Apple Stock News: Latest iPhone Chips to Remain Exclusive to Pro Models for iPhone 15 and Beyond
Apple Stock News: According to a new report by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is expected to exclusively produce its latest A16 processor in the Pro model of the iPhone 14 line, and this diversification strategy will be an annual trend in future iPhone lines. Apple has been using the same chip in the same line of iPhone models. The last time Apple reused the previous generation of processors was the original iPhone and The iPhone 3G, which both used the same 412MHz ARM 11 chip.
An ongoing chip shortage may have contributed to Apple’s decision to limit its upcoming chips to the iPhone, however, Kuo now claims that the chip shortage was not a factor in Apple’s thinking, and that plans to make newer, faster chips for the Pro iPhone model are part of a long-term diversification strategy, The strategy will apply to next year’s iPhone 15 series and future iPhones from 2023 onwards. That would be a departure from Apple’s longstanding strategy of equipping all of its flagship iPhones with the same chip. That would provide another key USP for Apple’s high-end iPhone models and could boost sales by as much as 20 percent. For next year’s iPhone 15 series, the strategy also adds some clarity to the differentiation of the various models. Apple is expected to continue offering four models – 6.1-inch iPhone 15, 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Max, and 6.7-inch Apple iPhone 15 Kickpro Max.
In addition, the iPhone 15 Pro model will be exclusively equipped with an “A17” chip, which is likely to be built on TSMC’s next-generation 3nm node. The 3nm chip technology is expected to improve processing performance by 10 to 15 percent while also reducing power consumption by as much as 30 percent.
Apple Working on iMac Pro with Larger Screen
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is still working on an iMac with a larger display and more powerful chips aimed at the professional market. Apple discontinued the iMac Pro in March 2021 and the Intel-based 27-inch version in March 2022, leaving the 24-inch iMac with the M1 chip as the only remaining iMac model. Currently, Apple has effectively replaced the 27-inch iMac with Mac Studio and its matching Studio Display, and some sources claim that no high-end iMac is in development, But Gurman is one of the experts claiming that a more powerful and larger iMac is still on its way. Gurman’s prediction for the upcoming M2 Mac on Apple’s product roadmap is missing a 24-inch “iMac” with the M2 chip, These include new Mac Minis with “M2” and “M2” Pro chips, and new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with “M2” and “M2” Pro chips. M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, as well as a new Mac Pro tower with A Chip of Calyx M2 Silver Ultra and “Calyx M2 Metal Extreme”. Gurman expects the updated 24-inch iMac to be one of the first M3 Macs, including an updated 13-inch MacBook Air, an all-new 15-inch MacBook Air Mac, and possibly a new 12-inch laptop. It’s still early development.”
Apple Announces MacBook Air with M2 Chip
MacRumors has exclusively reported that Apple is planning to launch its new MacBook Air on July 15, a date the company has now confirmed. Customers can order the MacBook Air through Apple.com or the Apple Store app. The new MacBook Air has been redesigned with a slightly larger 13.6-inch display, a notch, smoother edges, and new starlight and midnight color options. The laptop comes with MagSafe charging, an upgraded 1080p camera, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack for high-impedance headphones, four speakers, and more.
Compared to the M1 chip, the M2 chip is 18% faster in CPU, 35% faster in GPU, and 40% faster in the neural engine, Apple said. With the M2 chip, the MacBook Air comes with up to 24GB of unified memory, while the M1 chip supports up to 16GB of memory. The laptop can be equipped with SSDS of up to 2TB. Apple announced today that the new MacBook Air with the M2 chip will be available for preorder at 5 a.m. Pacific time on Friday, July 8. Apple said it will begin shipping to customers and in-store availability on Friday, July 15.
Apple Silicon Supply Chain Faces Further Price Hikes
Apple could face further chip price increases as supplier TSMC deals with additional costs, Bloomberg reported. Showa Denko KK, a Japanese chemical company that supplies TSMC with important chip-making materials, has now been forced to raise prices sharply because of a global chip shortage. Other component makers and material suppliers have made similar moves in the semiconductor industry amid a broader price squeeze.
“One of the common themes for all participants in the materials industry this year is how much we can persuade customers to share the cost burden with us,” says Hideki Miyamiya, Showa Denko’s chief financial officer. Current market movements require us to ask twice about our calculations.” Showa Denko’s price increase, a key supplier early in the production chain, is expected to tighten margins and force customers such as TSMC to pass on increased costs to their own customers, including Apple. Somemiya told Bloomberg that the situation is not likely to improve significantly until at least 2023. In May, Bloomberg reported that TSMC was warning its customers to raise prices significantly. This comes on top of a huge 20% price hike in 2021, said to be the biggest chip price increase in a decade.
