Whereas analyst Jeff Pu has had some eager insights into Apple’s plans, he can’t appear to make up his thoughts on which chip Apple will use for the iPhone 17 this yr.
In November, Pu shared a analysis notice that seemingly confirmed what most of us had been anticipating: that Apple would transfer to a brand new era of A19-series chips for its iPhone 17 lineup, simply because it did with the A18 chips for the iPhone 16 household. Particularly, Pu predicted an A19 chip for the iPhone 17 and “iPhone 17 Air,” whereas the iPhone 17 Professional fashions would get a extra highly effective A19 Professional chip.
That lined up with what Apple’s playbook regarded like. Whereas the corporate had used prior-generation iPhone Professional chips for its customary iPhone fashions in 2022–23, these appeared like an aberration, particularly when Apple unveiled the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional fashions with the identical era of A-series chips.
Earlier than 2022, Apple had used nearly an identical chips throughout every year’s iPhone lineup. The iPhone 13 Professional launched a slight change with an A15 chip that featured yet another GPU core than the one used within the iPhone 13, however Apple didn’t make any effort to focus on these variations on the time. It wasn’t till the present iPhone 16 household that it distinguished the higher-end chips by including a “Professional” suffix.
Nevertheless, Pu modified course in June, predicting that the entry-level iPhone 17 wouldn’t solely get final yr’s A18 chip, however that it wouldn’t even get the higher-end model. Not like the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15, every of which used the “Professional” variations of their predecessors’ chips, Pu anticipated the iPhone 17 to make use of the identical A18 chip because the iPhone 16, relatively than the A18 Professional from the iPhone 16 Professional.
To make issues much more twisty and strange, Pu nonetheless believed that Apple deliberate to introduce a brand new A19 chip alongside a extra highly effective A19 Professional, however advised that it will solely be used within the so-called “iPhone 17 Air.”
That half made Pu’s claims considerably doubtful, because it appeared odd that Apple would go to the difficulty of making an A19 chip that might solely be utilized in a single mannequin which may not even be its greatest vendor.
Now, Pu has backtracked to his November prediction, confirming that he as soon as once more expects the iPhone 17 to function an upgraded A19 chip, alongside the “iPhone 17 Air.” The iPhone 17 Professional and iPhone 17 Professional Max will nonetheless get improved A19 Professional chips, however that time has by no means been in dispute.
A Extra Highly effective iPhone 17 Air?
Whereas that feels like a pleasant, neat plan, one other leaker has thrown us a curveball with the declare that the A19 will likely be used solely within the base iPhone 17 mannequin. In a Weibo put up, Fastened Focus Digital claims that the “iPhone 17 Air” will as a substitute use an A19 Professional chip, though it can use a model scaled right down to solely 5 GPU cores, in comparison with six cores on the A19 Professional used within the iPhone 17 Professional fashions.
This sounds uncommon, however the leaker could also be complicated specs with naming conventions. The present A18 used within the iPhone 16 has a five-core GPU (solely the iPhone 16e model has one much less core), so it’s seemingly the bottom A19 can have an analogous configuration. That’s to not say {that a} five-core A19 Professional is out of the query, however it will muddy the waters a bit.
Leaving chip names apart, Fastened Focus Digital claims that the “iPhone 17 Air” can have 12 GB of RAM, matching the iPhone 17 Professional fashions, versus 8 GB on the iPhone 17. That is likely to be the place the concept that this will likely be an A19 Professional chip stems from, but it surely’s additionally value noting that it contradicts each Pu’s newest assertion and a July 2024 report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who additionally predicted that solely an A19 chip could be used within the new slim mannequin.
It’s honest to say the “iPhone 17 Air” is a little bit of a wildcard this yr, but it surely nonetheless appears extra seemingly that Apple will reserve its A19 Professional chips for its iPhone 17 Professional fashions. Apple’s new ultra-thin entry is anticipated to face out primarily for its design, not its efficiency, and there’s no motive to consider Apple feels the necessity to soup it as much as outpace the usual iPhone 17.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]