In what seems like a little bit of deja vu, a brand new report means that not less than certainly one of this yr’s iPhone 17 fashions received’t get any significant chip upgrades. As a substitute of shifting to a brand new A19 chip, the bottom iPhone 17 might find yourself caught with the A18 chip used within the present iPhone 16 fashions.
This new information comes from Jeff Pu of GF Securities, who beforehand predicted your complete lineup would acquire A19 variants. Nevertheless, now Pu is altering course, saying that the lowest-end is not going to solely get an A18 chip however will get the similar A18 chip that’s within the iPhone 16.
If true, that will sign a return to Apple’s 2022–2024 launch technique, throughout which it used prior-year chips within the newest normal iPhones, however it might truly be barely worse. In accordance with Pu, the A18 will nonetheless be manufactured utilizing TSMC’s second-generation 3-nanometer N3E course of fairly than the newer N3P anticipated for use for the A19 household.
Whereas the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 additionally reused older chips, these fashions acquired modest chip upgrades, as every adopted the prior yr’s iPhone Professional chips.
Though the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Professional processors had the identical “A15” moniker, the iPhone 13 Professional model had a five-core GPU, versus 4 cores within the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini. When Apple launched the usual iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus with the A15 chip in 2022, it used the five-core model from the iPhone 13 Professional.
In the meantime, the iPhone 14 Professional moved on to an A16 chip. In 2023, Apple seemingly made it clear that utilizing older chips in lower-end fashions would develop into the norm when the iPhone 15 adopted the A16 chip, whereas the iPhone 15 Professional used the model new — and considerably extra highly effective — A17 Professional.
That created a conundrum for the iPhone 16 lineup. Some speculated that Apple may launch a scaled-down “A17” for the iPhone 16 whereas shifting on to an A18 Professional for the iPhone 16 Professional. Nevertheless, the corporate shocked us when it debuted the A18 for these fashions as an alternative. The A18 was additionally used within the iPhone 16e, offering a constant expertise throughout your complete household.
This seemingly signaled a brand new approach ahead, with Apple releasing two new chips for annually’s iPhone lineup: a typical chip for the bottom fashions and a extra highly effective model of the identical chip for the professional fashions. This led to the logical assumption that this yr would see the arrival of the A19 and A19 Professional, adopted by the A20 and A20 Professional subsequent yr, and so forth.
Pu’s evaluation means that Apple will as an alternative revert to its earlier habits in an much more uncommon approach. Along with utilizing the similar chip from the iPhone 16 on this yr’s iPhone 17, Pu believes that Apple nonetheless plans to introduce an A19, however just for one iPhone mannequin: the so-called “iPhone 17 Air.”
Whereas this might be a method of setting the iPhone 17 Air other than the usual iPhone 17 (past merely its thinner and extra elegant profile), it appears uncommon for Apple to go to the difficulty of making an A19 chip that will solely be utilized in a single mannequin which may not even be a sizzling vendor.
In the meantime, it’s unclear what Apple’s plans could be for the iPhone 17e. If such a tool is launched subsequent yr as a successor to the iPhone 16e, it might additionally presumably characteristic an A18 chip, because it appears unlikely that Apple would improve the iPhone 17e to an A19 whereas the pricier iPhone 17 remains to be utilizing an A18 chip.
On the upside, this might lastly be the yr the usual iPhone 17 will get a 120Hz show. Whereas we’ve heard this tune earlier than, a number of rumors recommend that Apple plans to maneuver to 120Hz throughout the board, though it’s much less clear if this would be the similar variable refresh fee show discovered on the iPhone Professional fashions. The ProMotion shows that Apple has been utilizing for the previous few years can differ their refresh charges from 1Hz to 120Hz, which permits for decrease energy consumption and always-on show capabilities. The iPhone 17 may match competing Android handsets by getting as excessive as 120Hz, however that doesn’t imply will probably be capable of drop beneath 60Hz.
There have additionally been experiences that Apple will improve the RAM on this yr’s iPhones to 12 GB to make extra room for extra refined on-device AI giant language fashions (LLMs) for use by future Apple Intelligence enhancements. There’s sturdy proof that Apple will try this for the iPhone 17 Professional fashions, however the standing of the iPhone 17 and “iPhone 17 Air” have been much less clear. If Pu is appropriate about using an A18 chip within the iPhone 17, it’s very seemingly this may also nonetheless solely have 8 GB of RAM, because the reminiscence is built-in into the Apple silicon. The iPhone 17 Air might go both approach with the non-pro A19 chip.
Whereas Pu’s predictions aren’t out of the query, they nonetheless really feel a bit of out of left subject as it might recommend that Apple plans to combine issues up greater than normal amongst this yr’s iPhones. Like most analysts, Pu’s info comes from the availability chain, and it’s potential sources could be complicated one thing else Apple has in retailer for the A18 chip with its plans for the iPhone 17. Like all such experiences, it’s greatest to take this with a grain of salt, particularly since Pu is a lone voice right here, however Apple can also be breaking new floor with the “iPhone 17 Air” this yr, so will probably be fascinating to see what occurs.
[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.]