Apple introduced two new chipsets, A18 and A18 Pro, powering the iPhone 16 series. The A18 Pro, used in Pro models, features a 15% faster CPU, 20% faster GPU, and improved memory bandwidth. The A18, used in non-Pro models, is 30% faster than the A16 Bionic and uses 30% less power.
Apple’s latest chipsets take a major leap forward as the company introduces not one, but two new flagship processors: the A18 and A18 Pro.
The A18 Pro brings significant improvements to the game, including a 6-core CPU with two fast main cores and four power-efficient cores. This beast of a processor outperforms its predecessor, the A17 Pro, with a 15% faster CPU while using 20% less power. As for the GPU, Apple has implemented a desktop-class architecture, allowing for enhanced graphics capabilities and ray tracing that’s twice as fast as the A17 Pro.
But that’s not all – the A18 Pro also boasts improved memory bandwidth, a larger cache size, and support for advanced media features like a ProMotion display, Always-on display, faster USB 3 speeds, and ProRes video recording, all of which are reserved for the Pro models alone.
Furthermore, the phone’s camera performance has taken a significant leap forward due to the new image processing unit, which improves low-light performance and data processing for video encoding. Interestingly, this unit is reportedly twice as fast as the A17 Pro.
A18 Pro’s AI prowess has also received a bump, with a new Neuro Processing Unit (NPU) that boasts 16 cores, capable of conducting 35 trillion operations per second, and 17% more memory bandwidth to boot. This results in a processor that’s roughly 2x faster and more efficient than its predecessor.
Moving on to the A18, the new vanilla chip also gets upgraded with the same NPU treatment as the A18 Pro, offering a boost in AI capabilities. Specifically, it features a 6-core CPU with identical architecture, which is clocked at 30% faster than the A16 Bionic found in earlier iPhone models, while maintaining the same power consumption figures.
One notable difference, however, is the CPU and GPU setup. Instead of the 6-core GPU, the A18 has a 5-core setup, which still impresses with a 40% increase in graphics processing speed compared to the A16 Bionic, consuming 35% less energy in the process.
Before we get more detailed figures on clock speeds, memory, and other specs from Apple, we’ll continue to keep an eye out for any further updates in the near future. For now, it’s undeniably clear that this new duo of chipsets marks a significant step in the evolution of Apple’s mobile hardware.
