Memory shortage finally getting to Apple? Leak says iPhone 18 may come with downgrades to save costs
Memory prices are rising due to the demand from AI data centres. A new leak claims that Apple may not be immune to this shortage after all. The Cupertino giant may be forced to cut back some features on the iPhone 18 just to keep the cost low. Here are all the details.
For the past couple of months now, you may have heard that the demand for memory chips is at an all-time high. AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic are buying more and more RAM to power datacentres that run AI models. And this comes at a cost. Across the industry, phonemakers are struggling to pay high prices to buy RAM. This is increasing smartphone prices in the process. And now, according to a new leak, Apple may not be immune to the RAM shortage after all.
So far, Apple has managed to stay relatively less impacted by the RAM shortage. Previously, reports indicated that the Cupertino giant was able to secure enough supply, thanks to its high leverage. But as per leaker Fixed Focus Digital, the memory shortage has reached such a point that even Apple may be forced to take measures to save costs. And the device likely to be impacted is the iPhone 18.
iPhone 18 to be a downgrade from iPhone 17?
When Apple launched the iPhone 17 in September last year, it was praised by many, including us. The company had finally given it a 120Hz refresh rate display, something we had wanted for years. On top of that, Apple made it look like it was almost unimpacted by the memory shortage. Yes, the iPhone 17 was Rs 3,000 more expensive than its predecessor, at Rs 82,900. But it also came with double the storage at 256GB. This made the iPhone 17 effectively Rs 7,000 cheaper than the 256GB iPhone 16 model.
But just a few months later, things have changed. As per the leaker, Apple faced a dilemma with the iPhone 18. Either it could keep the development on-track but increase the price, or it could cut down on some things to keep the price the same as last year.
Where Apple may save costs with iPhone 18
The iPhone 18 will reportedly come with downgrades in two areas – the display and the chipset. As per the leak, Apple is “taking a step backward" with the iPhone 18 display. This could result in reduced peak brightness of the iPhone 18 display when compared to the 3,000 nits peak brightness in the iPhone 17.
On the chipset front. Apple is expected to use a four-core GPU chip, likely the A20 chipset, in the iPhone 18, instead of a five-core GPU we usually find in a vanilla iPhone. This would essentially put the iPhone 18 on par with the iPhone 18e in terms of performance, as the company has usually used four-core GPUs in its e-series of iPhones.
iPhone 18 launch and expected price
These downgrades would likely allow Apple to save costs at a time when the memory shortage is unlikely to subside. As per reports, the memory shortage may continue at least till the end of 2027, if not further.
If the leaks are accurate, Apple will likely launch the iPhone 18 at the same Rs 82,900 price tag as the iPhone 17.
Do note that Apple is rumoured to launch the iPhone 18 alongside the iPhone 18e in early 2027. The next-generation iPhone Air may also be released at the same event. On the other hand, the traditional fall event for 2026 will likely see the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro models and the rumoured iPhone Fold.
For the past couple of months now, you may have heard that the demand for memory chips is at an all-time high. AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic are buying more and more RAM to power datacentres that run AI models. And this comes at a cost. Across the industry, phonemakers are struggling to pay high prices to buy RAM. This is increasing smartphone prices in the process. And now, according to a new leak, Apple may not be immune to the RAM shortage after all.
So far, Apple has managed to stay relatively less impacted by the RAM shortage. Previously, reports indicated that the Cupertino giant was able to secure enough supply, thanks to its high leverage. But as per leaker Fixed Focus Digital, the memory shortage has reached such a point that even Apple may be forced to take measures to save costs. And the device likely to be impacted is the iPhone 18.
iPhone 18 to be a downgrade from iPhone 17?
When Apple launched the iPhone 17 in September last year, it was praised by many, including us. The company had finally given it a 120Hz refresh rate display, something we had wanted for years. On top of that, Apple made it look like it was almost unimpacted by the memory shortage. Yes, the iPhone 17 was Rs 3,000 more expensive than its predecessor, at Rs 82,900. But it also came with double the storage at 256GB. This made the iPhone 17 effectively Rs 7,000 cheaper than the 256GB iPhone 16 model.
But just a few months later, things have changed. As per the leaker, Apple faced a dilemma with the iPhone 18. Either it could keep the development on-track but increase the price, or it could cut down on some things to keep the price the same as last year.
Where Apple may save costs with iPhone 18
The iPhone 18 will reportedly come with downgrades in two areas – the display and the chipset. As per the leak, Apple is “taking a step backward" with the iPhone 18 display. This could result in reduced peak brightness of the iPhone 18 display when compared to the 3,000 nits peak brightness in the iPhone 17.
On the chipset front. Apple is expected to use a four-core GPU chip, likely the A20 chipset, in the iPhone 18, instead of a five-core GPU we usually find in a vanilla iPhone. This would essentially put the iPhone 18 on par with the iPhone 18e in terms of performance, as the company has usually used four-core GPUs in its e-series of iPhones.
iPhone 18 launch and expected price
These downgrades would likely allow Apple to save costs at a time when the memory shortage is unlikely to subside. As per reports, the memory shortage may continue at least till the end of 2027, if not further.
If the leaks are accurate, Apple will likely launch the iPhone 18 at the same Rs 82,900 price tag as the iPhone 17.
Do note that Apple is rumoured to launch the iPhone 18 alongside the iPhone 18e in early 2027. The next-generation iPhone Air may also be released at the same event. On the other hand, the traditional fall event for 2026 will likely see the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro models and the rumoured iPhone Fold.
