iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e to Feature A20 Chip and 9GB RAM for Enhanced AI

By: Harsh Vardhan

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Updated on: 29-Jun-2026 04:00 PM

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​Apple is preparing to upgrade its standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e models with new hardware aimed at improving AI performance. These devices are expected to launch in the first half of 2027 and will feature the A20 chip and 9GB of RAM, according to recent reports.

Key Highlights

• iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e to launch with A20 chip and 9GB RAM in 2027.
• RAM upgrade aims to support improved Apple Intelligence integration in iOS 27.
• Pro models will continue with 12GB RAM and A20 Pro chip for advanced AI features.
• Some AI capabilities in iOS 27 may remain exclusive to Pro models due to memory requirements.

Key Hardware Upgrades for 2027 iPhones

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will move from 8GB to 9GB of DRAM. The new memory configuration will use a 1.5GB 6-die setup, replacing the current 2GB 4-die configuration found in A19-powered models. Kuo shared on X that this change is designed to support tighter integration with Apple Intelligence in iOS 27. He stated, "Apple's lower-end 1H27 iPhones, powered by the A20 chip, will move to 9GB DRAM (1.5GB 6 dies), up from 8GB (2GB 4 dies) in the current A19 models, to keep the system running smoothly under AI workloads."

The RAM increase is intended to help these devices handle new AI-powered features and multitasking more efficiently. Apple introduced iOS 27 at WWDC 2026, highlighting deeper system-level integration with Apple Intelligence and new AI capabilities, including an updated Siri. These features require more on-device processing and memory management, making the RAM upgrade important for performance.

Pro Models and Memory Differences

Apple's premium iPhone models, including the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the company's first foldable iPhone, are expected to launch in late 2026. These devices will use the more powerful A20 Pro chip and continue to feature 12GB of RAM. The memory configuration for these models will remain at 1.5GB 8 dies, with no increase in RAM compared to previous Pro models.

Kuo noted, "The three new high-end 2H26 models powered by the A20 Pro chip (the foldable and two iPhone 18 Pro models) will remain unchanged at 12GB (1.5GB 8 dies)." This suggests that Apple will continue to reserve certain advanced AI features for its Pro models, which have more memory to support demanding workloads.

AI Features and Memory Requirements

The move from 8GB to 9GB of RAM in the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e is expected to improve multitasking and support for AI-assisted features. However, some advanced Apple Intelligence capabilities may still require 12GB of RAM, which is only available on Pro models. Reports indicate that while many AI features in iOS 27 work on devices with 8GB of RAM, some Siri AI capabilities and advanced on-device AI models are limited to devices with 12GB of memory.

This has led to speculation that Apple will continue to differentiate its Pro models by offering exclusive AI features that standard models cannot access due to hardware limitations. As Apple integrates more AI into iOS, memory capacity will remain a key factor in determining which features are available on each device tier.