Yesterday, a rumor suggested that all iPhone 17 models would come with 12GB of RAM, an increase from the 8GB in the iPhone 16 lineup. However, today, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo provided some clarifications.
According to Kuo, only the iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature 12GB of RAM. The other models — the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Slim — will retain 8GB, similar to the upcoming iPhone SE.
With this in mind, Apple is likely to emphasize enhanced on-device AI capabilities as a key selling point specifically for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, rather than the entire range.
The Pro Max will also receive an upgraded cooling system that combines vapor chamber technology with graphite sheets, while the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup will use only graphite sheets, as seen in previous models.
Kuo notes that the Pro Max currently accounts for nearly 40% of iPhone sales, making it Apple’s top performer in revenue and profit among its hardware products. This is likely why Apple continues its differentiation strategy by reserving the best specs for the Pro Max.