Kuo: iPhone 14 Pro models will get the A16 chip and 6GB of LPDDR 5 RAM, and the basic iPhone 14 models will keep the A15 Bionic chip and get 6GB of LPDDR 4X RAM

Hartley Charlton / MacRumors : Source: @mingchikuo .

MacRumors 2022-03-15 Hartley Charlton

Context & Ripple Effects

Apple had already separated iPhone 12 Pro models with 6GB of RAM while the standard models used 4GB, establishing memory as a product-tier differentiator. Kuo's forecast extends that split by assigning the newer processor and LPDDR5 memory to Pro while raising baseline-model memory capacity.

Later coverage reported that the standard iPhone 14 retained the earlier A15 design alongside the iPhone 14 launch, while testing found the A16's performance lead over A15 was marginal in Geekbench results. That makes the memory and chip split more important as a way of delineating the two tiers than as a simple capacity increase.

First-order effects

Under Kuo's forecast, iPhone 14 Pro buyers receive the A16 and LPDDR5, while basic iPhone 14 models retain A15 but move to 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM.
The projected 6GB baseline removes the RAM-capacity gap that separated the iPhone 12 and 12 mini from the Pro models in the iPhone 12 generation, concentrating hardware differentiation in processor and memory technology.

Second-order effects

Apple's Pro positioning relies more heavily on access to newer silicon and LPDDR5 rather than a higher advertised RAM figure, particularly given the later-reported narrow A16-versus-A15 benchmark gap.
LPDDR suppliers would serve two memory specifications within the same iPhone generation, with LPDDR5 demand tied to Pro volumes and LPDDR4X retained for the broader basic lineup.

Third-order effects

The pattern points to iPhone tiering through selective adoption of leading components: baseline models inherit sufficient prior-generation silicon while Pro models receive the newest processor and memory standard.
Subsequent reports of 6GB in standard iPhone 15 models and 8GB in Pro models show the RAM split reappearing, suggesting Apple can vary which component carries the tier distinction from one generation to the next.

The trend: iPhone segmentation is evolving toward selective deployment of newer compute and memory components in Pro models while baseline models reuse established silicon with adequate memory capacity.

