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Will depend on how fast the NAND read write speeds are
Not really. TB4 via USB-C can be enabled for external read/write speeds and back to USB-C 3.2 (10Mbps) for local access using a great controller.

Honestly I think battery capacity will be a bigger show stopper than NAND speeds.

Apple’s documentation for the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max states 4.5W outgoing power. Until we get 5000mAh or 6000mAh batteries then it’s not likely.
 
Well, it was obvious since they started adding the Pro Monicker…
What’s next? 18,18+ = Base A20, 18 Pro = A20 Pro, 18 Pro Max = A20 Max, and 18 Ultra = A20 Ultra. FOLLOW THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MAC!!!
 
Obvious news is obvious. The Pro models now having a Pro chip means they will no longer carry over that chip to the next year’s standard models
 
So iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will not be missed, specifically A17 Pro?
 
My guess is that they will reduce the GPU cores and keep the CPU cores the same. I don’t see how they could go to an 8 core design when the current 6 core design is so power-hungry. We could be looking at a slower performance CPU clock and 5 GPU cores instead of 6 for A18, and A18 Pro has the same CPU/GPU clock numbers.
 
Glass is an excellent thermal insulator. I hope they return to aluminium backs, and then connect the heat generating elements to the entire backside for better thermal dissipation. Less fragile than glass too, a lot of their customers protect the phone by putting it in some kind of case making thermal dissipation even more of an issue.
But then how to handle wireless charging? Some sort of cutout to support it? Or design a system that somehow bypass metal? It’s going to be tough. Dissipating heat from the edge would make holding less comfortable.
A lot of people in this comments section are saying this is obvious, despite it meaning that Apple would be jumping from the A16 Bionic to the A18 chip for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus next year. That would be a noteworthy, unique decision. I knew the comments would play out this way, but I appreciate the few people in here that actually understand the nuance here instead of just posting something like "captain obvious."
But at the same time, nothing stops Apple from rebranding last years chip without significant changes. Unless Apple can convince us otherwise, people are not going to immediately assume A18 means something brand new just by seeing the number alone.
 
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N3E, N3E, N3E

People can whip up whatever hot takes they want about A17, but this decision is purely because N3B is a dead end and N3E will be ramping up production for the entire industry in this timeframe.

It looks like the A17 was always going to be a one-off once TSMC realized N3B was never going to have legs from a production standpoint.
 
From what I read, the thermal issues are due to the phone's design, not the A17 chip itself, so...
I am actually thinking about returning my 15 Pro and waiting. I came from a 12 Pro and the only thing I am feeling with this phone is it getting super hot. The camera is kind of the only thing that would make me keep this. I may just splurge for a new battery for my 12 and wait until 16...🤔
 


All four iPhone 16 models will be equipped with A18-branded chips, according to Jeff Pu, an analyst who covers companies within Apple's supply chain.

iPhone-16-Side-Feature.jpg

In a research note with investment firm Haitong International Securities this week, obtained by MacRumors, Pu said "we view A17 Pro as a transition design and now expect all the iPhone 16 models to feature A18, on TSMC's N3E."

In response to our email, Pu clarified his expectations, as outlined below:
  • iPhone 16: A18 chip (N3E)
  • iPhone 16 Plus: A18 chip (N3E)
  • iPhone 16 Pro: A18 Pro chip (N3E)
  • iPhone 16 Pro Max: A18 Pro chip (N3E)
Given the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are equipped with the A16 Bionic chip, a jump to the A18 chip for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus would be notable.

N3E refers to TSMC's second-generation 3nm chip fabrication process, which is less expensive and has improved yield compared to TSMC's first-generation 3nm process, N3B, which is used for the A17 Pro chip in the iPhone 15 Pro models.

Given that the iPhone 16 lineup is around a year away from launching, Pu is likely making an educated guess here with the marketing names, so it remains to be seen if Apple actually moves forward with A18 and A18 Pro branding. It is still possible that Apple could brand its iPhone 16 chips as the A17 and A18 Pro, mirroring recent years.

Pu was the first source to report that Apple had abandoned its plans for solid-state buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro models. He also accurately revealed that the iPhone 15 Pro models would be equipped with an increased 8GB of RAM, and that the iPhone 15 Pro Max would have a higher starting price than the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Article Link: iPhone 16 Lineup Will Feature A18 and A18 Pro Chips, Analyst Says
We're doing this already?
 
This would be the most logical move, and we already reached to that conclusion days ago on this forum. Actually, @sw1tcher was the first to bring up the idea, I think it was the same keynote day.
 
But then how to handle wireless charging? Some sort of cutout to support it? Or design a system that somehow bypass metal? It’s going to be tough. Dissipating heat from the edge would make holding less comfortable.
...
I really wish Apple could come up with some premium looking plastic for the back, maybe some sort of matt brushed finish that looks very like the current glass. It wouldn't create any issues with wireless charging and would also be a lot lighter than glass and quite possibly thinner (leaving more space inside for a bigger battery) and more durable.

