The iPhone 16 Pro’s chipset could be designed with AI in mind

For less reliance on the cloud

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It looks increasingly likeAppleis going big on AI with theiPhone 16line, as following reports thatthe iPhone 16 might have additional RAM and storageto help with AI, we’re now hearing that the A18 Pro chipset expected in at least some iPhone 16 models will be designed to boost on-device AI.

This is according to an analyst note by Jeff Pu at Haitong International Tech Research, seen by9to5Mac. Pu says the A18 Pro “will feature a larger die area (compared to A17 Pro), which could be a trend for edge AI computing.”

Edge AI refers to carrying out AI tasks on the phone itself, rather than in the cloud, which is beneficial since it can be faster and doesn’t require an internet connection.

However, as 9to5Mac notes, increasing the die area of the chipset to achieve this can have a negative impact on energy efficiency and heat dissipation, so it could come with some downsides.

Built for AI in more than one way

This chipset change – if true – might not be the only way the A18 Pro is designed with AI in mind, as we previously heard thatthe A18 Pro might also have more cores for its Neural Enginethan the A17 Pro.

We’re expecting the A18 Pro to be used in the iPhone 16 Pro and theiPhone 16 Pro Max, but some reports suggestthe A18 Pro might also be used in the standard iPhone 16and the iPhone 16 Plus, so it’s possible that all four upcoming phones will have an AI-focused chipset.

However, while it sounds like Apple is working hard on AI-focused hardware, it might leave some of the software toGoogle, as reports suggest thatApple may use Google Geminito power some of the iPhone 16’s AI features.

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We should find out for sure in September, as that’s when the iPhone 16 line will likely launch.

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James is a freelance phones, tablets and wearables writer and sub-editor at TechRadar. He has a love for everything ‘smart’, from watches to lights, and can often be found arguing with AI assistants or drowning in the latest apps. James also contributes to 3G.co.uk, 4G.co.uk and 5G.co.uk and has written for T3, Digital Camera World, Clarity Media and others, with work on the web, in print and on TV.

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