Apple clarifies how much RAM does your iPhone need to run Apple Intelligence

Apple recently shed light on the hardware requirements necessary for running its new Apple Intelligence features, confirming that the iPhone 16 lineup comes equipped with 8GB of RAM.

This marks a significant shift for the company, as previous iPhone models, like the iPhone 15, fell short of this specification, leaving many wondering what prompted this increase.

The push for more RAM

In an interview with Geekerwan, Apple’s VP of hardware technology, Johny Srouji, explained that the move to 8GB of RAM was driven by the need to deliver Apple Intelligence—a new AI-powered feature set—without compromising performance.

Srouji noted that “DRAM is one aspect” of the decision, pointing out that the additional memory was essential to efficiently handle AI workloads, as well as enhancing high-end gaming experiences.

Why 8GB is essential for Apple Intelligence?

Apple Intelligence, set to debut with iOS 18, brings powerful new capabilities like enhanced writing tools, smart replies, and image generation, all processed on-device. To handle the complexity of these AI tasks, iPhones need significantly more RAM than ever before. According to Srouji, 8GB was identified as the sweet spot that allows Apple Intelligence to run smoothly without overwhelming the device’s performance or battery life.

Apple’s decision to equip the entire iPhone 16 lineup, from the base model to the 16 Pro Max, with 8GB of RAM signals just how central AI is to its future vision for iPhones.

Previous iPhone models, like the iPhone 15, only had 6GB of RAM (Image credit) iPhone 15 left behind

Notably, Apple has confirmed that iPhone 15 models, which only feature 6GB of RAM, will not support Apple Intelligence. While these devices will still receive iOS 18, they won’t benefit from the AI features that have been touted as a major innovation in the iPhone 16 series. This leaves iPhone 15 Pro owners in an awkward spot—close to the cutting edge, but just shy of the full benefits that Apple Intelligence offers.

RAM is now a core consideration for AI

Apple isn’t alone in ramping up its RAM capacity to support artificial intelligence; other tech giants have made similar moves as AI becomes increasingly integrated into consumer devices.

However, Apple’s focus on delivering these capabilities with on-device processing makes the additional RAM even more crucial. As Srouji emphasized, tasks like real-time image and video processing, alongside AI-powered features, require the type of memory boost that only 8GB can deliver.

Apple’s vision for the future

With the iPhone 16 lineup’s hardware now better equipped to handle AI, Apple is laying the groundwork for a future where artificial intelligence is at the forefront of mobile technology. By clarifying the necessity of 8GB of RAM, Apple has not only set the bar higher for its devices but also given a glimpse into its long-term strategy, where performance and innovation go hand-in-hand.

Featured image credit: Apple