Apple Expected to Release Three A20 Chipsets for iPhone 18 Series in 2026, Continuing Its 2023 Strategy

Next year marks a significant milestone for Apple, as the tech giant is poised to unveil its first 2nm chipset, a notable advancement since 2023. This progress is primarily facilitated by securing nearly half of the initial wafer production from its reliable foundry partner, TSMC. However, the key development we wish to highlight pertains to the strategic shift in Apple’s A-series chipset lineup, particularly in anticipation of the iPhone 18 and the introduction of the A20.

Anticipated Structure of the iPhone 18 Series and A20 Chipsets

In the recently launched iPhone 17 lineup, Apple introduced the A19 chipset for the base model, accompanied by two variants of the A19 Pro. As is customary, the iPhone Air utilized the less powerful A19 Pro, while the more advanced iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max featured an upgraded version. It’s noteworthy that Apple employs a technique called chip-binning—removing one or more GPU cores from identical chipset models—to create variations in performance while retaining the same chipset name. Below is a breakdown of the CPU and GPU core specifications for the A19 series:

A19: 6-core CPU (2 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores), 5-core GPU
A19 Pro (iPhone Air): 6-core CPU (2 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores), 5-core GPU
A19 Pro (iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max): 6-core CPU (2 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores), 6-core GPU

This differentiation in GPU core counts, although familiar within Apple’s chip family, marks the first instance where three System on Chips (SoCs) from the same lineup have been launched simultaneously. We expect Apple to replicate this strategy with the upcoming A20 and A20 Pro series when the iPhone 18 range is unveiled, but which specific model will have which SoC remains an intriguing question.

Looking ahead, sources suggest that by 2026, Apple may phase out the basic iPhone 18 model, transitioning instead to its first foldable iPhone, alongside the second-generation iPhone Air. However, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to remain in the lineup for next year. While the precise specifications of the A20 and A20 Pro are still under wraps, we can present informed predictions regarding their configurations:

iPhone Air: A20 (2 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores, 5-core GPU)
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max: A20 Pro (2 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores, 6-core GPU)
Foldable iPhone: A20 Pro (2 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores, 6-core GPU)

Given Apple’s recent strategic changes, there’s potential for similar practices to be adopted in their M-series chipsets down the line. We invite your thoughts on whether this evolving strategy aligns with the future direction of Apple’s technology.

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