Apple Intelligence is expected to be a major selling point for both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 series. Apple has already withheld some of its latest AI features from older iPhones, reportedly due to insufficient system memory.
According to a recent tip from Weibo tipster “Mobile phone chip expert,” (translated from Chinese) the iPhone 17 series may feature 12GB of RAM, a significant upgrade from the 8GB RAM rumored for the iPhone 16 lineup.
iPhone 17 lineup may run more complex AI features on-device as compared to iPhone 16 lineup
This increase in RAM could allow the iPhone 17 series to support more on-device AI features than the iPhone 16 models. Currently, many Apple Intelligence features rely on cloud servers, which could raise privacy concerns. The shift to on-device processing in the iPhone 17 lineup might make it worth waiting for, especially if privacy is a priority.
Analyst Jeff Pu of Haitong International Securities previously mentioned that the iPhone 17 Pro models would come with 12GB of RAM. However, the latest rumor doesn’t clarify whether this upgrade applies to the entire iPhone 17 lineup or just the Pro models.
The iPhone 16 series is rumored to include a more capable Neural Processing Unit (NPU), enabling more complex AI features. However, with only 8GB of RAM, the iPhone 16 may still fall short in fully utilizing on-device AI, which could make it less appealing for iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max users considering an upgrade.
In contrast, the iPhone 17 series, particularly the Pro models, could push Apple’s focus on edge AI further. The 12GB RAM might also enable game developers to offer higher-quality textures in select mobile games.
Speaking of the iPhone 16 series, Angelo Zino, a CFRA Research technology analyst noted that the outlook for the iPhone 16 is muted since the new AI features will be rolled out over the next few years. According to him, enhanced Siri may even come as late as 2025.
(Source)
Comments