The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, powered by the A18 chipset, deliver a notable performance boost, building on Apple’s reputation for high-performance smartphone processors. This new chip, manufactured using the advanced 3nm process, offers better efficiency and speed compared to previous models.
The A18 chipset features a 6-core CPU, split into two performance cores for demanding tasks and four efficiency cores for routine activities. Apple claims a 30% performance improvement over the A16 Bionic, while using 30% less power, enhancing both speed and battery life. The GPU is also upgraded with five cores, delivering a 40% boost in graphical performance and enabling hardware-accelerated ray tracing, making it a powerhouse for gaming and graphical tasks.
In addition to its raw performance, the A18 chipset integrates a 16-core Neural Engine, optimized for AI and machine learning tasks. This enhances features like Apple’s AI suite, visual search, and advanced camera functionalities, ensuring a smooth experience for everyday use and creative tasks like photography.
Overall, the A18 in the iPhone 16 series is a robust improvement, offering impressive computational power, improved battery efficiency, and advanced AI integration.
The A18 Pro chip has reportedly achieved impressive Geekbench 6 scores, with 3,300 points in the single-core test and 8,200 points in the multi-core test. This marks a substantial leap from its predecessor, the A17 Pro, which scored 2,898 in the single-core test and 7,201 in the multi-core test. These improvements highlight the A18 Pro’s enhanced processing power and efficiency, setting a new benchmark for Apple’s flagship processors.
The A18 Bionic chip is built using TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process, a cutting-edge fabrication technology that allows for increased power efficiency and performance. This advanced node enhances the chip’s computational abilities while consuming less energy, making it ideal for demanding tasks like AI processing and gaming. The A18’s architecture also benefits from improved thermals and higher memory bandwidth, ensuring smoother overall performance in devices like the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro.
At Apple’s latest event, AI took center stage, and the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are specifically designed to handle the heavy computational demands of Apple’s AI, branded as Apple Intelligence. Powered by a new 3nm A18 chipset, these phones are equipped to deliver powerful performance and seamless AI integration. Features like Action Mode and Camera Control, which are also present in the Pro models, will significantly change how users interact with their iPhones.
Regarding the display, the iPhone 16 retains the familiar 6.1-inch screen, while the 16 Plus offers a larger 6.7-inch screen. These sizes are just slightly smaller than the Pro variants (0.2 inches less), but still provide vibrant viewing experiences. The displays continue to support up to 2,000 nits in bright sunlight and can dim down to 1 nit in dark environments, although ProMotion (higher refresh rate) is still reserved for the Pro models. Apple has also upgraded the toughness of the Ceramic Shield protection, claiming it is now 50% stronger than its original version and twice as tough as the glass used in competitor phones.
CPU GPU TEST:
The standout feature of this year’s iPhone 16 and 16 Plus is the Apple A18 chipset, a significant leap forward from the A16 used in the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. This second-generation 3nm chip is both more powerful and more efficient, making it a major upgrade.
To break it down, the A18 CPU is 30% faster than the one in the iPhone 15 and 60% faster than the iPhone 12. The GPU is also 40% faster than the iPhone 15’s and twice as fast as the iPhone 12’s. When comparing just the iPhone 16 to the 15, the A18 delivers the same CPU performance while consuming 30% less power, and matches the GPU performance while using 35% less power. The memory bandwidth has also seen a 17% boost. Apple even reworked the internal thermals, incorporating a new motherboard design with a recycled aluminum thermal substrate, improving sustained performance by 30%.
The A18’s GPU is so powerful that it can run AAA games like Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Assassin’s Creed: Mirage, which were previously limited to the Pro models and Macs. It also supports ultra graphics modes for upcoming titles like Honor of Kings: World, and includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing for games such as War Thunder Mobile. Plus, controller support makes gaming even more immersive on the iPhone 16.
The new iPhone 16 comes in three storages— 128GB, 256GB and 512GB— for Rs 79,900, Rs 89,999, and Rs 1,09,900, respectively. The new iPhone 16 Plus comes in three storages— 128GB, 256GB and 512GB— for Rs 89,900, Rs 99,999, and Rs 1,19,900, respectively.
