There’s an unexpected benefit of having Apple Intelligence on iPhones

Apple Intelligence had a turbulent start with delayed features, stiff competition, and unmet expectations even among loyal fans. However, the tide is finally turning. With iOS 18.4, Apple has begun rolling out key Apple Intelligence features to iPhones in India, including a smarter Siri (finally!), Visual Look Up, Clean Up, and more.

ALSO READ: Apple Intelligence now in India: Find out if your Apple device is eligible

While these updates are getting most of the attention, there’s another underrated benefit of Apple Intelligence on iPhones that many users might be sleeping on.

Apple Intelligence = More RAM across the board

Historically, iPhones have trailed Android devices in terms of RAM. While Apple’s tight integration between hardware and software allowed for smooth performance even with lower RAM, real-world tests sometimes showed the downside. In popular speed tests, like those run by PhoneBuff on YouTube, iPhones would often fall behind Android rivals when it came to multitasking, losing out due to fewer apps staying alive in memory.

That’s changing fast.

With Apple Intelligence requiring more on-device resources, Apple has quietly raised the baseline RAM across its newest devices. The iPhone 16e, one of Apple’s most affordable models in 2025, now comes with 8GB of RAM. That’s a noticeable jump from the 6GB RAM on models like the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. The reason? Apple Intelligence needs it.

This isn’t just a one-off either. According to reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, all upcoming iPhone 17 models are expected to feature at least 12GB RAM, particularly to support Apple Intelligence’s AI processing needs. While it remains to be seen if every single model gets the bump, it’s likely that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will definitely ship with 12GB.

Why more RAM matters, even if you don’t use Apple Intelligence

Even if you’re not heavily invested in using Apple’s new AI tools, having more RAM pays off in daily use. Multitasking becomes more fluid, background apps are less likely to reload, and performance generally feels snappier and more consistent over time, especially as apps get more complex.

It’s a win-win. Apple Intelligence may have nudged Apple toward adding more memory, but all users benefit from the improved hardware.

What’s next: iPhone 17 and the era of smarter hardware

The iPhone 17 lineup, expected to be announced in early September 2025, could represent a hardware turning point. Alongside the usual upgrades, Apple is rumoured to launch a new ultra-thin model dubbed the iPhone 17 Air. If these models continue the trend of higher RAM, Apple’s smartphones will finally be on par with Android in memory specs, and possibly even ahead in optimisation.

In short, Apple Intelligence might not have had the strongest debut, but it’s already changing the iPhone in meaningful ways; starting with what’s under the hood.