As the hype begins building up for the next lineup of iPhones, reports are coming in about the Apple A18 and A18 Pro chipsets. What most are looking forward to in the next generation of devices is AI. There are already talks about Apple potentially partnering with Google to let Gemini AI power its upcoming phones. This is big news because Google owns Android, the main mobile OS competing with Apple’s iOS. Now, a report from 9To5Mac alleges that the Apple A18 Pro chip will feature on-device AI.
Apple A18 Pro chip larger to accommodate AI
Jeff Pu at Haitong International Tech Research provided an analysis report on Apple’s current chip production demands. Pu has been a reliable source of Apple chip rumors in the past, so this report holds some weight. Here’s what they had to say about the current trends they’ve witnessed.
“According to our supply chain checks, we are seeing growing demand for Apple’s A18, while its A17 Pro volume has stabilized since Feb. We note Apple’s A18 Pro, the 6-GPU version, will feature a larger die area (compared to A17 Pro), which could be a trend for edge AI computing.”
Edge AI computing is gaining traction recently across many devices. It means AI that is processed entirely on the device, without the need for an internet connection. This not only means more reliable service, but also quicker results. Apple transitioned its virtual assistant Siri to function on-device a couple of years ago to resounding success. The A18 Pro having a larger die means more capability, but at the possible loss of battery and cooling efficiency.
Base iPhone 16 might lack these AI capabilities
According to the report, the Apple A18 chip will not feature these edge AI computing abilities. The Apple A18 Pro is most likely going to be present in the iPhones 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max. This means the base iPhone 16 will miss out on all the cool AI features Apple might be cooking up. There are a couple of upsides to this. Firstly, this would mean the base iPhone 16 will be much more affordable. Secondly, the base iPhone 16 will appeal more to users who just desire a plain phone.
These upcoming AI-powered goodies are probably going to be revolutionary. Apple fans cannot wait for Siri to be upgraded past its current form. AI image editing will also completely change the smartphone wars going forward. It’ll no longer be about the best camera, but also about the best AI post-processing. The growing demand the report references possibly hints that Apple is aware of how popular an AI iPhone might be, and is taking steps to address potential supply issues.
The post Apple A18 Pro chip will reportedly feature on-device AI appeared first on Android Headlines.