Discussion

@mingchikuo @mingchikuo on x
Only two Pro models would upgrade to the A16 processor, while the 14 & 14 Max will remain the A15. All four new models will likely come with 6GB RAM, with the difference being LPDDR 5 (14 Pro & 14 Pro Max) vs. LPDDR 4X (14 & 14 Max). https://twitter.com/...
@mingchikuo @mingchikuo on x
According to Apple's rules for naming iPhones, the four new 2H22 iPhones could be called iPhone 14 (6.1"), iPhone 14 Max (6.7"), iPhone 14 Pro (6.1"), and iPhone 14 Pro Max (6.7").
@dylan522p Dylan Patel on x
As Moore's Law Slows, Apple Is Forced To Use Cheaper Chipsets In Non-Pro iPhones The economic benefits of shrinking stopped and Apple is using the same process node for the 3rd year in a row. This is unprecedented and has terrifying implications $AAPL $TSM https://semianalysis.su…
@reneritchie Rene Ritchie on x
How long before it's discovered the Kuo Ming-Chi account is just trolling? When it finally posts about the iPhone shuffle coming 3H 2024? (Galactic Senate really needs to put an end to these alt finstas lulz...)
@hartleycharlton Hartley Charlton on x
@reneritchie @SamiFathi_ It definitely caught us off-guard initially, but I think there's plenty of room for insights that don't fit so well in a note to investors. Time will tell exactly what we're looking at, but for now, I think Kuo is among the still among the greatest and wo…
@folduniverse @folduniverse on x
@MaxWinebach I've heard 3nm for M2, iPad Pro, Mac Pro from analysts.
@samifathi_ Sami Fathi on x
Apple rumors have this weird thing - the weirder and more “no way Apple would do this” they seem, the more likely it is to come true.
@vadimyuryev Vadim Yuryev on x
@MehNitesh2 My idea is that Apple needs more things to differentiate the models, because this time, you'll be able to get a 6.7" iPhone for only $899. Apple needs to sweeten the deal for Pro models. (Dual-cutout selfie camera, 120hz ProMotion, 8K camera, better chip, more?)
@vadimyuryev Vadim Yuryev on x
To be honest, the brand new chips on the Android side are an absolute embarrassment. Apple could easily get away with only A15 on the lower-end models.
@reneritchie Rene Ritchie on x
@neilcybart And at the same time, we have news sites blogging the actual reports and the wish-list musings as one and the same...
@rsgnl Joe Rossignol on x
@neilcybart @reneritchie I enjoy having a job so yes!
@neilcybart Neil Cybart on x
@reneritchie He's never followed a publication schedule like other sell-side analysts (a few times a quarter). Instead, he has been more like an online writer who repackages the stolen intel to maximize impact on the news cycle. So doing it via Twitter I guess isn't too different…
@neilcybart Neil Cybart on x
@rsgnl @reneritchie Your job is to inform readers. The point Rene is making is that there is a new trend in which stolen intel is now mixed with personal interpretations of that intel. Many sites are not pointing out the discrepancy but rather lumping it all together as predictio…
@neilcybart Neil Cybart on x
@reneritchie If you thought it was bad before, now they are going to blog every one of his tweets.
@neilcybart Neil Cybart on x
@reneritchie My best guess: He doesn't like how his competitors continue to grab Twitter followers left and right by going direct to folks. Instead, his “existence / presence” is contained to MacRumors, 9to5Mac, etc.
@reneritchie Rene Ritchie on x
@neilcybart @rsgnl I'm actually making what I think is a more critical point: personal opinions/wish-lists/guesses/ speculation is being blogged indistinguisably from sourced reporting “Sources familiar with the matter...” same as “I think Apple should...” That's devastating
@joshuaswingle Joshua Swingle on x
Chipset supply must be BAD if Apple is considering something like this. Though I'd be surprised if Apple markets the iPhone 14 models with A15. What I think's more likely 👇🏻 iPhone 14 w/ A16 (tweaked A15, 5nm) iPhone 14 Pro w/ A16 Pro (new 4nm chip) https://twitter.com/...
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
Could also be another explanation for why the iPad Air got the M1 (supply). https://twitter.com/...
@can @can on x
My line in the sand: if iPhone 14 doesn't have USB-C, I'm going to hold on to my damaged 11 Pro for another year. https://twitter.com/...
@hartleycharlton Hartley Charlton on x
Interesting if true. The standard and Pro iPhone models featuring different chips would be a great way to help differentiate them... even if it's to the annoyance of some users. It makes sense given mostly only “Pro” iPhone customers are looking for the latest and greatest. https…
@rjonesy Ryan Jones on x
Wow this is such brilliant strategy that it's actually hard to explain. Second and third order effects are perfect. https://twitter.com/...
@ericjhonsa Eric Jhonsa on x
Historically, $AAPL's SoC design work has simply been viewed as a differentiator relative to rival hardware. But it looks like they now also see it as a way to upsell customers and drive ASP growth.
@ericjhonsa Eric Jhonsa on x
People have often quipped that $AAPL is the world's most profitable NAND reseller. Between recent iPhone 14 reports and the $2K markup charged for the M1 Ultra-powered Mac Studio, it now looks set to also be a very profitable SoC up-seller. https://9to5mac.com/... https://twitter…
@sondesix Alvin on x
It looks a shade towards Android phones lmao That's like Apple saying, “No need to upgrade our more affordable iPhones. It's already faster than most, if not all Android phones lol.” https://twitter.com/...
@bzamayo Benjamin Mayo on x
And this year, there is no difference in screen sizes between Pro and non-Pro lines, it's all 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screens. So perhaps Apple needs to rely more on spec differences to distinguish/market them.
@bzamayo Benjamin Mayo on x
This isn't so left-field when you think about it. The A15 is already differentiated on the iPhone 13 Pro line, with more GPU cores and more RAM. It's not as major as an entirely different chip generation, but same kind of thing.
@maxwinebach Max Weinbach on x
Maybe the 4nm node is gonna be used for M2, M2 Pro, M2 Max, M2 Ultra, and A16 and there's not enough throughput for 2 iPhones models AND all the M2 chips https://twitter.com/...
@samsheffer Sam Sheffer on x
no new mini makes me big sad https://twitter.com/...
@saschasegan Sascha C-Band on x
If true, it's going to be VERY hard for Apple to explain the difference between the 13 and the 14. Curious to see what they do. https://twitter.com/...
@brandonbutch Brandon Butch on x
Only the iPhone 14 *Pro* models might get the new A16 chip. 🤔 https://twitter.com/...
@alexhern @alexhern on x
Pour one out for the iPhone mini, greatest iPhone ever and it only lasted two years :( https://twitter.com/...
@parkerortolani Parker Ortolani on x
Makes sense. M2 machines will be based on A15. The chip will still technically be current. They're definitely moving over to a series based approach instead of a singular good chip. https://twitter.com/...
@bzamayo Benjamin Mayo on x
“Separately, 9to5Mac has heard that Apple has been developing two new iPhone 14 models with A16 chips, and two iPhone 14 models with A15 chips inside, which aligns with what Kuo has said here” https://9to5mac.com/...
@ultrafusionm1 @ultrafusionm1 on x
Nothing wrong with it. A15 will still be better than the entire competition. https://twitter.com/...
@vadimyuryev Vadim Yuryev on x
Interesting concept. My thought was that Apple would continue giving the Pro models extra cores to differentiate them. But I guess most people don't upgrade phones every year so it wouldn't be a big deal to keep regular 14 models with A15.. thoughts? https://twitter.com/...
@directtechyt @directtechyt on x
Reasons this makes sense; 1) Supply constraints 2) this is the year TSMC is hiking prices up so using the A15 over the A16 will keep the regular models in an affordable price range https://twitter.com/...
@saranbyte Saran on x
This is now the second report claiming the regular iPhone 14 models will keep using the A15 chip. I still find it hard to believe tbh, but since there are supply constraints with these chips, maybe Apple is forced to go down this route. https://twitter.com/...
@ishanagarwal24 Ishan Agarwal on x
Reliable Apple analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo says that only the iPhone 14 Pro & Pro Max might feature the Apple A16 Chip this year 🤯 iPhone 14 & 14 Max will continue with A15 Bionic. What do you think of this move? Might drive people away from updating to 14 or is A15 powerful enough? ht…
@never_released @never_released on x
If this is true, it has happened before: iPhone 5c/iPhone 5s divergence in the past. https://twitter.com/...
@mattk Matt on x
Follows my prediction that the iPhone 14 Pro will be USB-C to comply with EU and therefore push higher cost phones in the EU. Apple can easily say it is the EU's fault. https://twitter.com/...
@aaplparody Apple Parody on x
Apple's stupid if they do this. Nobody will buy the 14 if it performs the exact same as the 13. https://twitter.com/...

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