The standard iPhone 18 could feature a significant memory boost over its predecessor, potentially offering 50% more RAM, according to a new report. However, the upgrade may be driven as much by manufacturing realities as by performance goals.
The iPhone 17 remains the lone outlier among Apple’s 2025 lineup, shipping with just 8GB of RAM. The higher-end iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Air models both include 12GB, giving them a clear performance edge over the standard version.
That gap may disappear in 2026. A report from Korean outlet The Bell claims the standard iPhone 18 will match its premium siblings with a 12GB configuration. Apple has reportedly asked Samsung to expand its supply of LPDDR5X memory chips for the next-generation iPhone range — a move that hints this upgrade could be on the way.
While Apple’s request isn’t unusual, it’s notable because Samsung currently manufactures LPDDR5X memory only in 12GB and 16GB capacities. This makes it highly likely that even the base model iPhone 18 will adopt the larger 12GB chips by default.
Still, nothing is certain. The report notes that Apple is also in talks with SK Hynix and Micron — two other major memory suppliers — to diversify its sourcing. It’s possible Apple could still use lower-capacity chips from these partners for the standard iPhone 18, while reserving Samsung’s higher-capacity LPDDR5X supply for the Pro and Air models.
Beyond capacity, memory performance is also expected to get a lift. Earlier leaks from April suggested Apple plans to adopt 6-channel LPDDR5X technology for the iPhone 18 series, a change that would deliver substantially higher memory bandwidth and noticeably improved system performance.
