The standard 18, will reportedly come with 12GB of RAM, up from 8GB in the 17, technology publication DigiTimes reported.

Despite higher component costs, Apple is reportedly planning to keep pricing unchanged. The company is expected to absorb rising DRAM and NAND memory costs rather than pass them on to consumers, allowing the iPhone 18 to retain the same starting price of $799 as its predecessor.

The additional memory is expected to support a new generation of Siri AI features powered by Apple's most advanced on-device language model, which reportedly requires at least 12GB of RAM.

Tech site GSM Arena noted that these features are expected to arrive with iOS 27, but the 17, world's best-selling smartphone in the first quarter of 2026, may not support them because of its lower memory capacity.

Potential design and color options for the iPhone 18 Pro. Photo from X

The move could help Apple strengthen the competitiveness of its entry-level flagship model against rival smartphone makers that have increasingly focused on AI-powered features.

However, consumers may have to wait longer for the standard 18.

The 18 Pro, Pro Max and a foldable model the iPhone Ultra are scheduled to debut in September 2026 while the standard 18, along with the Air 2 and 18e, is expected to follow in the first half of 2027, Mac Rumors reported.