File photo/NBD

Rumor has it that Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 series is set to standardize on 8GB of RAM across all models, a move not out of generosity but necessity.

Insiders reveal that the upcoming iOS 18 will feature the memory-intensive Apple Intelligence, which requires 8GB to function fully—a feature currently exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro.

This AI powerhouse promises natural language understanding, content analysis across apps, automated email refinement, memo summarization, and generative image capabilities in various styles, including sketches, illustrations, and animations.

Alongside the memory boost, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are expected to upgrade to the A18 chip, with the Pro models receiving the A18 Pro for enhanced AI performance. 

According to media reports, all four ‌iPhone 16‌ models are expected to use a new A18 chip, Apple could still differentiate between the standard models and the Pro models, even giving the chips separate A18 and A18 Pro names. Apple could use A18 chips with a smaller number of GPU cores (either binned or disabled) for the ‌iPhone 16‌ models, while saving chips with a better GPU for the iPhone 16 Pro lineup.

Also, Apple is reportedly to have increased orders for the A18 chip, anticipating iPhone 16 series shipments to reach between 90 mln and 100 mln units. The upcoming iPhone 16 series is expected to feature TSMC's second-generation 3nm technology, N3E process. With the appeal of generative AI upgrades, Apple is optimistic about the high demand for the new series.