Apple’s AFM Core Advanced model powers Advanced Dictation Preview in iOS 27 and Apple’s new expressive Siri voices, but it needs 12GB of RAM. Analysts say the iPhone 18 Pro line may keep that memory tier, while the standard iPhone 18 and the iPhone 18e coming
The iPhone 18 story won’t be just about new cameras or a sleeker chassis. It could come down to something far more basic: how much RAM Apple is willing to put into the “regular” models.
Apple is expected to debut the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max this fall, possibly alongside its first foldable iPhone. The standard iPhone 18 is then expected to arrive later in spring 2027 with an iPhone 18e. In the middle of the lineup shift is a quiet technical gatekeeper for two of Apple’s most noticeable Siri upgrades.
Those features are tied to Apple’s AFM Core Advanced model. It powers Advanced Dictation Preview in iOS 27 and Apple’s new expressive Siri voices. The model runs locally on supported devices, but it comes with a hard requirement: at least 12GB of RAM.
Right now, Apple’s availability map already hints at what happens when you miss that threshold. Advanced Dictation Preview is available on the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air running the iOS 27 beta. The standard iPhone 17 and even the iPhone 16 Pro are excluded because they have 8GB of RAM. The implication is uncomfortable for anyone betting on the cheaper iPhone 18 tier: if the 12GB cutoff stays in place. the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e could be shut out of both Advanced Dictation Preview and expressive Siri voices.
The gap may come down to how Apple budgets memory in 2027. TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple’s lower-end 2027 iPhones powered by the A20 chip will move to 9GB of RAM. up from 8GB on current standard models. That upgrade is real. But Forbes points out it may still not clear the 12GB requirement for Apple’s higher-end Siri features.
Kuo’s comments also suggest that Apple is planning a more substantial memory jump on the lower-end. In a post dated June 26. 2026. Kuo says iOS 27 will bring tighter system-level integration with Apple Intelligence and that his latest industry checks indicate Apple’s lower-end 1H27 iPhones—powered by the A20 chip—will move to 9GB DRAM (1.5GB × 6 dies). up from 8GB (2GB × 4 dies) in the current A19 models. to keep the system….
Meanwhile, the “Pro” side may have a cleaner path to the Siri features. Kuo says the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and Apple’s rumored foldable iPhone will remain at 12GB of RAM. Apple has not announced the iPhone 18 lineup, so the feature split isn’t confirmed. Still. if the AFM Core Advanced requirement is treated as a firm line. the Pro models would have the edge simply because they sit on the memory tier that enables the upgrade.
But this isn’t just a matter of product segmentation. The split could feel like Apple is nudging customers toward the Pro lineup. yet the memory situation is more complicated than pricing psychology. Apple has already raised prices across its iPad and Mac lineup as RAM prices climb. and the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to see a jump of around $200. Add in rising production pressure and it’s easier to understand why a 9GB “upgrade” might still leave some users without the Siri improvements they were hoping for.
On top of that, Apple is reportedly seeking government approval to source RAM from China’s CXMT as it tries to manage a supply crunch that is making advanced AI features harder to bring to cheaper models.
The most immediate human impact is straightforward: voice and dictation features that sound more natural. and respond more flexibly. are being gated by a resource Apple has historically used to differentiate tiers. If the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e land at 9GB in 2027. users who buy for value may still find themselves without the specific AFM Core Advanced-powered capabilities that are coming to iOS 27—and that have already started rolling out on higher-memory devices.
iPhone 18 iPhone 18 Pro iPhone 18 Pro Max iPhone 18e iOS 27 Siri Advanced Dictation Preview AFM Core Advanced Apple Intelligence A20 chip RAM CXMT