Apple Boosts A18 Chip Orders Ahead of Anticipated High Demand for iPhone 16

According to a new report by Bloomberg, Apple has ramped up its next-generation chip orders from TSMC significantly ahead of the forthcoming launch of the iPhone 16 series. Apple To…

By Ishika Setia

July 3, 2024

3 min read

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According to a new report by Bloomberg, Apple has ramped up its next-generation chip orders from TSMC significantly ahead of the forthcoming launch of the iPhone 16 series.

Apple To Boost A18 Chip Orders

Conversely, Apple predicted 10M more devices and expected also to be on a fasting track with the iPhone series coming in at around 80-90 million initial chip orders this week from its lineup for them into plug deliveries by CTEE (Taiwanese outlet).

After all, we expect them to be the core of Apple Intelligence when iOS 18 arrives. The Apple Intelligence allegedly requires an iPhone 15 Pro at a minimum to run so last year’s new buyers of the iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus will also be left out on Apple’s latest AI capabilities unless they trade up for feature change, grow tempted by second-generation alternatives.

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 Plus use the A16 Bionic chip in this model year, just like they did with their Pro models, while feature set against for with a new A17 Pro chip manufactured on TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process called “N3E.” TSMC says N3E provides a cost advantage and better outputs than the existing N3B generation.

N3E-based A18 chips are planned for all iPhone 16 models in 2024. While the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to keep A17 Pro, not moving up with N3E. Despite the shift to N3E, the A18 chip in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus is likely to maintain the A17 Pro architecture seen in the iPhone 15 Pro models. On the other hand, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are expected to feature an “A18 Pro” chip with potentially enhanced Neural Engine capabilities, aimed at improving AI and machine learning performance.

Rumors suggest that the standard iPhone 16 models could also receive a RAM upgrade to 8GB, up from 6GB in the iPhone 15 models. This change would ensure all four iPhone 16 models meet Apple’s recommended minimum RAM requirement for running large-language models locally on the device, rather than relying on cloud processing.

As in previous years, Apple is likely to unveil the iPhone 16 series around mid-September, coinciding with its traditional fall release schedule. For further details, stay tuned to our dedicated coverage of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro updates.

FAQs

What is Apple Intelligence in iOS 18, and how does it impact iPhone 16 models?

Apple Intelligence in iOS 18 introduces advanced AI features that require at least an iPhone 15 Pro or higher to run. Owners of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus from last year will need to upgrade to access these new capabilities.

Will all iPhone 16 models feature the A18 chip?

Yes, it is expected that all models in the iPhone 16 lineup will utilize the A18 chip, although there may be variations in the exact specifications between the standard iPhone 16 and the Pro models.