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Alleged details about Apple’s new processors were recently released. In a Twitter thread, insider ShrimpApplePro presented possible information about the iPhone 14’s A16 Bionic chipset, the future M2 and the latest variant of the M1 line for Mac computers.
- How to know your MacBook’s processor
- Apple Silicon must be updated every 18 months; M2 arrives in mid-2022
A16 Bionic retains TSMC’s 5nm lithography
According to the insider, a reliable industry source has indicated that the A16 Bionic will still use TSMC’s 5nm lithography – the same process used in the A15 Bionic and M1 for Macs and iPads. However, another source reportedly claimed that the chip may be based on TSMCFF5, an updated node format for semiconductors.
The leaker also highlights that the Apple processor will have support for LPDDR5 RAM memory, a more efficient technology with a lower energy consumption rate. As well, the chipset will be built with new and improved CPUs and GPUs.
Early rumors suggested that the A16 Bionic would be made with TSMC’s new 4nm lithography known as N4P. In this case, the process is an improved version of the third generation of 5nm semiconductor node.
In any case, the new chipset should be used exclusively by the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Leaks indicate that the “standard” iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max would be equipped with an updated version of the A15 Bionic.
M2 and last chip of the M1 line in development
In the same Twitter thread, ShrimpApplePro cites that the M2 chip could be the first model to be manufactured with TSMC’s 3nm lithography. In addition to skipping the 4nm form factor, it could be Apple’s first custom ARMv9 chip.
However, the insider comments that he is not sure if the chipset will actually have the title “M2”. Despite old confirmations, the Cupertino giant can still change the name before launching the model on the market with computers and notebooks.
In another post, the leaker mentions that Apple is working on the latest SoC of the M1 line with updated cores. Possibly based on the A15 Bionic, this variant could be given the title “M1X” and bring the new energy-efficient “Blizzard” and high-performance “Avalanche” cores.
For a comparison, the M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max and M1 Ultra processors are based on the A14 Bionic. As such, they use the energy efficient “Icestorm” and performance “Firestorm” cores.
M1X Debut on Mac Pro or MacBook Air
Supposedly superior to the M1 Ultra, the “duplicated” version of the M1 Max, the M1X can debut on the Mac Pro. Apple’s computer may launch later this year and promises superior performance compared to the third-generation model launched in 2019.
At the same time, famous analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that the MacBook Air 2022 should be released with a version of the M1 chip in place of the M2. So the latest M1 chip could just be an updated edition of Apple’s entry-level processor.
In any case, the recent information should still be treated as rumors. A recommendation cited by the leaker ShrimpApplePro himself.