Introduction:
The recent unveiling of Apple iPhone 15 Pro has caused a stir in the tech world, particularly due to the incorporation of TSMC’s cutting-edge 3nm silicon.
Much attention has been devoted to the device’s shift to USB-C and enhanced graphical capabilities featuring ray tracing and upscaling, akin to Nvidia’s renowned features.
However, a deeper examination of the A17 Pro chip’s specifications and performance raises important questions about the anticipated benefits of TSMC’s N3 node, especially concerning its potential application in future AMD and Nvidia GPUs.
Follow us on Linkedin for everything around Semiconductors & AI
The A17 Pro Chip from Apple :
One of the initial observations regarding the A17 Pro chip is the modest increase in transistor count compared to its predecessor, the A16 Bionic. The A17 Pro boasts 19 billion transistors, a modest bump from the A16’s 16 billion.
This slight increase may suggest Apple’s intention to balance performance gains with cost considerations.
However, this marginal transistor count augmentation could have implications for the overall performance and capabilities of the chip.
Read more: Will the iPhone Ban in China Be Beginning of the End for Apple?
CPU Core Count and Performance Uplift from Apple:
Surprisingly, the increase in transistor count did not translate into a significant alteration in CPU core count.
The A17 Pro maintains the A16’s configuration, featuring two performance and four efficiency cores. Equally underwhelming is Apple’s claim of a mere 10% performance uplift from the new CPU, considering the shift to the TSMC N3 silicon and allegedly improved cores.
TSMC itself has stated that N3 silicon alone should deliver a 10% performance boost, leaving one to expect more substantial gains from the combined effects of the new node and enhanced cores.
Power Efficiency and Battery Life from Apple:
Typically, a transition to a new manufacturing node like TSMC’s 3nm would bring about improvements in power efficiency, resulting in lower power consumption or enhanced battery life.
However, Apple has not made any claims of improved battery life in the iPhone 15 Pro compared to its predecessor, indicating that the benefits of the 3nm silicon in terms of power efficiency may not be as significant as anticipated.
Anticipating the Impact on PC Gaming Components:
The A17 Pro provides insights into TSMC’s 3nm silicon application.
Caution is necessary when predicting its impact on future PC components, especially AMD and Nvidia GPUs.
The actual potential of TSMC’s N3 node will become clear when used in PC hardware.
Expected arrival in the second half of 2024.
Conclusion:
The inclusion of TSMC’s 3nm silicon in Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro A17 Pro chip raises key questions about its potential.
The small transistor count increase, meager performance gains, and unchanged power efficiency and battery life ratings question new phone benefits.
The tech industry is keenly anticipating how TSMC’s N3 node will impact upcoming PC components like GPUs.
The performance of the iPhone 15 Pro’s A17 Pro chip provides valuable insights into what the future might hold.
