The smartphone industry has been buzzing about AI for years, with promises of on-device video generation and other futuristic capabilities. However, the conversation rarely moved beyond flashy presentations and chatbot demos, often overlooking the hardware essentials driving these advancements. Recent revelations about RAM requirements for AI models like Google’s Gemini Nano and Apple Intelligence have brought the importance of memory to the forefront. But RAM capacity is only part of the equation. This article explores how memory and storage innovations, particularly those from Micron, are crucial for unlocking the true potential of AI on smartphones.
Micron's advanced memory solutions are key to enhanced AI capabilities in smartphones.
Micron, a leader in memory and storage solutions, has introduced advancements that will significantly impact the future of AI-powered smartphones. Their latest offerings include the G9 NAND mobile UFS 4.1 storage and 1γ (1-gamma) LPDDR5X RAM modules, designed specifically for flagship devices. These innovations go beyond simply increasing capacity, offering optimized performance and efficiency for demanding AI workloads.
Revolutionizing Storage for Mobile AI
Micron’s G9 NAND UFS 4.1 storage solution focuses on minimizing power consumption, reducing latency, and maximizing bandwidth. With sequential read and write speeds reaching 4100 MBps, a 15% improvement over UFS 4.0, and reduced latency, it provides a substantial performance boost. Furthermore, with capacities up to 2TB and a smaller footprint, it’s ideal for slim and foldable smartphones.
Comparison of Micron's memory performance across generations.
Micron’s 1γ LPDDR5X RAM achieves speeds of 9200 MT/s, packs 30% more transistors in a smaller size, and consumes 20% less power. This builds upon the 1β RAM already featured in the Samsung Galaxy S25 series.
Micron’s Storage Enhancements: Fueling AI Performance
Micron has implemented four key enhancements to its latest storage solutions to accelerate AI operations: Zoned UFS, Data Defragmentation, Pinned WriteBooster, and Intelligent Latency Tracker.
Pinned WriteBooster strategically places frequently accessed data, such as AI model instructions, in a dedicated WriteBooster buffer (similar to a cache) for rapid access. This is essential for on-device AI models like Apple Intelligence, which require substantial storage space. This feature accelerates data exchange by 30%, ensuring smooth AI task execution without impacting other phone functions.
Micron's storage zoning system.
Data Defragmentation organizes stored data, improving read speeds by an impressive 60%. This significantly enhances overall system responsiveness, including AI workflows, by streamlining data access.
Micron's advancements in data management.
Intelligent Latency Tracker monitors and identifies lag-inducing factors, facilitating performance optimization and ensuring smooth operation for both standard tasks and AI processing.
Zoned UFS groups data with similar I/O requirements, further optimizing data retrieval speed and efficiency for various tasks, including AI functions.
RAM: More Than Just Capacity
While 8GB of RAM is the current baseline for Apple Intelligence, many Android devices are adopting 12GB as a standard for AI. This is driven by the data-intensive and power-hungry nature of AI experiences. Micron’s 1γ LPDDR5X RAM addresses this by reducing operational voltage and delivering speeds up to 9.6 gigabits per second, ensuring optimal AI performance.
Advancements in Micron's data management solutions.
Advancements in Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography have contributed to both increased speed and a 20% boost in energy efficiency.
Paving the Way for Private AI
These advancements also benefit offline AI processing, a growing trend prioritizing user privacy by performing AI tasks locally on the device, without sending data to the cloud. Micron’s solutions are well-suited for this approach, accelerating both local and cloud-based AI functions.
Gemini processing a PDF in the Files by Google app.
The Future of AI-Powered Smartphones
Micron’s next-generation RAM and storage modules are expected to be adopted by major smartphone manufacturers, with flagship models featuring these technologies anticipated in late 2025 or early 2026. These advancements promise not only enhanced AI capabilities but also improved overall smartphone performance, ushering in a new era of mobile computing.
