Key Points
- All iPhone 16 models have 8GB of RAM, a step up from the 6GB in previous base models.
- The RAM boost supports the rollout of Apple Intelligence across all iPhone 16 models with iOS 18.1.
- The memory increase enables the entire lineup to run high-end AAA games.
- Apple aims to sell 90 million units by the end of the year. Preorders are open, and the release is set for September 20.
During the keynote for the iPhone 16 series, Apple announced that all models in the lineup would be equipped with 8GB of RAM to support the company’s new Apple Intelligence system. Johny Srouji, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies, confirmed the upgrade, explaining that the decision was driven by optimizing performance for AI features and other advanced applications.
Srouji elaborated on the choice to enhance memory capacity across all models. “We analyzed different configurations, considering both computational needs and memory bandwidth,” Srouji said. “Apple Intelligence was a significant factor in deciding to increase RAM to 8GB, ensuring smooth performance across the entire iPhone 16 lineup.”
This marks the first time Apple has equipped its base iPhone models with 8GB of RAM, a step up from the 6GB featured in last year’s iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. Previously, only the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models had 8GB of RAM. This hardware upgrade enables the iPhone 16 series to run Apple Intelligence, which is expected to debut with iOS 18.1 next month.
In addition to boosting AI capabilities, the increased memory will allow all iPhone 16 models to handle high-end AAA games—a feature limited to the iPhone 15 Pro variants. “The 8GB of RAM will significantly improve gaming performance,” Srouji added, noting that the upgrade will also enhance other applications.
Apple’s decision to increase memory comes amid expectations that it will sell 90 million units of the iPhone 16 by the end of 2024. Preorders for the iPhone 16 lineup are already available, and an official release is scheduled for September 20.
