Apple’s next-generation A18 Professional chip for iPhone 16 Professional fashions will function a bigger die dimension for boosted synthetic intelligence efficiency, in response to Jeff Pu, an funding analyst who covers corporations inside Apple’s provide chain.
In a analysis be aware with Hong Kong-based funding agency Haitong Worldwide Securities this week, Pu added that the A18 Professional chip shall be geared up with a 6-core GPU, which might be equal to the A17 Professional chip in iPhone 15 Professional fashions.
Generative AI
iOS 18 is rumored to incorporate new generative AI options for a spread of iPhone options and apps, together with Siri, Highlight, Apple Music, Well being, Messages, Numbers, Pages, Keynote, Shortcuts, and extra. Apple has reportedly thought of partnering with corporations corresponding to Google, OpenAI, and Baidu for no less than a few of these options.
iPhone 16 Professional fashions are rumored to function an upgraded Neural Engine with “considerably” extra cores, which may end in a few of iOS 18’s generative AI options being unique to these fashions. Pu beforehand stated the bigger die dimension could be associated to the Neural Engine, which may energy on-device generative AI options.
Apple has used a 16-core Neural Engine because the iPhone 12 sequence. Nonetheless, it has nonetheless improved the Neural Engine’s efficiency through the years, even when core counts haven’t modified. For instance, Apple says the A17 Professional chip has as much as a 2x sooner Neural Engine in comparison with the one within the iPhone 14 Professional’s A16 Bionic chip.
Apple has promised to make generative AI bulletins later this yr. iOS 18 shall be previewed at Apple’s builders convention WWDC in June, so we’re only a few months away from studying in regards to the firm’s plans.
6-Core GPU
With the A17 Professional chip, iPhone 15 Professional fashions have considerably improved graphics capabilities in comparison with earlier fashions. Apple stated the brand new 6-core GPU is as much as 20% sooner and likewise extra energy environment friendly than the 5-core GPU within the A16 Bionic chip. iPhone 15 Professional fashions additionally assist hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading for improved graphics rendering, which ends up in extra life like graphics in video games.
Pu believes Apple will stick to a 6-core GPU for the A18 Professional chip, so graphics enhancements could also be extra restricted for iPhone 16 Professional fashions this yr.
Wrap Up
Apple is predicted to announce the iPhone 16 sequence in September. For extra particulars, learn our iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional roundups.