Samsung appears poised to take a bold leap in memory specs with its upcoming Galaxy S26 series, planning a 16GB RAM upgrade across the entire lineup in early 2026, according to insights from Macquarie Research. This shift comes after widespread criticism over the Galaxy S24’s underwhelming base RAM configuration and a limited rollout of 16GB RAM on the S25 Ultra only in select Asian markets.
The research, first highlighted by tipster @Jukanlosreve, indicates that Samsung is preparing to arm all S26 models – not just the Ultra variant – with 16GB RAM. 
This could significantly boost multitasking, allow for more advanced on-device AI features, and place Samsung ahead of many Chinese competitors that have already raised the bar in mobile hardware.
The move signals a shift in Samsung’s approach, aligning hardware performance with the growing demands of generative AI, which is now a central focus in mobile innovation. With more RAM, users can expect smoother performance, more background apps, and extended support for AI-driven tasks like live translation, camera enhancements, and real-time summaries.
Meanwhile, Apple’s pace in the RAM department appears more conservative. According to the same report, the iPhone 17 series due later this year will see an upgrade to 12GB RAM across the board, but the base model might still retain just 8GB. TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo adds that the iPhone 18 lineup will standardize at 12GB, putting Apple a step behind Samsung in raw memory by 2026.
As the mobile arms race continues, it’s clear that memory will play a pivotal role in shaping user experiences. And with Samsung going all-in on 16GB RAM, the Galaxy S26 could be the multitasking and AI powerhouse users have been waiting for.