Apple will seemingly continue offering enhanced specs on its Pro Max iPhone to differentiate it from other models. As a part of the strategy, the company might only equip the iPhone 17 Pro Max with 12GB RAM in 2025.
Additionally, the phone will feature an upgraded cooling system. This system will use a combination of a vapor chamber and graphite sheets for better thermal efficiency.
Only one 2025 iPhone model could feature 12GB RAM
Apple added a 5x shooter to the iPhone 15 Pro Max in 2023, differentiating it from its smaller Pro variant. This year, rumors suggest the 5x camera will come to the iPhone 16 Pro. The change would limit the Pro Max’s model advantage to a bigger display and longer battery life. However, with iPhone Pro Max models accounting for 40% of the shipments, Apple apparently further wants to differentiate it from the smaller Pro model.
Among the 2025 new iPhone models, only the iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature the following specifications:
1. 12GB DRAM (while the ultra-thin iPhone, iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and SE4 will all have 8GB). Enhanced on-device AI capabilities will likely be a major selling point for…
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) August 29, 2024
To achieve this, Apple could equip only the 2025 iPhone 17 Pro Max with 12GB RAM. The additional RAM should help Apple Intelligence‘s on-device AI capabilities. Other iPhones due to launch next year, including the iPhone 17 Slim, will purportedly stick to 8GB RAM.
The claim comes from TF International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. It contradicts a recent rumor that the entire iPhone 17 lineup could get a boost to 12GB RAM. Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu also previously claimed that the iPhone 17 would ship with 12GB of RAM.
iPhone 17 Pro Max might feature a better cooling system
The analyst also says the iPhone 17 Pro Max will use a new cooling system featuring a vapor chamber and graphite sheets. This should help enhance heat dissipation. However, other models in the lineup will supposedly stick to using graphite sheets only.
Kuo says Pro Max iPhone models make the “most significant contribution to Apple’s revenue and profit among hardware products.” So, the company wants to differentiate the product further from its siblings to ensure steady demand.
