Apple may have a tough choice to make regarding storage for the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro. Either use higher density, less expensive flash memory or use lower density memory that is more expensive but faster and more reliable.

DigiTimes reports that Apple is considering this change for the 1TB version of its next-generation smartphones.

The company is reportedly speculating about the option of replacing more expensive triple-level-cell (TLC) NAND with higher-density quad-level-cell (QLC) NAND flash memory, which could allow Apple to push storage up to 2 TB storage.

However, QLC NAND is reportedly less durable and reliable than more expensive options. QLC NAND also offers slower speeds in both read and write in exchange for greater storage capacity. This means that the iPhone 16 Pro's performance may suffer.

If the iPhone 16 Pro's RAM remains at 8 GB, the reduced speed may be a problem. Apple's reluctance to increase RAM in its phones is believed to be due to rising semiconductor prices, the opposite of what other smartphone makers are doing. For example, Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra can have up to 12 GB of RAM, and Asus' ROG Phone 8 Pro has up to 24 GB of RAM. [For example, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has up to 12GB of RAM, while the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro has up to 24GB of RAM. In particular, it will feature the new, faster A18 Pro chip.

The iPhone 16 Pro series may not have major hardware differences, but Apple will reportedly focus more on AI in this generation. According to rumors, Apple will not only revamp Siri, but also provide AI capabilities to several of its own apps.

At this time, see our iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 hubs for the latest rumors and leaks.