According to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the base models of the upcoming iPhone 18 series, namely the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e, will receive a RAM increase from 8GB to 9GB compared to their predecessors. However, this upgrade will not be enough to enable two new Apple Intelligence features coming with iOS 27. The news, shared via a social media post, has raised questions about Apple's strategy of differentiating software capabilities based on hardware.
The 1GB RAM boost is insufficient for base models
Kuo explained that the 1GB RAM increase in the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e is intended to ensure that existing Apple Intelligence features continue to run smoothly. However, the Pro models and the foldable iPhone Ultra will retain 12GB of RAM, unchanged from the iPhone 17 Pro generation. This hardware disparity creates a software gap: two new iOS 27 features, namely the ability to customize the expressiveness and pace of Siri's voice and a major boost in accuracy for speech-to-text dictation, require an advanced on-device AI model that needs at least 12GB of RAM. Consequently, users of the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will not be able to enjoy these innovations.
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Release timelines and rising prices
Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Ultra this September, while the iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and the second-generation iPhone Air will reportedly arrive around March 2027. The company has already raised prices on more than a dozen products due to a shortage of RAM and NAND chips, and analysts estimate that the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e could cost between $100 and $200 more than their iPhone 17 counterparts. This scenario echoes past segmentation strategies, such as Apple's early internal testing of iOS 27.4 before iOS 27.0 release, reflecting software planning increasingly tied to hardware specifications.
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Comparison with previous generations
For context, the iPhone 17 series offers 8GB of RAM on base models and 12GB on Pros. With the iPhone 18, the jump to 9GB for base models seems a compromise to contain costs during a memory price surge. However, excluding key iOS 27 features may push users toward higher-priced models. According to Kuo, the second-generation iPhone Air will likely have 12GB of RAM, aligning with the Pros. For further context on hardware constraints, see also the UK generational tobacco ban debate, which illustrates how technical limitations impact adoption policies.
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Apple's decision highlights a growing industry trend: advanced software features become exclusive to devices with greater hardware capacity. According to Wikipedia, Apple Intelligence relies on large language models running locally, explaining the 12GB RAM requirement for the most complex functions. For users seeking the full AI experience, the choice will likely be forced toward Pro or Ultra models, with a non-negligible impact on budget.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/03/iphone-18-wont-support-two-ios-27-features
