Apple's A-series chips have consistently outperformed competitors in terms of overall performance in mobile device chips, primarily due to their generational advantage. This gap is evident in single-core and multi-core benchmarks. The A-series chips are the primary source of iPhone's impressive performance, enabling features like running PC and console games on mobile devices. Being consistently overshadowed by Apple's A-series chips, Qualcomm has undoubtedly felt the pressure and has been working on designing even more powerful chips. Adopting an in-house architecture is a crucial turning point. Initial rumors suggested that Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen4 could reach a staggering 4.3GHz in its maximum clock speed, but the latest news pegs it at 4.0GHz.

For comparison, Apple's A17 Pro boasts a maximum core frequency of 3.7GHz. Many assumed that even with the introduction of the A18, it might still lag behind the Snapdragon 8 Gen4 in terms of core frequency. However, recent leaks suggest otherwise. The A18 Pro, which retains the six-core design, is rumored to have a main core frequency of 4.05GHz, demonstrating Apple's continued strength in its traditional areas of expertise.

Although both chips are manufactured by TSMC using 3nm process technology, there are still differences. While the Snapdragon 8 Gen4 employs TSMC's N3E process, the A18 Pro will reportedly be the first to utilize TSMC's latest N3P process. Apple has invested significantly in securing this exclusive process for its latest chip. So, what are the advantages of N3P over N3E? N3P offers higher transistor density, leading to improved performance and reduced power consumption. While the improvements may not be substantial, Apple's decision to secure the first-to-market status underscores its commitment to maintaining its performance edge.

The GPU in the A18 Pro is also formidable, featuring a new six-core design that boasts a 40% increase in graphics processing speed. This significant upgrade enables the chip to handle more complex visual content. There are two primary reasons behind this powerful GPU: AI capabilities and gaming performance. For AI, Apple is focused on local generative AI, which demands high computational power from the chip. Additionally, while the A17 Pro already supports PC and console games, there is still room for improvement, which the A18 Pro aims to address.

Given its impressive specs, it's unlikely that Apple will equip all its devices with the A18 Pro. Instead, this chip will be exclusive to the iPhone 16 Pro series, while the standard iPhone 16 models will likely use the A18. This strategy is not surprising, as Apple often differentiates its Pro and standard models to boost sales, particularly for the Pro Max variant. Statistics show that since the introduction of chip differentiation, the Pro Max has accounted for 40% of total iPhone sales, helping to mitigate declining sales figures.

Fortunately, even the A18, while not as powerful as the A18 Pro, is still a capable chip for the iPhone 16. However, some speculate that the A18 might simply be a rebranded A17 Pro with similar or even inferior performance. For domestic users, a pressing concern is the inaccessibility of Apple Intelligence, potentially underutilizing the chip's powerful capabilities. Apple is unlikely to overlook this issue and may collaborate with domestic manufacturers to address the concern.

What do you think? Will Apple increase prices this year? Some speculate that the starting price for the Max model could exceed 10,000 yuan.