Every year, Apple introduces a new A-series processor with its iPhone upgrades in the autumn. We don’t expect anything different this year. In fact, the jump to a new manufacturing process technology – TSMC’s 3nm process – gives the A17 an opportunity to be the most significant leap in performance and features in several years.
By looking at the past decade of in-house Apple-designed A-series chips, together with what we know about the manufacturing technology available and the company’s direction and goals, we can piece together a pretty good educated guess about what to expect from the A17.
JUST FOR iPHONE 15 PRO (OR ULTRA)
Last year, the A16 was exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro, while the standard iPhone 14 used the A15. We expect a repeat of that pattern this year, where the new A17 is exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max (or iPhone 15 Ultra, if the rumours are true) and the standard iPhone 15 gets the A16 used in the iPhone 14 Pro models.
Is this the way forward for Apple for the foreseeable future? With smartphone features and quality reaching something of a
