# Apple’s A18 and A18 Pro Chips: A Major Advancement in iPhone Performance
In recent years, Apple has focused its most impactful silicon advancements on its iPhone Pro models, leaving the standard iPhones equipped with chips from the previous year. However, for 2024, Apple has shifted its strategy by launching new A18-series chips for both Pro and non-Pro iPhones. As stated by Apple, these chips are “engineered for Apple Intelligence from the ground up,” signaling a significant advancement in performance and features throughout the iPhone range.
## The A18 Chip: Driving the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus
The new **Apple A18** chip is set to power the **iPhone 16** and **iPhone 16 Plus**, taking the place of the A16 Bionic chip used in the iPhone 15. This upgrade of two chip generations within a single year promises remarkable performance enhancements for the non-Pro iPhone models.
### Noteworthy Specifications of the A18 Chip:
– **6-Core CPU**: The A18 maintains the well-known six-core CPU setup, featuring **two high-performance cores** and **four high-efficiency cores**. Apple asserts that the CPU is **30% faster** than the A16 chip in the iPhone 15, delivering a considerable performance increase.
– **5-Core GPU**: The A18 is equipped with a **5-core GPU** that is **40% faster** than the GPU in the iPhone 15. Significantly, this GPU supports **hardware-accelerated ray tracing**, a capability first seen in the A17 Pro chip. This upgrade will greatly enhance graphic performance, particularly in gaming and augmented reality scenarios.
– **16-Core Neural Engine**: The A18 features a **16-core neural engine** aimed at accelerating AI and machine learning tasks, referred to by Apple as “Apple Intelligence.” This neural engine will boost the iPhone’s proficiency in performing complex tasks such as image recognition and natural language processing, along with other AI-enhanced functionalities.
– **Memory Bandwidth**: The A18 offers **17% greater memory bandwidth** in comparison to the A16, improving overall system performance, especially during multitasking and in applications that require significant memory resources.
– **Manufacturing Process**: The A18 is produced utilizing a **second-generation 3 nm manufacturing process**, likely from Apple’s long-time manufacturing partner, **TSMC**. This cutting-edge process delivers enhanced performance and power efficiency, resulting in extended battery life and improved thermal management.
Although Apple hasn’t revealed the exact RAM specifications for the A18, it is anticipated to come with at least **8GB of RAM**, an upgrade over the 6GB in the A16-powered iPhone 15.
## The A18 Pro Chip: Enhancing the iPhone 16 Pro
The **iPhone 16 Pro** and **iPhone 16 Pro Max** are driven by the **A18 Pro** chip, which offers subtle yet significant improvements over the standard A18 chip. While the A18 Pro shares numerous features with the A18, it includes various upgrades tailored for professional users, especially those engaged in gaming, photography, and video production.
### Key Upgrades in the A18 Pro:
– **6-Core CPU with Enhanced Caches**: Similar to the A18, the A18 Pro is fitted with a **6-core CPU** comprising two high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores. Nevertheless, Apple has upgraded the A18 Pro with **larger caches** and **next-generation machine learning (ML) accelerators**, yielding a **15% performance improvement** compared to the A17 Pro chip in the iPhone 15 Pro.
– **6-Core GPU**: The A18 Pro sports a **6-core GPU**, offering one additional core than the A18. This GPU is **20% faster** than the A17 Pro’s GPU, making it perfectly suited for graphics-heavy tasks like gaming and 3D rendering. Furthermore, Apple claims that **hardware-accelerated ray tracing** in the A18 Pro is up to **twice as fast** as in the A17 Pro, providing a remarkable enhancement in visual quality for games and augmented reality applications.
– **16-Core Neural Engine**: Like the A18, the A18 Pro also incorporates a **16-core neural engine** that accelerates AI and machine learning processes. The Pro version benefits from the identical **17% boost in memory bandwidth**, guaranteeing seamless performance even in resource-heavy applications.
### Pro-Level I/O and Media Enhancements:
A primary distinction between the A18 and A18 Pro lies in the **I/O and media capabilities** tailored for professional users:
– **ProRes Video Encoding**: The A18 Pro includes support for **ProRes video encoding**, a feature crafted for high-definition video recording and editing. This is especially advantageous for content creators and filmmakers who depend on their iPhones for professional-grade video output.
