Apple's A18 and A18 Pro Chips: A Big Leap Underneath Subtle Differences

Apple's A18 and A18 Pro Chips: A Big Leap Underneath Subtle DifferencesApple unveiled its first second-generation 3nm chip family, the A18 and A18 Pro, last month for the iPhone 16 lineup, bringing a host of improvements over the previous year's A17 Pro. While they feature the same 6-core CPU and differ only by one GPU core, latest chip comparison screenshots reveal a complete reconfiguration of the chip cluster

Apple's A18 and A18 Pro Chips: A Big Leap Underneath Subtle Differences

Apple unveiled its first second-generation 3nm chip family, the A18 and A18 Pro, last month for the iPhone 16 lineup, bringing a host of improvements over the previous year's A17 Pro. While they feature the same 6-core CPU and differ only by one GPU core, latest chip comparison screenshots reveal a complete reconfiguration of the chip cluster. Chipwise has taken a deep dive into the A18 and A18 Pro, uncovering massive technological advancements hidden within seemingly subtle differences between the two chipsets.

On paper, the differences between the A18 and A18 Pro appear negligible. But looking through a microscope, we can glean a deeper understanding of what sets these chipsets apart. One of the biggest advantages of the iPhone 16 series featuring these chipsets is that they both are mass-produced using TSMC's Integrated Fan-Out Package-on-Package (InFO-PoP). This packaging method directly stacks DRAM on top of the chip die and adds high-density redistribution layers and Through-InFOVia technology.

In short, the InFO-PoP packaging technique helps to shrink the size of the A18 and A18 Pro while improving thermal and electrical performance. Most importantly, this technology presents significant flexibility for Apple's products as the DRAM packaging can be swapped or replaced.

Comparing the chip's scanning images, we are trying to clearly see the extra GPU core on the A18 Pro. If our speculation is correct, it's located on the top of the chip but slightly to the left. It might be helpful if Chipwise labels the CPU and GPU clusters and the neural engine, but we seem to need more detailed inspection to uncover further insights.

In conclusion, although the differences between the A18 and A18 Pro seem slight, they mark a significant advancement in both chip architecture and packaging technology. These improvements will bring enhanced performance, lower power consumption, and greater upgrade flexibility to the iPhone 16 series. As more details about these chipsets emerge, we look forward to seeing their real-world performance and how they further push the boundaries of mobile computing.