When Apple launched theiPhone 15andiPhone 15 Plus , it check them out with the SoC that powered theiPhone 14 ProandiPhone 14 Pro Max , the A16 Bionic . With the launch of the new iPhones , built aroundApple Intelligence , Apple has created a fresh chip for theiPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus , the A18 .

While that ’s a bad jump in index for the entry - level manakin , the eminent - endiPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Maxhave an even more powerful SoC , the A18 Pro .

If you ’re wondering what the difference are between the two chips ( and phones ) and how they ’ll affect performance and capabilities , here ’s what to expect .

Apple A18 CPU performance

Both chips use a 2nd generation 3nm architecture

Apple move to a 3 New Mexico process for last class ’s A17 Pro , which sport on the iPhone 15 Pro models , but standard iPhone 15 models were stuck with an older 4 nm architecture on the A16 Bionic . This year , that changes as both the A18 and A18 Pro use the 2d contemporaries 3 nanometre architecture with smaller transistors .

Not only does that intend that more can be squeezed onto each chip , but it makes each chip more power efficient . harmonise to Apple , the A18 cow chip can fork over the same performance as the A16 Bionic , using 30 % less might ; and the A18 Pro can give birth the same functioning as the A17 Pro using 20 % less force .

Although both the A18 and A18 Pro have Energy Department efficiency , the iPhone 16 Pro example have larger barrage fire and , therefore , the good barrage lifespan of any iPhone .

Apple A18 CPU performance

The A18 and A18 Pro both have 6-core CPUs, but the Pro model is faster

Apple has nonplus with a 6 - core C.P.U. for the A18 and A18 Pro , the same core group numeration as on the A17 Pro and A16 Bionic . Once again , this contain two high - public presentation cores and four efficiency cores .

As per the Modern architecture , there ’s a execution boost from that . And , the A18 Pro has some extra caching and features that make it quicker ; it ’s the truehearted processor that Apple has made .

Quite what the carrying into action difference between the two check is difficult to puzzle out out , as Apple does n’t directly quote bench mark comparing the two crisp . We know that the A18 is 30 % faster than the A16 Bionic .

Apple A18 CPU performance

We also know that the A18 Pro is 15 % quicker than the A17 Pro , which was , in turn , 10 % faster than the A16 Bionic .

The A18 Pro has the more powerful GPU

Apple has promote the GPU on the A18 to a five - core mannequin that proffer desktop performance . concord to Apple , the A18 ’s GPU is 40 % faster than the one in the iPhone 15 .

With the A18 Pro , you get an even more herculean six - burden GPU , which Apple says is 20 % fast than the GPU in the A17 Pro , and capable of up to 2x the ray describe operation . As a comparison , the A17 Pro ’s GPU was 20 % quicker than the GPU in the A16 Bionic .

Both chips are designed for Apple Intelligence

Across the range of a function , the new iPhone 16 phones are build to use Apple Intelligence across the board . To that remainder , both the A18 Pro and A18 are built for neural networks , with a 16 - core neural internet , which is up to 2x faster than late contemporaries chips for machine learning .

The A18 Pro unlocks new media features

undivided to the A18 Pro are new medium feature , including a Modern video encoder . compound with the iPhone 16 Pro ’s 48MPFusion Camera , the A18 Pro enable 120fps 4 K television . Not only that , but the microprocessor chip can also turn in frame - by - frame cinema - quality colour grading at 120fp in Dolby Vision .

Apple A18 CPU performance

Apple A18 CPU performance

A18 Pro CPU slide

A18 Pro CPU slide

A18 Pro CPU slide

Apple A18 GPU performance

Apple A18 GPU performance

Apple A18 GPU performance

Apple A18 Pro GPU slide

Apple A18 Pro GPU slide

Apple A18 Pro GPU slide

Apple A18 CPU performance

Apple A18 CPU performance

A18 Pro CPU slide

A18 Pro CPU slide

Apple A18 GPU performance

Apple A18 GPU performance

Apple A18 Pro GPU slide

Apple A18 Pro GPU slide