The iPhone 16 might be a bigger upgrade than we thought

The potential upgrades for the iPhone 16 appear more significant than initially anticipated. According to rumors from CTEE, Apple plans to include its latest A18 chip in both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models, closing the performance gap that typically exists between different models in the lineup. This is exciting news for those who opt for the base or Plus models due to cost considerations, as they will now have access to enhanced performance capabilities.

In a noteworthy turn of events, Apple has reportedly increased its chip order from its primary supplier, TSMC. The company foresees selling between 90 million and 100 million units of the iPhone 16, surpassing the sales figures of the previous generation's iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, which ranged from 80 million to 90 million units. This marks a departure from Apple's previous practices.

In the iPhone 15 lineup, different models were equipped with varying chips. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max featured the A17 Pro, Apple's top-tier chip at that time, while the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus came with the A16 chip.

MacRumors has provided further evidence supporting Apple's shift towards using the same chip for the entire iPhone 16 series. They examined iOS code that listed model numbers for the iPhone 16, and interestingly, all the models had numbers ranging from 17,1 to 17,5. Traditionally, such numbers indicate the chip utilized in a particular phone, suggesting that the entire lineup will be powered by chips from the same family.

The reasoning behind this approach becomes clearer when considering recent developments. With every iPhone 16 model equipped with the A18 chip, Apple will be able to extend Apple Intelligence features to the entire lineup. Presently, only the iPhone 15 Pro, featuring the A17 Pro processor, can fully utilize Apple Intelligence capabilities.

Nevertheless, this shift does not imply a breakdown of Apple's two-tier system entirely. The new A18 processor is anticipated to be a revamped version of the A17 Pro, constructed with a new N3E process. Additionally, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are expected to receive an upgraded A18 Pro chip, approximately 15% to 20% larger than the A18, incorporating more graphics and AI computing units. There may also be slight variations in performance, as Apple potentially disables some A18 features for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. It's also plausible that lower-binned chips could be used in these models, resulting in noticeable performance differences.

Regarding other specifications, several leaks and rumors have surfaced, revealing a fair amount of information about what to expect from the iPhone 16. One noteworthy rumor is the inclusion of a new "M14 AMOLED stack" OLED display for the base models. Once again, this indicates a closer alignment between the different iterations of the iPhone 16.

As the launch of the iPhone 16 approaches, set to occur during Apple's anticipated September event, more details are expected to emerge in the coming weeks and months. Stay tuned for further updates.