The design of the iPhone can only be described as iconic. That rectangular shape has been a major influence on phone aesthetics and design since the first iPhone came onto the market back in 2007, and that isn’t likely to change. The internal design of the iPhone might radically shift, however. Apple is supposedly planning to change how the iPhone hardware is designed to accommodate better AI performance.
Essentially, Apple wants to use discrete memory rather than integrated memory. Those are technical terms that basically mean separate and together. On the internal system on a chip (SoC), any memory that is stacked on top is considered integrated memory. Discrete memory would be RAM that is packaged separately from the SoC. If reports are correct, Apple will begin using discrete memory in 2026, and the shift would result in faster memory and better AI performance, according to The Elec.
The current integrated memory build was introduced with the iPhone 4, and it quickly became a fan favorite because it resulted in a much more compact build. However, it also means there are fewer connection points and, therefore, lower speeds.
By swapping to discrete memory, the iPhone 18 (the first model likely to see this change) could transfer more data at a higher rate of speed. An added bonus is that separating the RAM from the SoC can mean better heat regulation. Given the amount of energy used to perform on-device AI calculations, the phone will likely generate a lot of heat.
Unfortunately, unless the iPhone begins to get physically larger, a few things will have to shrink in size. Namely, the battery. Battery technology is advancing quickly, but reliable battery life is still a struggle for phone manufacturers. If Apple has to shrink the size of the iPhone 18’s battery to accommodate a greater amount of RAM, overall usage time could take a hit.
Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it’s a…
It looks like the iPhone 17 Pro may have a titanium design after all
In a shining example of why leaks cannot be taken fully at face value, the iPhone 17 Pro might be made of titanium after all. Last week, we reported a leak that suggested the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max handsets could use an aluminum frame for the first time since 2016. Now, another leak suggests that information is inaccurate, and the premium iPhone models will not opt for a less expensive material after all.
“Looking back at the iPhone in recent years, Apple has always focused on promoting the high-end frame materials of the Pro series as one of its selling points, from ‘surgical grade stainless steel’ to ‘titanium.’ How can it be said that it was replaced with aluminum?” says Setsuna Digital, a leaker on Weibo.
Read more
Clicks changed my mind about using a keyboard with my iPhone 16
I made a solid attempt to type my story on the original Clicks Keyboard case on Clicks itself, but it turned out to be an ambitious target, as I found typing on it slow and a bit frustrating. Physical keyboards on phones are pretty unusual these days, and my fingers were simply not used to the process, while the keys themselves just didn’t quite work for my typing style.
It made me wary of the revised Clicks Keyboard case for the latest Apple iPhone 16 series, to the point where I had put off giving it a try over a few other things. But the time came to put it on my iPhone 16 Pro Max and try it out. So, has anything changed? Well, you’re reading words typed on it, and I’m pleased to say it’s a considerable improvement over the first model. It has changed my mind about the merits of using a physical keyboard with my touchscreen iPhone.
Read more
2024 was a huge rebound for smartphone sales, but not for the iPhone
After two years of decline, smartphone sales are projected to rebound strongly in 2024. However, IDC (via Bloomberg) shows this growth does not extend to Apple, which is expected to see only modest year-over-year gains.
The market tracker forecasts that smartphone sales will grow by 6.2% this year, pushing total units sold worldwide to 1.24 billion. In contrast, Apple is anticipated to experience only a 0.4% increase in iPhone sales.
Read more