Aesthetics are hugely personal but speaking entirely personally I wouldn't be happy if the glass back was replaced by some really glossy cheap-looking obviously plastic back but I would be prepared to have a back that didn't look quite as upmarket as the current glass back in return for the benefits mentioned above. I'm looking at the recharging case for my Sony XM5 earbuds for instance, a matt black plastic (I assume), and for my personal tastes that would look just fine on the back of my phone.
 
Doubt so. The A17 will appear in the next iPad mini and future base iPad.

A18 will be a separate design, otherwise the A17 Pro would have just been called A17, with the Pro suffix introduced to the A18 next year.
Agree with what you state here. I’ve been wondering additionally if we might see the A18 pro eventually make its way into some of the lower end iPads. I wonder if they might want more than just the iPhone Pro quantities to justify another silicon design. There’s a lot of reuse among the various A and M-series processors, but there’s still a lot of work in design, layout, testing, etc. Adding the commodity iPad would make that device more competitive among its rivals and offer some additional quantity for the A18 Pro (and successors). I wonder if we might see

latest iPhone — A-series
latest iPhone Pro — A-series Pro
latest iPad — A-series Pro
latest iPad Mini — A-series Pro
latest iPad Air — A-series Pro or M-series
latest iPad Pro — M-series

I have no outside source — just imagining how they might place the various processors and justify their existence. The A-series Pro added this year caught me by surprise. Using the previous model processor in the non-pro iPhones seemed to be a reasonable way to distinguish them and allow them to ramp-up/handle any problems with new silicon. This seems to be a larger shift than just iPhone vs. iPhone Pro to me.
 
This rumor does make sense. Instead of creating a non-pro version of the A17 Pro chip, Apple makes two types of A18 chips.

That’s reminiscent of the 13 series. The A15 for the 13 and the more powerful A15 (Pro) for the 13 Pro.
 
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Agree with what you state here. I’ve been wondering additionally if we might see the A18 pro eventually make its way into some of the lower end iPads. I wonder if they might want more than just the iPhone Pro quantities to justify another silicon design. There’s a lot of reuse among the various A and M-series processors, but there’s still a lot of work in design, layout, testing, etc. Adding the commodity iPad would make that device more competitive among its rivals and offer some additional quantity for the A18 Pro (and successors). I wonder if we might see

latest iPhone — A-series
latest iPhone Pro — A-series Pro
latest iPad — A-series Pro
latest iPad Mini — A-series Pro
latest iPad Air — A-series Pro or M-series
latest iPad Pro — M-series

I have no outside source — just imagining how they might place the various processors and justify their existence. The A-series Pro added this year caught me by surprise. Using the previous model processor in the non-pro iPhones seemed to be a reasonable way to distinguish them and allow them to ramp-up/handle any problems with new silicon. This seems to be a larger shift than just iPhone vs. iPhone Pro to me.
Sounds about right although the regular iPad would probably get an 'A Series' not the Pro version.
 


All four iPhone 16 models will be equipped with A18-branded chips, according to Jeff Pu, an analyst who covers companies within Apple's supply chain.

iPhone-16-Side-Feature.jpg

In a research note with investment firm Haitong International Securities this week, obtained by MacRumors, Pu said "we view A17 Pro as a transition design and now expect all the iPhone 16 models to feature A18, on TSMC's N3E."

In response to our email, Pu clarified his expectations, as outlined below:
  • iPhone 16: A18 chip (N3E)
  • iPhone 16 Plus: A18 chip (N3E)
  • iPhone 16 Pro: A18 Pro chip (N3E)
  • iPhone 16 Pro Max: A18 Pro chip (N3E)
Given the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are equipped with the A16 Bionic chip, a jump to the A18 chip for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus would be notable.

N3E refers to TSMC's second-generation 3nm chip fabrication process, which is less expensive and has improved yield compared to TSMC's first-generation 3nm process, N3B, which is used for the A17 Pro chip in the iPhone 15 Pro models.

Given that the iPhone 16 lineup is around a year away from launching, Pu is likely making an educated guess here with the marketing names, so it remains to be seen if Apple actually moves forward with A18 and A18 Pro branding. It is still possible that Apple could brand its iPhone 16 chips as the A17 and A18 Pro, mirroring recent years.

Pu was the first source to report that Apple had abandoned its plans for solid-state buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro models. He also accurately revealed that the iPhone 15 Pro models would be equipped with an increased 8GB of RAM, and that the iPhone 15 Pro Max would have a higher starting price than the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Article Link: iPhone 16 Lineup Will Feature A18 and A18 Pro Chips, Analyst Says
Where is that wallpaper from?
 
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