Photo via MacRumorsNext

Apple's Secret Code Leak Reveals All iPhone 16 Models Might Share This Powerful New Chip

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Rumors about all four iPhone 16 models getting the A18 chip just got more credible. This insight comes courtesy of Nicolás Alvarez, who stumbled upon intriguing code changes in Apple’s backend, hinting at five new iPhone models, all seemingly equipped with the A18 chip.

MacRumors broke down the findings, revealing iPhone identifiers such as iPhone17,1, iPhone17,2, iPhone17,3, iPhone17,4 and iPhone17,5. The consistent numbering strongly suggests these devices share the same chip. Apple's history shows that model identifiers often link directly to the chipset inside, making this leak particularly compelling. Photo via MacTrast // A concept image of how Apple's A18 may look. Apple's A18 chip is expected to be announced this year in September, alongside the iPhone 16. Consider the iPhone 15 lineup for context. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus sport the A16 Bionic chip, while the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max boast the A17 Pro. This chipset distinction also ties into their different RAM configurations and features, like Apple Intelligence. Hence, it makes sense that Apple would continue this tradition with the upcoming iPhone 16 models.

Interestingly, we don’t fully know why there are five identifiers in the backend code. Some speculate that one could be the next iPhone SE, possibly launching in early 2025 with the same A18 chip. Regardless, the prevailing thought is that all four iPhone 16 models will unify under the A18 chipset banner, a shift from last year's Pro and non-Pro chipset division.

Rumors also hint at the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus getting a RAM bump from 6GB to 8GB, and a speedier Neural Engine. If true, these upgrades would certainly enhance performance across the board. Whether the Pro models will receive an even more powerful variant of the A18 chip remains an open question.

Adding to the mystery, last year's differentiation move—where only the Pro models had Apple Intelligence—wasn’t well-received. This year, Apple appears to be streamlining things. The discovery in Apple's backend suggests a move toward a more unified chipset approach for the iPhone 16 series, which could avoid the backlash seen with the iPhone 15 lineup.

So, while we anticipate the iPhone 16 models sharing the A18 chip, there’s still a possibility of a tiered system. The Pro models might get an A18 Pro or something similar. Yet, the base models won't be lagging with outdated chips, maintaining a level of performance consistency that many users will appreciate.

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Published to Apple Scoop on 2nd July, 2024.