If you have been hesitant about the pony for a new one iPhone 12 when Apple finally launches its new phones, the latest news from the company that makes iPhone processors may weigh your decision.
The new A14 Bionic chip that is likely to power this fall’s iPhones promises to be a big leap forward from the A13 Bionic that the current iPhone lineup is helping set the pace for smartphones.
During its annual technology symposium this week, TSMC – which are the Apple-designed chips for the iPhone – demonstrated some of the benefits of the new 5-nanometer process that will likely be used in subsequent iPhone processes. Anandtech has the nitty-gritty details, but a table comparing the upcoming A14 Bionic to the current A13 Bionic suggests that the new chipset will boost performance by 15%. The chip could also consume 30% less power.
Much of the added performance and efficiency sounds like it comes from moving to a 5nm process for the A14. The A13 is a 7nm chip, and as transistors get smaller, more can fit in a chip housing. The A13 Bionic model currently has 8.5 billion chips. The A14 Bionic version will pack at least 15 billion chips.
With this in mind, it may shake that the iPhone 12 series may be one of the first smartphones to use a 5nm chip, beating the rest of the Samsung Galaxy family to the punch. TSMC is planning its newer 5nm node, known as N5P, already for volume manufacturing next year. Currently, TSMC estimates that it will offer a 10% upgrade for energy efficiency as well as a 5% upgrade for performance when it becomes available. If so, the new version of the chip will likely appear in the next culture of iPhones slated for release in 2021.
In addition, TSMC is referring to a 3nm design coming in the second half of 2022, presumably for the iPhones coming out dat year. We then look at 10% to 15% performance gains.
Previous A14 leaked – including information from TSMC itself – have highlighted the performance potential of the chip. In the spring, leaky benchmarks have pointed to performance competing with the iPad Pro, and there has been some talk that A14 phones could theoretically as fast as Apple laptops.
All we have to do now is wait for the new iPhones that sport these faster chips. The iPhone 12 could already be unveiled in September, according to the latest rumors, with the phones even shipping in October.
