The iPhone 16 leaks are now starting to pile up ahead of an expected September launch, and the latest rumor reaching us suggests the phone will come with RAM and storage upgrades – specifically to accommodate the extra AI features on-board.
This comes from a report from South Korea (via well-known tipster @Tech_Reve), which states that the base level iPhone 16 can come with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, or both, to give the integrated AI extra space to think of, store, and process commands.
For comparison, the cheapest iPhone 15 comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage (although 256GB and 512GB versions are also available). The extra leeway is needed for the extra work that generative AI tools require.
Only Google’s smallest AI model, Gemini Nano, is compact enough to fit on a smartphone, specifically the Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 handsets. That could change in the future, but many AI calculations are currently being transferred to the cloud.
AI everywhere at once
There was an interesting report recently from a Korean securities company. Some analysts speculate that the iPhone 16’s RAM capacity will increase due to AI on the device. However, Apple is reportedly exploring the possibility of running AI on the device using NAND flash instead of RAM. – Me too… pic.twitter.com/U4XYg62X3AMarch 23, 2024
Apple prides itself on doing as much computing as possible locally, without transferring data streams to and from servers on the Internet. It means more of your data is stored solely on your phone or laptop, where it’s safe and private.
If that’s going to happen with the AI features Apple has promised, the iPhone 16 may need some extra grunt. However, as this tipster acknowledges, nothing has been confirmed yet and Apple’s plans could still change. It also raises the question of how much of this AI functionality could trickle down to older, less powerful handsets.
We don’t know exactly what these AI features from Apple will be, but all indications are that iOS 18 will include some generative AI tools similar to those we’ve seen on other phones (and strangely enough, Google might as well can do). help).
Apple will probably tell us a lot more at the WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference), which usually takes place every June. After that, we’ll get public betas for iOS 18, and eventually the new iPhone 16 handsets in September.