The Pixel 9 telephones have lastly graduated from rumors to precise merchandise you could preorder on-line. However the rumors have been all right. Google gave the Pixel 9 telephones a number of essential upgrades, together with one I speculated about weeks in the past: Google boosted the RAM of all the brand new Pixel telephones considerably in comparison with their predecessors.
Not solely that, however Google confirmed that a few of that RAM is solely tied to AI processes. Contemplating the rumors in regards to the iPhone 16 floating round in the meanwhile, this element has me frightened about Apple’s upcoming iPhones.
I by no means had any challenge with the iPhone not rocking as a lot RAM as its direct Android rivals. iOS was all the time optimized to run on extra restricted sources. Apple progressively elevated the quantity of reminiscence on its units over time, reaching 8GB with the iPhone 15 Professional fashions.
Apple introduced at WWDC that Apple Intelligence would solely run on the iPhone 15 Execs. All different present units aren’t able to processing Apple AI. I speculated on the time that Apple would possibly want not less than 8GB of RAM on its merchandise for Apple Intelligence. Apple later confirmed this element, although it pressured that the Neural Engine was the important thing part for Apple Intelligence.
In the meantime, rumors say the iPhone 16 sequence will function 8GB of RAM. Some studies declare 2GB of that shall be reserved for Apple Intelligence processes. Individually, Apple has revealed analysis detailing methods to make massive language fashions work on cell units with restricted sources. This hinted the iPhone 16 wouldn’t get a giant RAM increase this yr.
Over on the Pixel facet of issues, all Pixel 9 Professional fashions include 16GB of RAM. That’s 4GB of additional reminiscence in comparison with the Pixel 8 Professional and Pixel Fold. The Pixel 9 additionally bought a lift to 12GB of RAM. Once more, it’s 4GB greater than its predecessor.
In a briefing previous the occasion, Google mentioned that the Pixel 9 telephone could be the primary Android telephone to make use of extra RAM to run Gemini Nano on-device AI experiences in a devoted area. Google hasn’t specified how a lot RAM it’ll use for Gemini, and we shouldn’t assume the additional 4GB of reminiscence is all devoted to AI options.
However, as Android Authority factors out, Pixel 9 customers can’t reclaim that reminiscence in the event that they resolve to not use any form of AI options on the telephone. For instance, Pixel 9 turns Gemini into the default assistant. If you would like the non-AI Google Assistant, you could disable Gemini. However you gained’t get the AI-dedicated RAM again.
Google didn’t clarify intimately how RAM works on the Pixel 9 telephones in the course of the keynote. Nonetheless, the corporate did say that the Pixel 9 telephones will be capable of sustain with future AI advances because of the reminiscence improve.
All of that makes me fear in regards to the iPhone 16’s RAM improve. It’s not that I need Apple to bump the reminiscence to 16GB as a result of Google did it. I’m fairly sure that Apple is aware of what it’s doing. The rumored 8GB of reminiscence ought to run Apple Intelligence properly sufficient.
My worries are associated to the extra distant future. Will Apple Intelligence 2.0 and past be capable of run on the iPhone 16 {hardware}? Keep in mind that most of Apple’s AI suite of apps and options ought to run on-device, too. That’s the place native sources shall be much more essential.
Then again, Apple Intelligence is just not even obtainable to me, as Apple has not introduced it to the European Union. It’ll be some time till I can take a look at it and see how an iPhone with Apple Intelligence on board performs.
I’ll say that Apple’s specs selections for the iPhone 17 sequence shall be a key indication of what’s to come back from AI telephones within the subsequent few years. Ought to Apple improve the reminiscence considerably subsequent yr, it’ll be a powerful sign that the iPhone 16 gained’t final lengthy as an AI system.
