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The iPhone 16 series is creating quite a buzz, even though the iPhone 15 came out just seven months ago. The new lineup is expected to have four models: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Apple is gearing up to introduce the A18 Pro processor for these new iPhones, focusing particularly on enhancing their artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. The previous iPhone 15 models used the A16 chip, while the Pro models featured the A17 Pro chip.
According to Jeff Pu from Haitong International Tech Research, Apple is making adjustments to the A18 Pro chip to boost its on-device AI capabilities.
They’re also starting chip production earlier than usual. The A18 Pro chip is expected to have a larger die area compared to the A17 Pro, which means it can accommodate more transistors and specialized components. This sets the stage for more advanced on-device AI features in the iPhone 16 Pro models.
However, increasing the die area in a chip might pose some challenges, such as higher risks of defects and design flaws, as well as potential impacts on energy efficiency and heat dissipation.
Read more: Apple to launch new iPad Air, iPad Pro models with OLED displays: Rumor
Apple is rumored to be taking a mixed approach to AI features this year, possibly using both cloud infrastructure, possibly in collaboration with Google, and on-device processing.
The iPhone 16 lineup is anticipated to launch in the second half of the year with significant upgrades.
The standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to feature the A18 chip, while the Pro models might come with the A18 Pro chip. Geekbench 6 has already shown promising performance for the A18 Pro chip.
In other news, Apple has revealed its plan for mixed reality headsets and other products at its developer conference.