The entire iPhone 16 lineup is expected to debut with Apple A18 processors built on TSMC’s cutting edge 3nm process. A credible industry outlet cites analyst Jeff Pu as the source for this forecast.
Currently, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max rely on Apple’s 3nm A17 Pro chip, while the base iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus continue with last year’s 4nm A16 Bionic. Looking ahead, the 2024–2025 generation of iPhones is anticipated to shift all models to a second‑generation 3nm platform from TSMC, using the N3E fabrication node.
Consequently, standard iPhone models are projected to adopt A18 Bionic processors, whereas the Pro variants would adopt A18 Pro. In practical terms this means the non‑Pro devices will gain the same generation of chip architecture as their Pro siblings but will run at comparative performance levels that lag behind the flagship Pro models in peak tasks and sustained workloads.
TSMC previously moved from N3 to N3E due to superior overall performance, and the company has already begun series production using the N3E process. The transition to N3E is expected to yield meaningful gains in processing power and efficiency, contributing to longer battery life and cooler operation under heavy use.
In related notes, Apple had previously introduced other feature updates in iOS 17, including changes to contacts and related system capabilities that affected how users manage information on their devices. These software improvements complement the hardware advances planned for the iPhone 16 line, reinforcing a broader strategy of tighter integration between silicon, software, and user experience.