A18 Chip and Lower RAM Rumored for iPhone 17 Entry Model
Apple is reportedly dealing with new challenges after CEO Tim Cook allegedly clashed with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on iPhones unless Apple starts manufacturing them locally for the U.S. market. These tariffs, combined with existing supply chain issues, could lead to higher prices for this year’s iPhone 17 lineup.
On a positive note, Apple is said to be planning one of the most notable design overhauls in recent iPhone history. The iPhone 17 Air — seen as a rival to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge — may replace the traditional Plus model. All iPhone 17 models, including the Pro and Pro Max, are also rumored to feature a redesigned rear camera layout.
However, according to analyst Jeff Pu from GF Securities, the base iPhone 17 model will likely miss out on key upgrades. It’s expected to keep the same camera setup as the iPhone 16 and come equipped with last year’s A18 chip and only 8GB of RAM.
This lines up with earlier reports from Ming-Chi Kuo, stating that only the Pro models will offer 12GB RAM and be powered by the more advanced A19 Pro chipset. The iPhone 17 Air, meanwhile, is expected to use the standard A19 chip, both built using TSMC’s 3nm process.
Overall, the standard iPhone 17 may not offer much in terms of performance improvements. Still, it might include a 120Hz display, an upgraded 24MP front camera, and new in-house Wi-Fi components across the lineup.
