iPhone 17 Base Model Likely to Stick With 8GB RAM

Apple's iPhone 17 lineup could feature a notable RAM divide, with the base model potentially missing out on a rumored memory boost coming to the more high-end models.

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According to leaker Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo, the iPhone 17 will stick with 8GB of RAM while the iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will jump to 12GB. The leaker previously revealed the iPhone 16e name before its official announcement, lending some credibility to their claim.

For comparison, Samsung's latest Galaxy S25 models, which launched earlier this year, all come with 12GB of RAM. Google's Pixel 9 also comes with 12GB of RAM.

The leaker's information tallies with earlier predictions from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who suggested the same 12GB upgrade for the Air and Pro models. Kuo expressed uncertainty about the base iPhone 17's RAM configuration getting an upgrade due to potential supply constraints, and he has not provided an update on his thoughts since his original April prediction.

All current iPhone 16 models ship with 8GB of RAM, which meets Apple Intelligence's minimum requirement. The base iPhone 17 maintaining this amount would still support Apple's AI features, though the extra memory in higher-end models could enable more sophisticated processing and better gaming performance.

The iPhone 17 lineup is expected to launch around mid-September.

Related Roundup: iPhone 17
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 17 (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

Aluminum213 Avatar
8 months ago
As long as Apple is saving money, I am happy
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fatTribble Avatar
8 months ago
I remember when memory was measured in M, and before that K.
I always have to read these articles carefully and say yep, that really says G.
(and don’t make fun of your elders ?)
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
User 6502 Avatar
8 months ago
iPhone upgrades are increasingly more underwhelming. Apple is really being a complete disappointment lately. Cook must go.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Donkey Man Avatar
8 months ago

No sign of that happening at all. Delighting customers with great products year after year after year results in massive sales. And revenue. It's pretty simple. I think the only people feeling they're being **** on are those on tech forums who live to criticize Apple. That's a teeny-tiny segment of Apple's customer base and doesn't even move the needle.
Basically everyone I know, techie or not, is no longer enchanted by Apple, and has either moved to Android or simply sticks to whatever iPhone they have for ecosystem convenience reasons (myself included with my XR) - there’s basically no reason to buy a new one unless yours breaks down.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Donkey Man Avatar
8 months ago

They’re Smartphones… neither Tim Cook nor anyone else can make them do much more than they already do. What do you want, for it to transform into a flying car?
Imagine if SJ had such a limiting mindset when planning for an Apple phone.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Plutonius Avatar
8 months ago

iPhone upgrades are increasingly more underwhelming. Apple is really being a complete disappointment lately. Cook must go.
Yep, let's increase the RAM and the price of the base model phone /S.

Some people don't need the increased RAM as much as a lower cost phone.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)