One massive purpose it’s possible you’ll need to maintain out for the iPhone 17

Should you don’t improve yearly, and had been planning on shopping for an iPhone 16, a leaker with a stable observe report has simply given a probably good purpose to carry out for the iPhone 17 as an alternative.

In line with their Weibo put up, the iPhone 17 will get 12GB of RAM, over the 8GB of the iPhone 16 line-up, and steered it will supply a major profit when utilizing Apple Intelligence options …

iPhone 17 to get 12GB RAM

Weibo consumer Cell phone chip skilled (MPCE) studies:

If you wish to change to an AI iPhone, perhaps the 2025 iPhone 17 is an effective selection. This yr’s iPhone 16 inner reminiscence is simply 8GB, primarily cloud-side AI. Subsequent yr’s iPhone 17 inner reminiscence is 12GB, and there are extra on-device AI purposes.

Apple is slowly ramping up RAM. All iPhone 14 fashions had 6GB RAM, Professional or not. For the iPhone 15, the bottom and Plus fashions had been powered by the A16 Bionic chip from the earlier yr’s Professional fashions, and remained on 6GB RAM. The 2 Professional fashions not solely acquired the A17 Professional chip, but in addition noticed their RAM boosted to 8GB.

It’s notable that solely the 2 Professional fashions are able to working Apple Intelligence, which is probably going as a consequence of a mixture of each processor energy and RAM. That concept is backed by the truth that all 4 iPhone 16 fashions are anticipated to get 8GB RAM.

On-device AI to be ramped-up subsequent yr

MPCE means that the shift to 12GB RAM is as a result of Apple plans to energy extra Apple Intelligence options on-device, with fewer features depending on cloud processing.

If the iPhone 17 can extra AI features domestically, whereas different iPhones have to make use of Apple’s Non-public Cloud Compute (PCC) servers, that might make subsequent yr’s fashions considerably quicker in relation to utilizing some Apple Intelligence options, in addition to being safer.

9to5Mac’s Take

Cell phone chip skilled has a restricted however good observe report in relation to Apple’s chip plans. They had been first to disclose that the A16 processor could be unique to the 2 iPhone 14 Professional fashions, and extra just lately that Apple was creating its personal 3nm chips for its AI servers. Which means the suggestion that subsequent yr’s iPhones will get 12GB RAM must be taken critically.

Whether or not that has vital implications for Apple Intelligence is extra speculative. The leaker clearly has visibility into Apple’s supply-chain, however that wouldn’t inform them why any explicit modifications are being made.

All the identical, it does appear a minimum of a stable idea, and is according to each Apple’s desire for on-device processing wherever attainable, and the sturdy clue that RAM is an element when working Apple Intelligence.

After all, finally it will depend on how lengthy you’re keen to attend to realize entry to Apple Intelligence. Should you don’t at present personal an iPhone 15 Professional or Professional Max, then you definately’ll must improve this yr except you’re keen to attend one other 12 months. However provided that we’re not anticipating the brand new Siri to launch till someday subsequent yr anyway, ready till subsequent September may not be too painful.

Picture: Michael Bower/9to5Mac