Less than a decade ago, leading Android smartphones were content with just 4GB of RAM – a figure that was considered impressive at the time. But the tech world advances rapidly, and today 12GB of RAM is considered the minimum required in advanced devices. Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series already met that bar, and even included a premium model – the Galaxy S25 Ultra – with 16GB of RAM, although that version was sold exclusively in the Korean market. Now, according to new research by Macquarie Research, it appears that Samsung plans to step it up – the Galaxy S26 series, expected to launch in February 2026, will likely come with 16GB of RAM as the default in all major models.
The report also came via well-known leaker @Jukanlosreve, who cited the company’s findings and noted that Samsung is expected to upgrade its entire flagship line to a higher memory level, aiming to maintain a competitive edge against Chinese manufacturers that equip their devices with the most up-to-date and powerful components.
In the past, the reason for increasing memory was mainly to improve multitasking capabilities – the ability to open several apps simultaneously without slowing down. Today, the need for increased memory comes from an entirely different place: Deep integration of artificial intelligence. For example, Apple ensures that all iPhone 16e models, including the basic ones, come with no less than 8GB of RAM, in order to support the “Apple Intelligence” capabilities.
Samsung does not intend to stay behind, and while it will raise the memory bar in the Galaxy models, Apple is expected to remain at just 12GB in the upcoming iPhone 17 series, set to launch in about three months – with the base model possibly making do with only 8GB, the minimum threshold for enabling Apple’s AI functions.
On the other hand, it should be noted that Apple’s system works entirely differently – unlike Android, it is much more optimized for the device’s hardware. iOS knows how to utilize resources intelligently, and therefore, even with less memory, it manages to deliver high performance over time. This is also one of the reasons why iPhones are able to run new operating system versions for six consecutive years without stuttering. Everything there simply works more harmoniously and precisely.
Will Samsung’s move also push competitors to raise standards? It’s likely. The mobile world is entering an era where RAM is no longer just a convenient addition – but a basic requirement for smart and advanced services.