Apple Weighs iPhone Memory Upgrades as DRAM Prices Jump 90% on Siri AI Demands
Updated
Updated · The Motley Fool · Jun 12
Apple Weighs iPhone Memory Upgrades as DRAM Prices Jump 90% on Siri AI Demands
3 articles · Updated · The Motley Fool · Jun 12
Summary
Apple’s most advanced Siri AI features require 12GB of DRAM, leaving the base iPhone 17’s 8GB memory short of supporting the full on-device experience.
DRAM prices have surged 80% to 90% this year as data-center demand tightens supply, raising Apple’s component bill just as its AI push increases memory needs.
Apple already said higher memory costs trimmed product gross margin in the last quarter, and Tim Cook warned the impact will grow beyond June despite inventory buffers and supplier scale.
With product gross margins near 39%, Apple may need to either lift baseline memory in future iPhones, absorb more cost, or raise prices on higher-end models when new devices debut in September.