Apple’s next-generation A18 Pro chip for iPhone 16 Pro models will feature a larger die size to boost AI performance, according to Jeff Pupp, an investment analyst who tracks companies in Apple’s supply chain. cover
In a research note with Hong Kong investment firm Haitong International Securities this week, Pu added that the A18 Pro chip will be equipped with a 6-core GPU, similar to the A17 Pro chip in the iPhone 15 Pro models.
Generative AI
iOS 18 is rumored to add new creative AI features to various iPhone features and apps, including Siri, Spotlight, Apple Music, Health, Messages, Numbers, Pages, Keynote, Shortcuts and more. Apple has reportedly considered partnering with companies like Google, OpenAI and Baidu for some of these features.
iPhone 16 Pro models are rumored to feature an upgraded Neural Engine with “significantly” more cores, which could result in some of iOS 18’s generative AI features being exclusive to those models. Pu previously said that the larger die size would be related to the neural engine, which could power the AI features generated on the device.
Apple has used a 16-core neural engine since the iPhone 12 series. However, it has still improved neural engine performance over the years, even when the underlying computations have not changed. For example, Apple says the A17 Pro chip has a neural engine up to 2x faster than the iPhone 14 Pro’s A16 Bionic chip.
Apple has promised creative AI announcements later this year. iOS 18 will be previewed at Apple’s developers conference WWDC in June, so we’re only a few months away from learning about the company’s plans.
6 core GPU
With the A17 Pro chip, the iPhone 15 Pro models have significantly improved graphics capabilities over previous models. Apple said the new 6-core GPU is up to 20 percent faster and more powerful than the 5-core GPU in the A16 Bionic chip. iPhone 15 Pro models also support hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading for better graphics rendering, resulting in more realistic graphics in games.
Pu believes that Apple will stick with a 6-core GPU for the A18 Pro chip, so graphics improvements may be more limited for iPhone 16 Pro models this year.
wrap up
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 16 series in September. For more details, read our iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro roundup.