Key points
- Apple’s new A19 Pro chip features neural accelerators integrated into each GPU core, boosting AI processing power.
- The debut of Apple’s custom N1 wireless chip and C1X modem chip marks increased control over core iPhone components.
- On-device AI is prioritized for efficiency, responsiveness, and enhanced user privacy.
- Apple aims for a fully Apple-designed chip portfolio across its product line in the coming years.
Apple’s latest iPhone lineup, released Friday, includes the highly anticipated iPhone Air. However, the phone’s sleek design hides a significant technological leap forward: a renewed focus on artificial intelligence (AI) driven by a suite of custom-designed chips. Central to this is the A19 Pro chip, featuring a groundbreaking architectural change.
Neural accelerators integrated directly into each GPU core significantly enhance the phone’s AI processing capabilities, a move Apple executives described as a substantial advancement in on-device AI computation.
Beyond the A19 Pro, Apple unveiled its first-ever custom wireless chip, the N1, and a second-generation modem, the C1X. This represents a significant shift in Apple’s approach, granting the company complete control over the core components of its iPhones. This move enables optimizations not possible with third-party chips, resulting in improved efficiency and unique features.
For example, the N1 enhances Wi-Fi functionality by leveraging access points for location awareness, thereby reducing reliance on power-intensive GPS. The C1X, already present in the iPhone Air, surpasses its predecessor’s performance and energy efficiency compared to Qualcomm’s modem in the iPhone 16 Pro.
The development of these chips comes amid growing expectations from Wall Street regarding Apple’s AI strategy. While Apple won’t create its own AI model like Google or OpenAI, the company’s focus is on making the iPhone the premier platform for developers to run their AI applications.
The A19 Pro’s enhanced AI capabilities, including a front camera that utilizes AI to switch to horizontal photos, exemplify this approach automatically. The integration of neural processing within the A19 Pro is remarkably advanced, delivering performance comparable to that of MacBook Pro-class machines.
Apple’s commitment to on-device AI prioritizes privacy and efficiency. By processing data directly on the device, sensitive information remains securely on the user’s phone. Furthermore, this approach promotes improved responsiveness and a more seamless user experience.
The company is also actively investing in expanding its US-based chip manufacturing, including partnering with TSMC’s Arizona facility. This investment, part of a larger $600 billion pledge to US spending, aims to build an end-to-end silicon supply chain within the United States. Although reliant on other companies for some smaller components, Apple’s ambition is to design its own chips for all major products in the near future.
