Reports suggest that the iPhone 16 Pro models may provide on-device AI performance using the A18 Pro chipset.
According to reports, Apple is increasing chip production earlier than its typical schedule this year.
The iPhone 15 series debuted approximately seven months ago, yet the iPhone 16 series is already generating significant anticipation for 2024. The lineup is rumored to consist of four models: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Initial reports indicate that Apple, headquartered in Cupertino, is readying an A18 Pro processor for the forthcoming iPhone range, with a primary focus on enhancing artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. Apple utilized the older A16 chip for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models, while the Pro models featured the all-new A17 Pro chip.
According to insights shared by Jeff Pu from Haitong International Tech Research, as reported by 9to5Mac, details regarding the A18 Pro processor have surfaced in his research note. The analyst suggests that Apple is making adjustments to the A18 Pro chip to enhance on-device artificial intelligence capabilities, with chip production being accelerated compared to previous timelines.
“In light of our assessments from the supply chain, there’s a noticeable surge in demand for Apple’s A18 chip, while the volume of A17 Pro has stabilized since February,” Pu stated in his note. “We observe that Apple’s A18 Pro, particularly the 6-GPU version, is slated to feature a larger die area compared to the A17 Pro, hinting at a potential trend for edge AI computing.” The increased die area implies that the chip will have the capacity to accommodate more transistors and specialized components, laying the groundwork for enhanced on-device AI capabilities in the iPhone 16 Pro lineup.
Increasing the die area in a chip is known to heighten the risks of defects and design flaws, potentially impacting energy efficiency and heat dissipation.
According to reports, Apple is expected to adopt a dual approach to its AI features this year. It may utilize cloud infrastructure in collaboration with Google for certain AI functionalities, while others could be processed entirely on the device.
The iPhone 16 series is slated for release in the latter half of the year, featuring significant changes and enhancements. The standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are projected to incorporate the A18 SoC, while the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max may be equipped with an A18 Pro chip. Recent benchmarks on Geekbench 6 indicate that the A18 Pro achieved scores of 3,500 in the single-core test and 8,200 in the multi-core test.
During its annual developer conference, Apple introduced its inaugural mixed reality headset, dubbed the Apple Vision Pro, alongside new Mac models and forthcoming software updates. We delve into all the significant revelations from the company at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. You can listen to Orbital on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and other podcast platforms.
