Apple Will Reportedly Offer 32GB of Desktop-Class RAM in 2017 MacBook Pro

According to a new report from MacRumors, Apple will reportedly offer a new high-end MacBook Pro model in 2017 with up to 32GB of desktop-class RAM.

In a note to investors released on Monday, KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says he expects Apple’s 2017 laptop line to focus on internal component updates. Most notably, the lineup will adopt Intel’s Kaby Lake chips. Kuo speculates the company will be forced to adopt desktop RAM due to restrictions of current memory system designs.

Apple took some negative comments after they released their latest MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models. The laptops had a hard memory cap of 16GB, which is the bare minimum for imaging and video professionals. Responding to customer criticism, Apple said the move was made in a bid to maximize battery life. Apple’s SVP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller defended the decision to limit the amount of RAM to 16GB on multiple occasions, saying that higher amounts would require a power-hungry memory controller unsuitable for use in a laptop.

Additionally, the report notes that Apple will bump the amount of RAM on the 12-inch MacBook to 16GB. The 12-inch MacBook, which debuted in 2015, maxes out at 8GB of RAM, limiting its utility as a professional machine.

According to Kuo, Apple has resolved supply chain bottlenecks and is on scheduled to return the Mac lineup to growth in 2017. Further, several checks revealed demand for MacBook Pro with Touch Bar is better than expected despite carrying a premium price.