Apple has just revealed exactly how much active memory (RAM) will be on the iPhone 16 series models, something it never typically does—we usually have to find out in hardware teardowns from third parties.
Apple iPhone 16 in five colors.
All four iPhone 16 models will have 8GB of RAM, according to Johnny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies, in an interview with Geekerwan and picked up by 9to5Mac. Last year, only the Pro models had this much RAM, with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus settling for 6GB. Of course, all the iPhones performed well and at speed, but the extra RAM is needed for Apple Intelligence.
“Apple Intelligence is one of those very, very important features that we want to enable. And we look at different configurations, both for computation and memory bandwidth and memory capacity. And then we make the right trade-off and balance of what actually makes the most sense. So, Apple Intelligence was a major feature that led us to believe that we need to get to 8GB,” Srouji said.
Apple is known for not putting components in until they are needed: I tested several Android phones with NFC chips in which were never used before they went end-of-life. Apple only installed NFC when Apple Pay went live.
iPhone 16 in ultramarine finish.
Srouji said the increased RAM is not just for Apple Intelligence: “The 8GB is going to help immensely among other applications, including gaming, high-end gaming, AAA-titled games, and high-end gaming on device. So, I think it’s going to be really, really beneficial.”
It’s a great interview and it reveals that Apple is expecting the iPhone’s performance to be exceptional, with Srouji saying that the power of Apple silicon is leading the industry.
“When we look at the configuration, whether it’s silicon that goes into the iPhone or the iPad or the Mac, we have lots of simulation and performance modeling tools, and we look at actual data. And then we take into account, for example, the battery size for a product, the power delivery system for a product, the thermal envelope for the product, because overbuilding, again, is wasteful.”
Overheating was an issue initially with some iPhone 15 models, so it may be Srouji was quietly saying that it’ll be sorted with the new phones. And the choice of 8GB RAM may also explain why Apple Intelligence on the iPhone is restricted to the new models and the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.