Apple iPhone 7: Next-Gen iPhone Plus Model Rumored To Get 3GB RAM

The memory chip industry is expected to see some growth in the third quarter of 2016 as many next-generation smartphones, including new iPhones, are likely to get increased built-in memory capacity, a report said Wednesday.

Apple’s upcoming smartphone, dubbed the iPhone 7, has been rumored for long to get 3GB RAM. Echoing the same speculation, unspecified supply chain sources of Taiwan’s DigiTimes also have claimed that the RAM in the iPhone 7 will be increased to 3GB from the current capacity of 2GB. The report, however, didn’t specify whether only the 5.5-inch “Plus” model will have the increased RAM.

If the rumor turns out to be accurate, the move will help the overall Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) industry get back on track after major vendors like Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix and Micron Technology initiated production cuts in the first and second quarters of this year. The move resulted in tight supply of DRAM chips, which eventually increased pricing across the board.

Here’s an excerpt from the report:

Increasing built-in memory capacity at next-generation smartphones, including new iPhone devices, will further ramp up demand for memory products in the third quarter, said sources, noting that the mobile DRAM capacity of the next-generation iPhone is expected to increase to 3GB from 2GB previously.

KGI Securities analyst Ming Cho Kuo made a similar prediction in November last year. However, he claimed that the next 5.5-inch iPhone, unofficially referred to as the “iPhone 7 Plus,” would carry 3GB RAM for improved performance.

While the possibility of the 4.7-inch iPhone 7 featuring 3GB RAM should be treated with a pinch of salt, the increased RAM for the iPhone 7 Plus sounds plausible as the larger handset is expected to get some camera improvements, including a dual-lens system.

Rumors are rife that Apple would give its iPhone a minor refresh this year ahead of a more substantial design overhaul in 2017. However, the next 4.7-inch iPhone is also expected to sport a larger a 1,960 mAh battery, which will offer a 14 percent jump in battery capacity over iPhone 6s’ 1,715 mAh battery.

In addition, the new iPhone 7 is also rumored to ditch the headphone jack, which, along with some other internal overhaul, may help accommodate the larger battery.