPhone 18 price increase seems likely but hasn’t been confirmed yet
So logic suggests that Apple’s price increase will most likely be timed to the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro models. And since even the base iPad and MacBook Neo have gone up in price, iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e are unlikely to escape price increases either. How much will the new models cost?
It’s premature to say right now, if only because memory prices haven’t stabilized yet. But for the iPhone 18, a price increase to $899, or approximately 60,000 rubles at the current exchange rate as of late June, can be expected. As for the iPhone 18e price, Apple will most likely try to keep it as contained as possible, so it’s unlikely to cost more than $649, or approximately 50,000 rubles.
Should You Wait for the iPhone 18 Now?
This news is interesting for those who plan to buy an affordable iPhone not now, but in a year to a year and a half, and want the device to properly handle new AI features. The increase to 9 GB of RAM is about future-proofing, not an instant performance leap.
If you’re choosing an iPhone right now, this leak doesn’t change anything: the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e are still far from release, and all the numbers remain supply chain rumors for now. It makes sense to revisit the topic closer to spring 2027, when official specifications and, most importantly, real prices appear. But given the upcoming price increases, the most logical move would be to buy something now.
