The iPhone 18e, the newest member of Apple’s more affordable iPhone series, has come to the forefront with a significant hardware upgrade. Expected to be introduced in March 2027, the device is said to come with 9 GB of RAM instead of the current 8 GB.

It is argued that this memory increase will not be limited to the iPhone 18e and will also be applied to the standard iPhone 18 model. Analysts suggest that Apple is working on iPhone models with 9 GB of RAM for the first time.

Apple Intelligence and Technical Specifications

The claim of 9 GB of RAM capacity for the iPhone 18e was shared by prominent analysts such as Ming-Chi Kuo and Jeff Pu. This 1 GB increase is expected to create a larger workspace, especially for Apple Intelligence tasks running on the device.

Apple Intelligence and Siri AI processes run both on-device and via Private Cloud Compute infrastructure. More RAM plays a critical role in enabling supported processes to run directly on the phone without being transferred to the cloud.

While Apple’s most advanced on-device AI model requires 12 GB of combined memory, 9 GB of RAM will offer higher performance than 8 GB for current features. Supply issues in the memory sector are another notable aspect of this increase.

Manufacturers such as Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are shifting their production capacity to HBM and server memory due to high demand from AI data centers. This affects the supply of DRAM products used in portable devices, and it is stated that the global chip shortage could continue until 2028.

Screen, Processor and Camera Details

It is stated that the iPhone 18e will come with a 6.1-inch OLED screen and offer a 60 Hz refresh rate. It is reported that Apple will not include ProMotion technology in this model and will maintain the current screen standards.

At the heart of the device will be the A20 processor, developed with a 2-nanometer manufacturing process. It is rumored that the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e models may have identical CPU and GPU cores, thus eliminating the performance difference in previous generations.

In terms of storage, Apple is expected to remove the 128 GB option and increase the starting capacity to 256 GB. While there will be a single 48-megapixel camera on the back, it is predicted that a new 24-megapixel sensor will be used on the front.

Apple plans to release the iPhone 18 Pro models in the fall of 2026, while the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e models are expected to be introduced approximately five months later. The company has not yet made an official statement regarding these specifications or the release date.

Do you think 9 GB of RAM is a sufficient upgrade for the iPhone 18e?