Apple Boosts A18 Chip Orders in Anticipation of High iPhone 16 Demand

[MacRumors]

Apple is said to have upped its order of next-generation chips from TSMC to between 90 million and 100 million units, following heightened demand expectations for its iPhone 16 series.

Last year's initial chip order volume for the iPhone 15 series launch is believed to have been in the region of 80-90 million units, suggesting Apple is anticipating higher demand for its 2024 devices in the region of 10 million units, according to Taiwanese outlet CTEE.

The arrival of Apple Intelligence in iOS 18 is expected to boost initial sales of the devices. One of the reasons is that Apple Intelligence requires at least an iPhone 15 Pro to run, which means owners of last year's iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will miss out on Apple's new AI features unless they upgrade to an iPhone 15 Pro or plump for one of the iPhone 16 models.

Last year, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus were equipped with the A16 Bionic chip – the same chip that was in the iPhone 14 Pro models – whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max featured an A17 Pro chip manufactured using TSMC's second-generation 3nm process, also known as "N3E." N3E is less expensive and has improved yield compared to the previous-generation N3B, according to TSMC.

This year, all four models in the iPhone 16 lineup are expected to use A18-branded chips manufactured using the N3E process. Despite switching to N3E, the A18 chip in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus is likely to adopt the A17 Pro design that was used in the iPhone 15 Pro models. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max will likely use a chip branded as an "A18 Pro," which could feature an upgraded Neural Engine with more cores enabling improved AI/machine learning performance.

The standard iPhone 16 models could also be upgraded with 8GB of RAM, up from 6GB in the iPhone 15 models. That would see all four iPhone 16 models offering 8GB of RAM, which Apple has suggested is a minimum requirement for running large-language models (the algorithms that power AI) locally on device, rather than in the cloud.

Based on previous years, Apple is expected to release the iPhone 16 series in the fall, around mid-September. For more information, be sure to check our dedicated iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro roundups.


Article Link: Apple Boosts A18 Chip Orders in Anticipation of High iPhone 16 Demand

 

[SmugMaverick]

Remember that "high" Vision Pro demand as well 🤣

Nice try with the hype Apple but we're all bored of the lazy designs and extra buttons now.

 

[Cervisia]

If they expect higher demand on AI alone, they're gonna be disappointed.

 

[Account25476]

Spot the difference game

iPhone lineup
iPhone 6s (2015): 2GB
Iphone 7 (2016): 2GB
iPhone 8 (2017): 2GB
iPhone X (2018): 3GB
iPhone 11 (2019): 4GB
iPhone 12 (2020): 4GB
iPhone 13 (2021): 4GB
iPhone 14 (2022): 6GB
iPhone 15 (2023): 6GB
iPhone 16 (2024): 8GB

iPad lineup

iPad 5th gen (2017): 2GB

iPad 6th gen (2018): 2GB
iPad 7th gen (2019): 3GB
iPad 8th gen (2020): 3GB
iPad 9th gen (2021): 3GB
iPad 10th gen (2024): 4GB

MacBook "Pro" lineup
MacBook Pro (2015 - now): 8GB

 

[RedTheReader]

High demand? … what high demand?

Spot the difference from 2015 to now

iPhone lineup
iPhone 6s: 2GB
Iphone 7: 2GB
iPhone 8: 2GB
iPhone X: 3GB
iPhone 11: 4GB
iPhone 12: 4GB
iPhone 13: 4GB
iPhone 14: 6GB
iPhone 15: 6GB
iPhone 16: 8GB

MacBook "Pro" lineup
MacBook Pro (2015 - now): 8GB

The important distinction is that at least you can get more ram in the MacBook Pro’s. If I had the option of paying extra to get a 12 GB memory, iPhone, I definitely would.

 

[SmugMaverick]

Spot the difference from 2015 to now

iPhone lineup
iPhone 6s: 2GB
Iphone 7: 2GB
iPhone 8: 2GB
iPhone X: 3GB
iPhone 11: 4GB
iPhone 12: 4GB
iPhone 13: 4GB
iPhone 14: 6GB
iPhone 15: 6GB
iPhone 16: 8GB

MacBook "Pro" lineup
MacBook Pro (2015 - now): 8GB

When you see it written out, you realise just how disgraceful it really is.

