It was recently reported that the iPhone 17 lineup will be a better upgrade than the upcoming iPhone 16 models, and the reason is better Apple Intelligence support thanks to 12GB of RAM. A prominent analyst has now reported that the upgraded 12GB RAM will be exclusive to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, while the remaining devices will retain the same 8GB RAM with a better cooling mechanism for thermal management.
Apple could create performance differences between the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max with more RAM and better thermal management
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo states that the 6.3-inch iPhone 17 Pro, the iPhone 17, and the iPhone 17 ‘Air’ will come with 8GB of storage capacity, leaving 12GB for the most expensive iPhone 17 Pro Max. Based on past reports, the iPhone 17 Pro Max was reported to be the company’s most premium model despite the fact that the company is testing a new ultra-thin design.
This could also mean that the company has planned dedicated Apple Intelligence features for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, as the base amount of RAM required for the company’s forthcoming AI features is 8GB. With more RAM, the iPhone could house additional, more advanced features that would not be offered with 8GB of RAM. In comparison, the iPhone SE 4, which is expected to launch in the first half of next year, is also rumored to come with 8GB of RAM.
Other than the RAM, the iPhone 17 Pro Max will also be a step up from the smaller ‘Pro’ when it comes to better thermal management. The analyst claims that the device would feature an upgraded cooling system that combines vapor chamber technology and graphite sheets. This could result in better performance on the Pro Max, even though the smaller ‘Pro’ would be equipped with the same A19 Pro chipsets.
The rest of the bunch, including the 6.3-inch iPhone 17 Pro, will only feature graphite sheets, not the vapor chamber. This means that benchmarks between the two ‘Pro’ models will be different all thanks to better thermal management on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The Pro Max variant of the iPhone accounts for almost 40 percent of sales, and it contributes significantly in terms of Apple’s total revenue, which is one reason why the company would set it apart from the rest.
Even though the company plans to bridge the gap between the ‘Pro’ models with the same camera hardware upgrade, the performance of the device could be another strategy from the company’s end to keep the highest model apart. Specifically, 12GB RAM on the iPhone 17 Pro Max would offer better multitasking capabilities, and it only makes us question if the company is bringing split-screen to iOS next year. Do you think a 4GB RAM difference between the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the rest of the lineup will create a wider performance difference?