iPhone 17 Air Said to Use Inferior RAM Type Than iPhone 16 Series
Apple's upcoming base iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air will feature LPDDR5 RAM, a slower and less efficient memory type than the LPDDR5X RAM found in every model of the iPhone 16 series, according to the latest report by Jeff Pu of equity research firm GF Securities.
The base iPhone 17 is expected to feature 8GB of RAM, while the iPhone 17 Air's 12GB RAM capacity is a step up from the iPhone 16 series' across-the-board 8GB. However, the downgrade in memory type is a curious decision in terms of performance and energy efficiency, especially in a device rumored to ship with a smaller 2800mAh battery.
LPDDR5X is expected to feature in the iPhone 17 Pro models in 12GB capacities. LPDDR5X offers higher bandwidth and improved power efficiency compared to LPDDR5. That should translate to faster app launches, smoother multitasking, and better battery life in bandwidth-intensive scenarios. In opting for LPDDR5 in the iPhone 17 Air, Apple may be willing to compromise on some of those advantages, despite increasing the overall RAM capacity.
The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be an ultra-thin, lower-cost alternative to the Pro models, and using LPDDR5 may help reduce costs or be better twinned with a lower-powered SoC variant. It could also potentially keep the device cool and efficient under moderate workloads – though ironically, LPDDR5X would likely offer better efficiency under sustained load.
At the end of the day, average users of Apple's upcoming ultra-slim device are unlikely to notice a significant difference in day-to-day usage, while anyone who might view the slower RAM as a limiting factor are more likely to purchase an iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max. The iPhone 17 lineup is expected to launch in September.
Popular Stories
Apple is about to drop iOS 26.1, the first major point release since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least six notable changes and improvements to look forward to. We've rounded them up below.
Apple has already provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate version of iOS 26.1, which means Apple will likely roll out the update to all compatible...
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a small but helpful change for iPhones, and it could prevent you from running late to something important.
Specifically, when an alarm goes off in the Clock app, there is a new "slide to stop" control on the screen for turning off the alarm. On previous iOS 26 versions, there is simply a large "stop" button, which could be accidentally tapped.
The new ...
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a handful of new features and changes for iPhones, including a toggle for changing the appearance of the Liquid Glass design, "slide to stop" for alarms in the Clock app, and more.
Below, we outline key details about iOS 26.1.
Release Date
Given that Apple has yet to seed an iOS 26.1 Release Candidate, which is typically the final beta version, the...
Apple has just given a strong indication that it will not be releasing any additional new Macs for the remainder of the year.
Apple's CFO Kevan Parekh dropped the hint during the company's earnings call on Thursday:On Mac, keep in mind, we expect to face a very difficult compare against the M4 MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac launches in the year-ago quarter.Parekh essentially gave a heads up ...
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
One thing worth...
Apple is designing an updated version of the Apple TV 4K, and rumors suggest that it could come out sometime in the next couple of months. We're not expecting a major overhaul with design changes, but even a simple chip upgrade will bring major improvements to Apple's set-top box.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
We've rounded up all the latest Apple TV rumors.
...
Rumors are stoking excitement for the next-generation iPad mini that Apple is reportedly close to launching. So what should we expect from the successor to the iPad mini 7 that Apple released over a year ago? Read on to find out.
Processor and Performance
Apple is working on a next-generation version of the iPad mini (codename J510/J511) that features the A19 Pro chip, according to...
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models could be available in new rich and warm color option, according to a known leaker.
The Weibo user known as "Instant Digital" today suggested that next-year's iPhone 18 Pro models will be available in at least one of the following color options: Coffee, purple, and burgundy.
The iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 14, and iPhone 14 Pro were all available in ...
Apple launched the Apple TV HD, the Siri Remote, tvOS, and their accompanying App Store a decade ago today, marking a major overhaul of the device.
The new vision for the Apple TV was unveiled on September 9, 2015 during Apple's "Hey Siri" event in San Francisco, where CEO Tim Cook introduced the device with the statement, "The future of TV is apps." The announcement represented a major...