 

[SanderEvers]

Spot the difference game

iPhone lineup
iPhone 6s (2015): 2GB
Iphone 7 (2016): 2GB
iPhone 8 (2017): 2GB
iPhone X (2018): 3GB
iPhone 11 (2019): 4GB
iPhone 12 (2020): 4GB
iPhone 13 (2021): 4GB
iPhone 14 (2022): 6GB
iPhone 15 (2023): 6GB
iPhone 16 (2024): 8GB

MacBook "Pro" lineup
MacBook Pro (2015 - now): 8GB

You can buy MacBook Pro's with 128GB of RAM, if you have too much money.

 

[macfacts]

I'm guessing Siri made this prediction.

 

[SKeijmel]

The iphone 17 series will be a redesign. And finally have a 48mp zoom lens so all 3 sensors on the back will be around 48 mp. So that is going to be the popular one.

Not many people are going to buy this 16 pro/max since the 15 pro/max can already do all the ai stuff

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

Remember that "high" Vision Pro demand as well 🤣

Nice try with the hype Apple but we're all bored of the lazy designs and extra buttons now.

You mean the Vision Pro that more than half of fortune 100 companies use?

You also mean the now 2.2b installed base of Apple devices in use? Those people are bored? So half the civilized world is bored?

 

[SKeijmel]

Ai is going to be the excuse to up the base ram size on the macbooks too

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

If they expect higher demand on AI alone, they're gonna be disappointed.

Please explain further your reasoning. Thank you

 

[wilhoitm]

Remember that "high" Vision Pro demand as well 🤣

Nice try with the hype Apple but we're all bored of the lazy designs and extra buttons now.

Dude where have you been? Have you heard of this thing called AI? Apple Intelligence!

 

[SmugMaverick]

You mean the Vision Pro that more than half of fortune 100 companies use?

You also mean the now 2.2b installed base of Apple devices in use? Those people are bored? So half the civilized world is bored?

Really? they use it do they or did they return it like everyone else after 14 days.

Cope.

And yes, China is bored, Japan is bored, Europe is bored.

 

[winxmac]

A18 and A18 Pro

Most of the features will only be available in the Pro models and in the future, only in the most expensive model...

 

[wikiverse]

You mean the Vision Pro that more than half of fortune 100 companies use?

Sounds like Apple sold 50 Vision Pro units to the IT heads of large companies to 'try it out'.

 

[tridley68]

Can't wait to get my yearly upgrade bring on that beautiful 6.9 screen 👍

 

[jonnysods]

Only way I'll get one of these is if someone in my family breaks theirs - this is the tech foodchain in our home!

 

[Circa1984]

It will be a good model for many who have been holding out, every component has been improved: slightly larger, brighter & more advanced tech display, Sony cameras, the better zoom lens on the Pro, upgraded denser battery tech, better cooling design, new fab, ARMv9, more RAM, more cores, better radio, titanium build, new button? Plus AI!

What I wish would change: get rid of the notch and (somehow) reduce size & reconfigure camera bump.

 

[fl010]

I hope they will lose some sales to the new Pixel 9, but lets see. Competition is always good.
Now with ChatGpt openly integrated in Ios, there really is no longer any privacy benefit regarding the assistants. And the minimal 8GB, even if they improve the A18 pro, is not futureproof.

 

[Getabeard80]

If they expect higher demand on AI alone, they're gonna be disappointed.

You couldn’t be more wrong.

 

[Getabeard80]

Remember that "high" Vision Pro demand as well 🤣

Nice try with the hype Apple but we're all bored of the lazy designs and extra buttons now.

I purchased 3 Vision Pros. One that I use daily and the other two that I keep sealed to flip them for a huge profit 15 years from now or more.

 

[Getabeard80]

Sounds like Apple sold 50 Vision Pro units to the IT heads of large companies to 'try it out'.

I bought 3 of them. 1 to use and 2 to keep sealed.

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

Really? they use it do they or did they return it like everyone else after 14 days.

Cope.

And yes, China is bored, Japan is bored, Europe is bored.

Wow you really know what everyone and not only that but what countries too are doing! Divinity is here folks.

 

[Elusi]

Article (as of right now) states that the current A17 Pro is manufactured on N3E. I don't think that's right. It was the very first commercial 3nm chip so at the time of release it was referred to as being a N3B product by the techosphere in general.

Now there were also rumors prior to release that a different A17 would be made on N3E later on, however I don't recall reading anywhere that such plans have reached fruition.