Over the weekend, the TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo dropped some insights on X about Apple‘s 2027 plans, especially what we can expect from the more affordable models. It gives us a clearer picture of how Apple is trying to balance performance, AI features, and costs in a tricky supply chain environment.
According to Kuo, both the regular iPhone 18 and the rumored budget model (the iPhone 18e, expected sometime around March or April 2027) will come with 9GB of DRAM. That’s a modest bump up from the 8GB in the current iPhone 17 base models. The new setup reportedly uses six 1.5GB chips paired with Apple’s upcoming A20 chipset.
This is a bit less ambitious than earlier rumors that suggested a jump all the way to 12GB. That bigger increase was meant to enable more complex native AI processing on the device. Apparently, memory shortages and cost pressures led Apple to dial it back and prioritize stability instead.
On the chip side, the A20 is moving to TSMC’s advanced 2nm process. Rumors suggest it’ll bring about 15% better CPU performance and up to 30% improved power efficiency compared to the A19 series. That should mean snappier day-to-day use, better battery life, and a stronger neural engine for future AI features.
By comparison, the higher-end iPhone 18 Pro models and Apple’s first foldable (possibly called the iPhone Ultra) are sticking with a more premium configuration: 12GB of RAM and the beefier A20 Pro chip. These are still expected in the usual fall 2026 window, alongside each other.
Kuo’s track record is pretty solid, so this is worth paying attention to, even if things can still change before launch. Some people might be disappointed that the regular models aren’t getting full parity with the Pros on RAM, but this more modest upgrade should at least help Apple keep prices down for buyers who don’t need the absolute latest on-device AI capabilities.
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(Source Ming-Chi Kuo on X)
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