This Pro hardware feature is now expected to be included in the iPhone 17 Air
Apple’s much-anticipated iPhone 17 Air is not only expected to be slimmer than the standard iPhone 17 but may also incorporate a premium hardware upgrade usually reserved for the top-tier models. According to insights shared by trusted industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 17 Air is likely to feature 12GB of RAM – a specification previously thought to be exclusive to the high-end iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Kuo, who draws from supply chain data and manufacturer trends, now suggests that both the iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17 Pro variants will come with 12GB of memory, positioning them to better handle advanced functionalities and multitasking, especially in relation to AI-driven features. This marks a shift from earlier expectations where only the Pro Max model would offer the expanded RAM configuration.
Currently, Apple’s iPhone 16 lineup, which includes the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max, all feature 8GB of RAM. This amount has been the baseline requirement for enabling Apple’s new artificial intelligence suite, Apple Intelligence, across both iPhones and iPads. For instance, iPhone 15 Pro models were the first to support these AI capabilities due to their upgraded 8GB RAM, a feature not available on the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus with lower memory.
While the standard iPhone 17 is also expected to maintain 8GB of RAM, Kuo hasn’t dismissed the possibility that Apple might equip it with 12GB as well. The final decision could be swayed by component availability, with potential supply limitations expected to play a pivotal role in the coming weeks.
Looking further ahead, Apple reportedly plans to standardize 12GB RAM across all models in the iPhone 18 series slated for release next year. As the tech giant increasingly integrates generative AI into its devices and marketing strategy, boosting onboard memory has become essential to delivering smooth, efficient performance.
This trend isn’t confined to iPhones alone. Apple has already begun doubling the base RAM in its Mac lineup, shifting from 8GB to 16GB, in response to growing demands from AI applications. Among iPads, the only model currently shipping with less than 8GB of RAM is the entry-level iPad 11, priced at $349, which notably does not support Apple Intelligence features.
