Apple’s A18 Pro CPU Cluster Shared, Performance And Efficiency Core Count To Remain The Same As Earlier Versions

The A18 Pro is likely to replace the A17 Pro and is expected to exclusively power the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, which are set to be released later this year. While it has been reported that the SoC will feature a 6-core GPU, it is uncertain if this will result in any significant improvements in graphical performance. In our previous report, we did not have access to information about the CPU cluster and had to make our own assumptions. However, a tipster has now claimed that the core configuration will remain the same as previous A-series chipsets from Apple, suggesting that there may not be a noticeable difference between the two generations of silicon.

A18 Pro Expected to Feature Larger Die Size for Enhanced Performance in Apple’s Upcoming Flagships

According to @negativeonehero, the A18 and A18 Pro are expected to have a 6-core CPU, similar to the A17 Pro. This information is in response to YouTuber Vadim Yuryev’s prediction that the A18 Pro will have a ‘2 + 6’ configuration. The tipster has not heard any mention of an 8-core CPU for the A18 Pro, which could be disappointing as it may result in a loss of multi-threaded performance gains. It is also rumored that both SoCs will have two performance and four efficiency cores, further supporting the idea that the A18 Pro will not have an 8-core CPU.

Despite this, we were still impressed by the 6-core configuration of the A18 Pro, especially with its Geekbench 6 single-core and multi-core performance improvements. According to leaked numbers, the A18 Pro’s silicon is reportedly 28 percent faster than its predecessor, the A17 Pro. However, it falls short of surpassing the rumored numbers for Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, which is said to have a 46 percent lead in multi-core performance over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Nonetheless, there may be a silver lining to this as Apple could intentionally limit the performance gains in order to prioritize efficiency and ultimately prolong battery life.

No, it will be 2+4 across the board. I never heard a single mention of 2+6 for the pro chip.How do I explain the low score? Thermal? Low E-core freq?

— Nguyen Phi Hung (@negativeonehero) April 2, 2024

Additionally, the A18 and A18 Pro could potentially see even more benefits as Apple may incorporate larger die sizes, leading to a potential increase in cache and a larger Neural Engine. However, it is important to keep in mind that this information is currently unconfirmed and should be taken with a grain of salt. We will continue to provide updates on this matter.

The source of this news can be found on Twitter at the handle @negativeonehero.