Apple iPhone 16 Series Chip Design Details Revealed: A18 and A18 Pro Not Simply Binned

Apple iPhone 16 Series Chip Design Details Revealed: A18 and A18 Pro Not Simply BinnedTechnology media outlet Chipwise published a blog post last month reporting that the A18 and A18 Pro chips in the Apple iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro series do not use chip binning. The publication shared DieShot images of the A18 and A18 Pro chips, showcasing the detailed design of both chips and sparking industry attention

Apple iPhone 16 Series Chip Design Details Revealed: A18 and A18 Pro Not Simply Binned

Technology media outlet Chipwise published a blog post last month reporting that the A18 and A18 Pro chips in the Apple iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro series do not use chip binning. The publication shared DieShot images of the A18 and A18 Pro chips, showcasing the detailed design of both chips and sparking industry attention.

Chipwise points out that while the A18 and A18 Pro chips share similar layouts and core elements, closer inspection reveals that the A18 Pro uses more transistors, and certain design elements occupy more space on the chip than the A18. Based on the DieShot images, the publication believes that Apple did not simply bin chips when producing the A18 and A18 Pro. This means that Apple designed and manufactured the two chips independently, rather than distinguishing them solely through performance screening.

Chip Binning: A Crucial Step in Semiconductor Production

Chip binning is a critical step in the semiconductor production process, primarily used to categorize manufactured chips based on their performance and quality. Due to the complexity of the chip manufacturing process, performance and quality variations can occur within the same batch of chips. Chip binning tests and screens chips, classifying high-performance chips as premium products and lower-performance chips as low-end products.

DieShot Images Reveal: Apple's Different Design Strategy

The DieShot images of the A18 and A18 Pro chips provided by Chipwise clearly showcase the design differences between the two chips. The noticeable variations in the images suggest that Apple indeed designed and produced two distinct chips, rather than relying on chip binning. This indicates that Apple has made a clear distinction in chip design for its high-end and standard version iPhones, aiming to provide users with optimized experiences.

Frontside Views of the A18 and A18 Pro SoCs

The publication also showcased the frontside views of the A18 and A18 Pro SoCs, further demonstrating the design differences between the two chips. The images clearly show that the A18 Pro has a larger chip area and is equipped with more transistors in certain key areas. This suggests that Apple invested more design resources and manufacturing processes into the A18 Pro to ensure it delivers enhanced performance and features.

Conclusion

Chipwise's report indicates that Apple adopted different design strategies when designing and producing the A18 and A18 Pro chips, rather than relying on simple chip binning. This finding highlights Apple's commitment to chip design and its dedication to providing optimized user experiences for different versions of the iPhone.