Every iPhone 14 model might get a RAM upgrade – but the Pros could keep their edge
6GB all round, but some of it is faster
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We’ve heard a number of times now that everyiPhone 14model – including the iPhone 14 Pro andiPhone 14 Pro Max– mighthave 6GB of RAM, and the latest leak again suggests as much, but this RAM apparently won’t all be equal.
According to a report inDigiTimes– spotted byMacRumors– the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will have 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM, while the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will have 6GB of LPDDR5 RAM.
In all cases – other than the iPhone 14 Max, since that phone has no predecessor - this would be an upgrade. TheiPhone 13had 4GB of RAM, so the new model would be getting 2GB more. In the case of the Pro models, we saw 6GB in both theiPhone 13 Proand theiPhone 13 Pro Max, but they had LPDDR4X RAM.
LPDDR5 RAM is faster and more energy-efficient, so we could see improvements to both performance and battery life from the Pro models, even if they have the same amount of RAM as their predecessors.
This would also mean that despite all four iPhone 14 models apparently having the same amount of RAM, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max would offer better performance than the standard and Max models – and that’s before you get to the rumored use of a new A16 Bionic chipset in the Pro models, while the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max willapparently be stuck with last year’s A15 Bionic.
In a sense then this news is good regardless of which iPhone 14 model you’re considering, since they should all be an upgrade on the RAM front – but the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max should retain an edge.
Analysis: Apple’s late to the party with LPDDR5
While the move to LPDDR5 RAM is a positive step, it’s one that some rivals took a while back.Samsunghas been using it from theGalaxy S20series onwards in its flagship line, and hasn’t reserved it for the very top models, as even the likes of theGalaxy S20 FE 5Ggot LPDDR5 RAM.
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Samsung isn’t alone either, as a number of other Android phone manufacturers have made the move already.
It’s not entirely surprising thatAppleis behind here. After all, the company has never been one to chase specs for the sake of it, but this slow progress was likely a cost-cutting move, which is a bit disappointing when iPhones are already so expensive. If Android manufacturers can deliver this faster RAM, then Apple should be able to in its premium phones.
It’s also a shame that this move is apparently limited to the Pro models, given that you can get mid-range Android phones with LPDDR5 RAM. It’s just one more example of how – more than in most years – the Pro iPhones look set to be the ones to buy, and could end up being the only new entries in ourbest iPhonesguide.
James is a freelance phones, tablets and wearables writer and sub-editor at TechRadar. He has a love for everything ‘smart’, from watches to lights, and can often be found arguing with AI assistants or drowning in the latest apps. James also contributes to 3G.co.uk, 4G.co.uk and 5G.co.uk and has written for T3, Digital Camera World, Clarity Media and others, with work on the web, in print and on TV.
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