Apple's covert A17 Bionic chipset plans are coming to light

The highly-anticipated aspects of the A18 Bionic chipset, which the American technology giant Apple is expected to power its iPhone 15 series, have started to reveal themselves.

As the year progresses, Apple is steadily preparing to reveal the iPhone 15 lineup. In the midst of abundant leaks surrounding the device's debut, a recent leak discloses that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 will leverage different versions of the A17 Bionic chipset. A distinctive factor separating the iPhone 15 Pro from subsequent models is its incorporation of the N3B process, the most recent manufacturing technology from TSMC. However, for the models in the following year, Apple has an ambitious plan to deploy the advanced N3E process, guaranteeing future iPhones deliver heightened efficiency and optimization.

Compared to preceding generations like the A14, A15, and A16 chips built on the 5nm process, the A17 Bionic marks a remarkable advancement with its 3nm manufacturing process. This state-of-the-art technology will introduce a multitude of enhancements, thereby profoundly improving the user experience. The A17 Bionic-driven iPhone 15 Pro series will pioneer this shift by incorporating the N3B process, with future models fully integrating the N3E process. TSMC has unveiled details about these nodes, stating that the N3E process emphasizes more on power consumption management rather than sheer performance, rendering it a slightly more cost-effective alternative to the N3B process.

Apple's covert A17 Bionic chipset plans are coming to light

The N3E node showcases an SRAM bit cell size equivalent to the prior N5 node, preserving a compact 0.021 µm² size. Conversely, the N3B process accomplishes more exceptional SRAM scaling with a decreased cell size of 0.0199 µm², indicating a 5% reduction compared to its antecedent. Furthermore, the N3E process attains a notable memory density of around 31.8 Mib/mm².

Apple's shift to the 3nm process demonstrates its unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of technology and delivering extraordinary user experiences. As we inch closer to the launch dates of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, users can expect unmatched performance and energy efficiency from these next-generation devices.