We’ve heard several times now that all iPhone 14 models – including the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max – can have 6GB of RAM, and the latest leak suggests this again, but that RAM apparently won’t all be the same.
According to a report in DigiTimes (opens in new tab) – spotted by MacRumors (opens in new tab) – iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will have 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM, while iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will have 6GB of LPDDR5 RAM.
In all cases – except the iPhone 14 Max, as this phone has no predecessor – this would be an upgrade. The iPhone 13 had 4GB of RAM, so the new model would get 2GB more. In the case of the Pro models, we saw 6GB on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, but they had LPDDR4X RAM.
LPDDR5 RAM is faster and more power efficient, so we can see performance and battery life improvements from the Pro models, even if they have the same amount of RAM as their predecessors.
It would also mean that despite all four iPhone 14 models seemingly 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 supposed use. of a new A16 Bionic chipset on the Pro models, while the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will apparently be stuck with last year’s A15 Bionic.
In some ways, that’s good news no matter what model of iPhone 14 you’re considering, as they’re all supposed to be an upgrade on the RAM front – but the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max should maintain an edge.
Analysis: Apple is late to the party with LPDDR5
While the switch to LPDDR5 RAM is a positive step, some rivals have been a bit late. Samsung uses it from the Galaxy S20 series on its main line and has not reserved it for the high-end models, as even the Galaxy S20 FE 5G have LPDDR5 RAM.
Samsung is not alone either, as several other Android phone manufacturers have already made the switch.
It’s not entirely surprising that Apple is behind this. After all, the company has never been one to chase specs because of this, but this slow progress was likely a cost-cutting move, which is a little disappointing when iPhones are already so expensive. If Android makers can provide that faster RAM, Apple can do it in their premium phones.
It’s also a shame that this move is apparently limited to Pro models, as you can get midrange Android phones with LPDDR5 RAM. It’s just another example of how – more so than in most years – the iPhones Pro seem to be the only ones to buy and could end up being the only new entries in our guide to the best iPhones.
