iPhone 16 A18 processor isn't a 'binned' A18 Pro

AppleInsider

New microphotography of the A18 and A18 Pro chips reveal the inner workings of the iPhone 16 line's chips, as well as confirming Apple isn't using chip binning right now.

Apple's branding for the A18 and A18 Pro chips.

Apple's chips in its products are impressive, giving other processor makers a run for their money over the years. As the designs improved, so did the performance and capabilities of its hardware, as is evident in the iPhone 16.

Following after teardowns, the next logical step is to closely examine the chips, and Chipwise has done just that. It has published photographs of the dies used in the A18 and A18 Pro.

The packaging of the chip has been consistent over the years, with TSMC using an Integrated Fan-Out Package-on-Package (InFO-PoP) method for a while. The technique stacks a DRAM package on top of the SoC die, with high-density redistribution layers and a Through InFO Via assisting to create a compact overall chip size.

In other words, Apple stacks the memory on top of the CPU and GPU, instead of having them in a separate die.

Die shots of the A18 (left) and the A18 Pro (right0 [via Chipwise]

The shots of the A18 SoC shows off its 3-nanometer manufacturing process, and a fairly straightforward layout. Cores and other elements are clustered together, almost like fields in an overhead shot of a countryside landscape.

Checking over the die shot for the A18 Pro, it does at first glance appear to be very similar to the A18's version. You can see where clusters are placed in similar locations, and it would be quite easy to mistake one for the other from these images alone.

However, a more careful examination shows that Apple has included a lot more transistors on the A18 Pro. Many of the lighter sections take up a lot more space on the die compared to what's on the A18.

The images at least prove that Apple isn't simply performing chip binning. This is a process where a Pro chip would be made, but faulty versions with a failed core could be repackaged as non-Pro A18 chips instead.

It was believed that the A18 was going to be a binned version of the A18 Pro, since it relies on one fewer GPU core. With similar features like Apple Intelligence support and hardware-based ray tracing, it was easy to believe chip binning was at play.

With the differences evident in the shots, it seems that Apple is legitimately designing and producing two different chips, instead of relying on chip binning.



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netrox

Are there other processors with DRAM embedded inside chips? I don't recall any. That definitely interests me, because if that's the case, I imagine the Mac Studio Ultra with M4 or M5 having RAM embedded will be knocking our socks off with massive memory bandwidth and performance (reduced latency as well).

ljbyrne

Just noting, this is not new for Apple. They have embedded DRAM inside their chips for a while, including all the M series chips.

tht

netrox said:

Are there other processors with DRAM embedded inside chips? I don't recall any. That definitely interests me, because if that's the case, I imagine the Mac Studio Ultra with M4 or M5 having RAM embedded will be knocking our socks off with massive memory bandwidth and performance (reduced latency as well).

The DRAM isn’t embedded “inside chips”. It’s a package on package (POP), where the DRAM package is layered on top of the chip package. The DRAM interface is the standard LPDDR5 (presumably) interface, pins and all. No bandwidth advantage per pin or per DRAM package. 

Once more, look at the DRAM packages on an M2, M3, M4 package. There, it is adjacent or on the side of the chip package. In the A-series SoCs, one package is just layered on top of chip package. Saves floor area. Same pin layouts. Probably saves a little bit of power. Just a little. 

Apple is quoting higher bandwidth on A18 series SoCs likely due to faster DRAM, like 6800 to 8400  Mbit/s per pin data rates. 

The M Pro, Max and Ultra SoC use standard LPDDR chips, but have 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 memory channels to achieve their bandwidths. 

tht

These die shots do not look like they are at the same scale? The A18 Pro chip looks physically bigger, with larger SLC and L2 caches, plus the stated 6th GPU core. The Neural engine is in the middle? But it looks bigger than it typically does.

The CPU complex looks odd? They are bilaterally symmetric, but are not typically rectangular. Have to wait for a floorplan.

beowulfschmidt

To be fair, there's nothing inherently wrong with chip binning.  It allows the manufacturer to use "imperfect" chips for other purposes, mitigating some wastage.

y2an

Believed? By whom? Speculation at best, rumour-mongering more like. 

mattinoz

I’m assuming then that this way they can drop the pro version production completely once they have enough chips for the rest of the year after initial sales hump. 

I guess this means we aren’t going to see the A18pro in any other devices. At least not any that won’t also see yearly updates. 

mpantone

mattinoz said:

I’m assuming then that this way they can drop the pro version production completely once they have enough chips for the rest of the year after initial sales hump. 

I guess this means we aren’t going to see the A18pro in any other devices. At least not any that won’t also see yearly updates. 

It seems a bit hasty to jump to that conclusion given that A18 Pro was just unveiled in the iPhone 16 Pro (and Pro Max) less than a month ago. There's a chance that the A18 Pro could appear in other products that have not yet been released, particularly iPads.

There is the possibility that the A18 Pro represents the future of A-series SoC design and that A19 SoCs will resemble the A18 Pro instead of the A18. Only time will tell on that front. One thing we do know is that AI assisted chip layout is happening more frequently and will likely continue to become more popular as time goes by. Is the A18 Pro an AI-assisted chip layout design? Only Apple Engineering knows right now...

