Well, better early than late? Better early than never?
Apple has recently unveiled the iPhone 15 series, which comprises four distinct models. The base models, iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, are equipped with the A16 Bionic chipset, a carryover from the previous year. On the other hand, the Pro models boast the A17 Pro chipset.
As whispers about the iPhone 16 series begin to circulate, it’s worth noting that Apple seems to be altering its approach. Popular Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu has indicated that old chipsets won’t be used for the baseline models anymore.
Turning our attention to the iPhone 16 series, the latest information indicates that all models within this series will be outfitted with the cutting-edge A18 chipset. Consequently, Apple is veering away from its practice of using the previous year’s chipset in the base models.
In his recent research note with Haitong International Securities, Jeff Pu outlined that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will introduce the A18 Bionic processor, while the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature the A18 Pro System on a Chip (SoC). It’s important to note that Apple abandoned the Bionic nomenclature with the A17 Pro this year, and since the iPhone 16 series is still a year away, these details may evolve.
Furthermore, beyond just the naming conventions, Pu’s predictions extend to the potential enhancements expected from next year’s processor. The A18 chipset is anticipated to be manufactured using TSMC’s second-generation 3nm chipset process, known as N3E. This new processor is not only projected to be cost-effective but also more efficient compared to the first-generation N3B 3nm process, which underlies the A17 Pro chipset powering the iPhone 15 Pro models.
Jeff Pu has earned a reputation for his accuracy with Apple-related leaks, as he was the first to hint at the higher cost of the iPhone 15 Pro Max compared to its predecessor and the inclusion of 8GB RAM in the Pro versions.
