Latest iPhone Chips to Remain Exclusive to Pro Models for iPhone 15 and Beyond

[MacRumors]

Apple is expected to make its latest A16 processor exclusive to the Pro models in the iPhone 14 lineup, and that diversification strategy is set to become an annual trend in future iPhone series, according to a new report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Earlier this year, Kuo said only the iPhone 14 Pro models will feature an A16 chip, with the standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max models to remain equipped with an A15 chip.

The prediction was intriguing for two reasons. First, Apple has always used the same chip across iPhone models in the same series. Second, the last time Apple re-used a previous-generation processor in a new iPhone was the original iPhone and the iPhone 3G, both of which used identical 412MHz ARM 11 chips.

Despite the recent lack of precedent, well-connected Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman later agreed with Kuo's expectation, suggesting that "beyond trying to make the Pro stand out," ongoing chip shortages may have contributed to Apple's decision to limit its upcoming chip to the iPhone 14 Pro models.

However, Kuo now claims chip shortages are less of a factor guiding Apple's thinking, and that the plan to make newer, faster chips exclusive to Pro iPhone models is part of a longer-term diversification strategy that will apply to next year's iPhone 15 series and future iPhones beyond 2023.

Writing in his Medium blog, Kuo again claims that the latest A16 chip will be exclusive to iPhone 14 Pro models, "significantly boosting the shipment proportion of new iPhone high-end models in 2H22 to 55-60% (vs. 40–50% in the past)," with high-end component suppliers of the rear camera also standing to benefit. In line with this strategy:

The latest processor chip will be exclusive to iPhone high-end models in the future, so a high shipment proportion of iPhone high-end models will be the norm, favoring high-end camera component suppliers.

As explained, this would differ from Apple's longstanding strategy of equipping all flagship iPhones with the same chip. For example, the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max are all equipped with the same A15 chip. But it would provide Apple with another key unique selling point for its higher-end iPhone models and could drive sales by as much as 20%, according to Kuo.

Concept render by Ian Zelbo​

As for next year's iPhone 15 series, the strategy also adds some more clarity to how the various models will differentiate. Apple is expected to continue to offer four models – the 6.1-inch iPhone 15, the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro, the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Max, and the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max – while the pill-and-hole cutout for the front-facing cameras, expected to debut only in iPhone 14 Pro models this year, will expand to the entire iPhone 15 lineup.

In addition, the iPhone 15 Pro models would exclusively feature an "A17" chip, possibly built on TSMC's next-generation 3-nanometer node. This 3nm chip technology is expected to increase processing performance by 10 to 15 percent, while also reducing power consumption by up to 30 percent. Standard iPhone 15 models therefore will presumably retain the A16 chip that is expected to feature exclusively in this year's iPhone 14 Pro models.

If Kuo's analysis is correct, expect Apple's nascent chip strategy to be mirrored in many more annual iPhone cycles to come.

Article Link: Latest iPhone Chips to Remain Exclusive to Pro Models for iPhone 15 and Beyond

 

[ct2k7]

Sad to see, but it makes sense if Apple's differentiation strategy.

Though YoY changes in the chip don't meant much for most consumers, this makes sense.

Trickle down is the latest strategy.

 

[2540497]

I think Apple are more focused on boosting their profit margins than shifting customers to the Pro, and this does that.

 

[Marswarrior462]

Looks like the standard iPhone 14 and 14 Max models will be the worst iPhones ever and subsequent lower end iPhones are going to be just as bad. Now I’m definitely never buying a lower end iPhone again

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Apple needs to start thinking of ways to sell top tier models outside of new chips and cameras every year then. With trade-in values decreasing, MSRP increasing and now this…consumers might start realizing every phone in Apple’s lineup will easily last yrs.

 

[kyjaotkb]

As long as they make a Pro with aluminium sides…

 

[wanha]

This is a logical step for Apple to take to further differentiate their flagship phones from the rest.

As great as it was as an SE owner, it never made much sense for the SE models to have the same chip as that year's Pro models.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Looks like the standard iPhone 14 and 14 Max models will be the worst iPhones ever and subsequent lower end iPhones are going to be just as bad. Now I’m definitely never buying a lower end iPhone again

Do you mean worst update from the previous model?

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

This is a logical step for Apple to take to further differentiate their flagship phones from the rest.

As great as it was as an SE owner, it never made much sense for the SE models to have the same chip as that year's Pro models.

How else would you create demand for an SE model then? It literally doesn’t get anything else but a chip update.

 

[NARadyk]

Now I’m definitely never buying a lower end iPhone again

I mean… that’s exactly what they want.