It's worth pointing out that the A17 only appeared in a few products so we might be in the midst of some sort of tectonic shift happening right now in terms of Apple Silicon design.

What I find interesting is that the A18 Pro has more transistors than the regular A18? What are those extra transistors for? They aren't an extra CPU or GPU core. We already know that Apple has increased the power of the Neural Engine subsystem. Have they developed another type of differentiation that is waiting to be unlocked by a future version of iOS? Lots of unanswered questions but it is still very soon after the iPhone 16 launch and iOS 18 is far from feature completeness.

tht

mpantone said:

mattinoz said:

I’m assuming then that this way they can drop the pro version production completely once they have enough chips for the rest of the year after initial sales hump. 

I guess this means we aren’t going to see the A18pro in any other devices. At least not any that won’t also see yearly updates. 

It seems a bit hasty to jump to that conclusion given that A18 Pro was just unveiled in the iPhone 16 Pro (and Pro Max) less than a month ago. There's a chance that the A18 Pro could appear in other products that have not yet been released, particularly iPads.

There is the possibility that the A18 Pro represents the future of A-series SoC design and that A19 SoCs will resemble the A18 Pro instead of the A18. Only time will tell on that front. One thing we do know is that AI assisted chip layout is happening more frequently and will likely continue to become more popular as time goes by. Is the A18 Pro an AI-assisted chip layout design? Only Apple Engineering knows right now...

It's worth pointing out that the A17 only appeared in a few products so we might be in the midst of some sort of tectonic shift happening right now in terms of Apple Silicon design.

What I find interesting is that the A18 Pro has more transistors than the regular A18? What are those extra transistors for? They aren't an extra CPU or GPU core. We already know that Apple has increased the power of the Neural Engine subsystem. Have they developed another type of differentiation that is waiting to be unlocked by a future version of iOS? Lots of unanswered questions but it is still very soon after the iPhone 16 launch and iOS 18 is far from feature completeness.

The lack of staying power for A17 Pro and the rumored rapid transition of M3 to M4 SoCs, including the Pro and Max variation, plus the lack of an M3 Ultra version, can be explained through the economics of the TSMC N3B node. It's TSMC's first 3nm node, and supposedly expensive. The M4, A18 and A18 Pro are TSMC N3E chips, TSMC's 2nd gen 3nm process. It is expected to have more staying power and Apple will likely have the A18, A18 Pro and M4 proliferate to more products.

The A18 Pro is larger, has more transistors than the A18 because of larger SLC and L2 caches. Looks like to be about 50% more just eyeballing it. Then the aforementioned GPU core, ProRes encode block, and maybe others.

iPad, iPad mini, Apple TV, "HomePod with display" can use the A18 or A18 Pro. Like they can offer 2 models of the Apple TV, one with A18 for the base, A18 Pro for the upgraded option. Same can be done for iPad mini, and iPads.

Even some Macs can be made with A18 or A18 Pro SoCs, but Apple isn't going to do that.

mpantone

I find it highly unlikely that Apple will release two versions of the Apple TV with different SoCs. They have shown no inclination in making this a gaming console. 4K video playback doesn't really need top-tier silicon.

Hell, I see no reason why Apple TV needs any version of the A18 right now.

The fact that A18 and A18 Pro chips are both TSMC N3E chips don't explain why Apple differentiated between the two. There is something else. If there is no difference, Apple would not have burned the extra time/effort/dollars to create separate chips.

tht

mpantone said:

I find it highly unlikely that Apple will release two versions of the Apple TV with different SoCs. They have shown no inclination in making this a gaming console. 4K video playback doesn't really need top-tier silicon.

Hell, I see no reason why Apple TV needs any version of the A18 right now.

The fact that A18 and A18 Pro chips are both TSMC N3E chips don't explain why Apple differentiated between the two. There is something else. If there is no difference, Apple would not have burned the extra time/effort/dollars to create separate chips.

I think you are overestimating how much it costs Apple to design a chip and have it fabbed. Apple has been making M Pro and Max chips for several years now. The A18 and A18 Pro each will outsell them several times over. Yet, Apple continues the practice of having unique M Pro and Max models. You know, it is not a bad idea to only have a Max chip, which can be binned down to Pro levels. It is interesting that they don't do that. It implies that they are getting good at designing chips and the costs to produce separate chips isn't that big of a cost to them.

Apple is producing an A18 Pro because they think the features it enables is worth it. It enables features on A18 Pro models that the A18 can't or doesn't do so well. The ProRes encode block is obvious. The increased caches all goes towards more performant photos, videos features. It gives the iPhone Pro models an edge, and another reason for customers to buy.

Apple has segmented the Apple TV 4K models more than you would think. You get +64 GB storage, Ethernet, and Thread radio for +20$. Say, for fall of 2025, an A18 Pro version could be had for $200? They can do this for the iPad and iPad mini. Make the upsell more attractive. If they can add Intelligence features to Apple TV, it would give them features that most other streaming boxes can't.