Rumor: 2018 iPad Pro with Face ID will be powered by 8-core 'A11X' chip
In a move that would follow Apple's usual strategy, it's expected that new iPad Pros due in 2018 will feature a beefed up version of the A11 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 8 and iPhone X lineups, adding two more processing cores into the mix.
The current A11 Bionic features two performance cores and four high-efficiency cores, as well as an Apple-designed graphics processor. The same chip powers the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X, though the 8 is limited to 2GB of RAM while the 8 Plus and X have 3GB.
According to the latest rumor from MyDrivers, an "A11X" chip set to debut in next year's iPad Pro models will add two more cores, bringing the total to eight.
Three of those are said to be high-performance cores dubbed "Monsoon," while the five remaining energy-efficient cores are branded "Mistral."
In another potential change from the standard A11 Bionic, it was said that the "A11X" will boast a 7-nanometer manufacturing process from chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. In contrast, the iPhone X and iPhone 8 chips are made with a 10-nanometer process.
Apple's 2018 iPad Pro refresh is expected to ditch the home button for Face ID, just as the iPhone X has done. Accordingly, the "A11X" would likely include the same neural engine found on the iPhone X for quickly authenticating a user based on biometric facial recognition.
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the 2018 iPad Pro models will have greatly reduced bezels with the elimination of the home button, potentially allowing for smaller and lighter iPads. The devices are not, however, expected to feature costly OLED displays like the iPhone X, and will instead stick to LCD.
That means an edge-to-edge display is probably not in the cards -- something that will help keep costs down with the large 10.5- and 12.9-inch iPads, but will also allow for a small bezel that would house the TrueDepth camera. In other words, the 2018 iPad Pros are not expected to feature a camera notch like the iPhone X.
The current A11 Bionic features two performance cores and four high-efficiency cores, as well as an Apple-designed graphics processor. The same chip powers the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X, though the 8 is limited to 2GB of RAM while the 8 Plus and X have 3GB.
According to the latest rumor from MyDrivers, an "A11X" chip set to debut in next year's iPad Pro models will add two more cores, bringing the total to eight.
Three of those are said to be high-performance cores dubbed "Monsoon," while the five remaining energy-efficient cores are branded "Mistral."
In another potential change from the standard A11 Bionic, it was said that the "A11X" will boast a 7-nanometer manufacturing process from chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. In contrast, the iPhone X and iPhone 8 chips are made with a 10-nanometer process.
Apple's 2018 iPad Pro refresh is expected to ditch the home button for Face ID, just as the iPhone X has done. Accordingly, the "A11X" would likely include the same neural engine found on the iPhone X for quickly authenticating a user based on biometric facial recognition.
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the 2018 iPad Pro models will have greatly reduced bezels with the elimination of the home button, potentially allowing for smaller and lighter iPads. The devices are not, however, expected to feature costly OLED displays like the iPhone X, and will instead stick to LCD.
That means an edge-to-edge display is probably not in the cards -- something that will help keep costs down with the large 10.5- and 12.9-inch iPads, but will also allow for a small bezel that would house the TrueDepth camera. In other words, the 2018 iPad Pros are not expected to feature a camera notch like the iPhone X.
Comments
so why have so many of them? I get what Apple is apparently doing with them technically, as far as their abilities go, but I can’t help but think that an additional performance core, with fewer efficiency cores would be better. I suppose Apple is doing things with the OS that makes this worthwhile. But it does seem odd that they would raise the performance of the hi performance cores by 30%, and the performance of even more hi efficiency cores by 70%.
I thought of Apple TV first. Can’t wait until console developers start migrating over to TV. I’m guessing Apple will wait until they have A12X until they develop a new TV and hopefully announce a Halo-level game like they did when Halo was announced at Macworld.
Don’t forget Mac as this is a logical step forward. Apple could also be waiting until they get all the current FaceID kinks out before they release it on more platforms.
I’m predicting films will be released in the near future using Apple’s TrueDepth cameras for effects and facial animation.
If I remember correctly, even the efficiency cores are activated when the CPU/compound benchmarks are run. I also need to add this - I don't have any clue whether they get activated along with high power cores in actual-usage scenarios. Just a random thought/speculation - Is Apple showcasing its capabilities in topping benchmark scores (which Android SoC manufactures were/are doing, without focusing as much on improving the performance of real-world usage scenarios) as well, not just real-world usage which they have been doing from the beginning? A new marketing strategy - show up the Android SoCs where they belong in real world usage AND benchmarks???
Edit: I don't intend to suggest Apple is cheating in benchmarks like Samsung did in the past or OnePlus is doing even now. What I meant is - Is Apple focusing on topping the benchmarks ALSO, along with improving the performance in real-life scenarios which they have been doing always?
But I want it with 5G LTE.
That’s the device that will be a true PC killer, and be light enough to be truly portable.