Supply chain sources again point to Apple's 'iPhone 7 Plus' having 3GB of RAM
The DRAM industry is expecting to see growth in the third quarter of 2016, buoyed by supply chain sources predicting a boost in application RAM to 3 gigabytes in the forthcoming "iPhone 7," though it's still unclear whether the additional memory will only be found in the larger "Plus" model.
Unspecified supply chain sources cited by DigiTimes are expecting an increase to 3 gigabytes of RAM in the iPhone 7, versus 2 gigabytes currently. The move, if it happens, will assist the overall industry as production cuts forced by an industry-wide slowdown have resulted in a tight supply of DRAM chips, which has increased pricing across the board.
The report points to chip manufacturers Macronix International and Powertech Technology (PTI) having both increased earnings estimates based on increasing demand from unspecified smartphone manufacturers. The increases are unusual and notable in a stagnant overall RAM and mobile market.
The report echoes a similar prediction made from KGI Securities analyst Ming Cho Kuo in November 2015, though he said the 3-gigabyte boost would only be found in the larger 5.5-inch "iPhone 7 Plus" version. Wednesday's report simply mentioned the "iPhone 7."
It is not known if DigiTimes is parroting the earlier report, or has an independent source with specific details beyond just increases in earnings estimates. However, the publication has a poor track record in predicting Apple's specific future product plans, meaning the possibility of a 4.7-inch "iPhone 7" sporting 3 gigabytes of RAM should be viewed with skepticism.
Recent reports suggest that the fall 2016 iPhone 7 won't have a major exterior redesign, as there is "new technology in the pipeline" that is taking time to fully exploit. Parts and details leaked from manufacturing suggest that the design is nearly identical to that of the iPhone 6s, minus the headphone jack.
The 2015 iPad Pro 12.7-inch model is the only iOS device to exceed 2 gigabytes of RAM -- it doubles that, with 4 gigabytes. The iPhone 6s, 6s plus, and the 9.7-inch iPad Pro all have 2 gigabytes of RAM.
Unspecified supply chain sources cited by DigiTimes are expecting an increase to 3 gigabytes of RAM in the iPhone 7, versus 2 gigabytes currently. The move, if it happens, will assist the overall industry as production cuts forced by an industry-wide slowdown have resulted in a tight supply of DRAM chips, which has increased pricing across the board.
The report points to chip manufacturers Macronix International and Powertech Technology (PTI) having both increased earnings estimates based on increasing demand from unspecified smartphone manufacturers. The increases are unusual and notable in a stagnant overall RAM and mobile market.
The report echoes a similar prediction made from KGI Securities analyst Ming Cho Kuo in November 2015, though he said the 3-gigabyte boost would only be found in the larger 5.5-inch "iPhone 7 Plus" version. Wednesday's report simply mentioned the "iPhone 7."
It is not known if DigiTimes is parroting the earlier report, or has an independent source with specific details beyond just increases in earnings estimates. However, the publication has a poor track record in predicting Apple's specific future product plans, meaning the possibility of a 4.7-inch "iPhone 7" sporting 3 gigabytes of RAM should be viewed with skepticism.
Recent reports suggest that the fall 2016 iPhone 7 won't have a major exterior redesign, as there is "new technology in the pipeline" that is taking time to fully exploit. Parts and details leaked from manufacturing suggest that the design is nearly identical to that of the iPhone 6s, minus the headphone jack.
The 2015 iPad Pro 12.7-inch model is the only iOS device to exceed 2 gigabytes of RAM -- it doubles that, with 4 gigabytes. The iPhone 6s, 6s plus, and the 9.7-inch iPad Pro all have 2 gigabytes of RAM.
Comments
Seems like Apple is trying to position the Plus as a must have phone for those wanting everything but the kitchen sink, with a price tag to go with it, thereby increasing Apple's bottom line whether sale pick up substantially or not ...
It is pretty much fact at least one 5.5" iPhone will have 3GB of RAM at this point.
Still think I am waiting for 2017.
Food for thought.
Beyond that hat the demand for RAM has absolutely nothing to do with Samsung or any imagined spec game you might believe is being played. The desire for more RAM comes from the developer community that actually understands how a computer works!!!! More RAM has had a very positive impact on Apples systems allowing developers to offer a wider array of software and perhaps more importantly off software that doesn't crash every time you turn around due to the lack of RAM. For many developers getting their software to work properly on the 1 GB devices was a big chore.
I'm not seeing this happening myself. Who knows though the storage market is seeing a lot of advancements of late.
What at I would love to see thoughts for Apple to adopt Memory Cube type technologies or something similar to AMDs HBM. The reality here is that these APU type chips suffer due to memory bandwidth issues. Much faster RAM would remove some bottle necks impacting certain performance profiles.
if they put lightning headphones in the box, why in god's name wouldn't they charge for a wireless pair? does Samsung give out free wireless headphones in addition to wired?
most people don't need the various adapters Apple supplies. that's why they're optional adapters, why they don't hand them out to everyone, and why they cost money.
or...it's all an evil conspiracy by a mustache-twirling Schiller designed to personally screw you. yeah.
I feel like Apple is making this change just for the sake of making changes. So that the "new" iPhone can add one more feature to the reportedly short list of new features (although I would debate the change being called a "feature").
I'm really glad Apple doesn't run our nation's electrical grid. Otherwise we be buying all new appliances ever few years because Apple would keep changing the size of our electrical outlets.
By the way, I love Apple, I always have. I just question how this is a benefit to their customers.
when end we had this debat in years past, everyone agree iPad could use the added ram since it was often refreshing tabs. was not a big problem on iPhone which is why it came later.
and Apple hindered app dev? yes, hindered it so badly iOS was and still is the first mobile platform to develop for.
- please catch up, it's not about making the phone thinner, since the touch is already thinner and has the jack.
- Apple doesn't make changes for the sake of making changes. that's one reason haters are wetting their pants over the case design not changing much.
- Apple devices are used longer than other devices, their useful lifespans are longer, not shorter.
- the 30-pin port was used for a dozen years
- you can question it and feel you know why they're doing it all you want, but until we hear it from them what the benefits and reasons are, you're just making things up. no one knows until Apple says 1) that it's happening, 2) why it's happening, 3) the benefits of it.
There's a better reason why Apple is stingy with RAM in mobile devices — for as long as the phone is awake, every bit of RAM is using power, whether that RAM is being actively used by an app or not. The memory power consumption of a 2gb iPhone is double that of a 1gb model.
The choices Apple has…
1. Include lots of RAM and accept worse battery life
2. Include lots of RAM and use bigger batteries
3. Include what they consider the minimum amount of RAM practical and put the burden on app developers to deliver power-efficient apps
#3 has been their strategy since the very beginning, and the success of the platform bears it out.
The "plus" series of phones, thanks to their larger batteries, can afford a ding on battery life, so it makes plenty of sense that they'd "plus up" the performance at the expense of some battery life that nobody will notice.