 

[wanha]

Apple needs to start thinking of ways to sell top tier models outside of new chips and cameras every year then. With trade-in values decreasing, MSRP increasing and now this…consumers might start realizing every phone in Apple’s lineup will easily last yrs.

May I inquire what your suggestion for this would be?

Reason I ask it is because ALL smartphone manufacturers have this same exact problem, so it doesn't appear as if it's just a result of complacency on Apple's part.

Whether we like to admit it or not, smartphones have largely settled on a dominant design (thin slab of glass with a camera on the back) which means there is a lot less room to innovate (and hence differentiate) the product from others.

Until new technologies emerge, it seems likely that we're stuck in the era of incremental change where differentiation will be increasingly difficult and economies of scale all the more important.

 

[teh_hunterer]

Looks like the standard iPhone 14 and 14 Max models will be the worst iPhones ever and subsequent lower end iPhones are going to be just as bad. Now I’m definitely never buying a lower end iPhone again

The A15 is currently years ahead of any other phone chip in the market, and in a few months when the iPhone 14 is released with the A15 in it, it still will be.

 

[Marswarrior462]

Besides, I’m happy with my 13 Pro Max. I don’t plan on upgrading this year

 

[Michael Scrip]

I'm interested to see how they price these upcoming iPhone 14 models.

In previous years... all the current iPhones had the same chip. And the product line was separated between pro and non-pro models.

But if the non-pro iPhone 14 has last year's A15 chip... will it start at the same price as the non-pro iPhone 13 price?

🤨

 

[ct2k7]

I'm interested to see how they price these iPhone 14 models.

In previous years... all the current iPhones had the same chips. And the product line was separated between pro and non-pro models.

But if the non-pro iPhone 14 has last year's A15 chip... will it start at the same price as the non-pro iPhone 13 price?

🤨

I suspect the pricing will be similar today, with a small bump due to inflation.

 

[bluecoast]

I don’t see a problem with this - it mirrors the Mac M strategy.

For the most part, for what most people want to do with their phones, the A class chips have been fast enough since the iPhone 11 IMHO.

The only tasks that will require serious number crunching will be photo & video advances, new lens etc - and naturally these advances will be found first on the pros.

In the end, people who value photography and video will continue to buy the pro models - and people who just want a big phone and a great selfie camera will be fine with the iPhone 14 max model, last year’s processor or not.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Given that the current chips are more than fast enough for iPhones, I don't think anybody other than "Must have newest!!11!!"-people like post #4, are going to miss not getting the newest chip.

 

[nStyle]

Makes sense. Who is even using the full power of any phone nowadays?

I have absolutely zero reason to upgrade my iPhone X other than wanting but not needing better battery life.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

I'm guessing Apple is predicting chip advantages will be increasingly less of a differentiating factor given their lead over Qualcomm chips and wanted to put more of the cost of a device into the costs of other components.

 

[Octavius8]

A 13 pro will be better buy than a 14?.
Benchmarks wars are over!. Apple is quitting. I guess the rest of vendors will do the same.

 

[antiprotest]

They can further differentiate by giving the storage tiers different speeds, going all the way with what they do with MacBooks. 1/5 speed for 64GB, 2/5 speed for 128GB, 3/5 speed for 256GB, 4/5 speed for 512GB, and 5/5 or normal speed for 1TB. Each step up from 64GB would add at least $100.

 

[wanha]

How else would you create demand for an SE model then? It literally doesn’t get anything else but a chip update.

Consider the 2020 SE compared to the original SE: it had a larger screen, a better camera, a much faster processor, a better Touch ID sensor. Better in just about every conceivable way.

Even if it had used the A12 instead of the A13 Bionic, it would still have been a clear and significant upgrade over the the 2016 SE, 6s, 7, and possibly even 8 in most ways.

 

[Putzytart]

So - if the iPhone 14 (non-pro) does not get the new chip, the new 48MP cameras, and the new pill-dot notch replacement, all of which goes into the iPhone 14 Pro – what is the selling point of the iPhone 14 (non-pro)????? Surely just more RAM is not enough to get people to upgrade? What am I missing?

 

[jackietreeh0rn]

So what exactly will be the difference between an iPhone 13 and 14? Will the 14 have a 3rd camera similar to the 13 pro, but lacking in all capabilities that the 14 pro/pro max will offer?

 

[szw-mapple fan]

Makes sense. Who is even using the full power of any phone nowadays?

The question should be who would be using the full power of a phone 3-4 years from now, which would dictate how long a phone can last. People have been saying phones have become "fast enough" for years now, yet when we look back at older phones they inevitably begin to slow as new software changes are introduced each year. My Xs for example is definitely still quite good, but starting to slow down a little or heat up running some apps.