The A16 Bionic SoC in the Apple iPhone 14 Pro uses a 5-core GPU that doesn’t look too different from what we’ve seen before in the A15 Bionic in the iPhone 13 Pro. The new A16 5-core GPU will have increased memory bandwidth with LPDDR5 memory and will be manufactured on the TSMC 4nm process. However, it seems that Apple had bigger plans for the iPhone 14 Pro’s GPU than just increased bandwidth and efficiency.
reported that information, Apple engineers originally planned a “generational leap” for the iPhone 14 Pro’s graphics processor. This included features such as support for ray tracing with hardware acceleration. ARM chips have already started offering this feature. For example, ARM’s Immortalis-G715 and Qualcomm’s Adreno 740 in Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 support native hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
However, Apple discovered a design flaw late in the development cycle that forced the Cupertino giant to revert to the A15 Bionic’s GPU design with minor changes. Apparently, the prototype drew more power than expected from software simulations. According to sources with direct knowledge of the issue, this may have had a negative impact on battery life and heat.
information Apple said such a problem was “unprecedented” in the group’s history, as it generally makes huge profits. As a result, Apple reorganized his GPU team and transferred some managers. This includes the dismissal of key figures who contributed to the company’s mobile he SoC dominance.
The publication goes on to say that Apple’s SoC team has had to contend with a loss of talent in recent years due to lawsuits with competing silicon companies, interpersonal feuds and chip startups.
In 2019, three of Apple’s engineers co-founded Nuvia, which Qualcomm acquired in 2021 for US$1.4 billion, which surprised ARM. Earlier this year, Apple filed a lawsuit against his Rivos Inc., a California-based “stealth” startup, for allegedly “poaching” 40 engineers.
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Trained in cell and molecular biology, I’ve been fascinated by computers since I got my first PC in 1998. My passion for technology has grown exponentially over time. Before joining Notebookcheck as a professional tech journalist in 2017, he was a much requested resource among family and friends for technical advice and troubleshooting. Currently, I am the Chief Editor of Notebookcheck, covering news and reviews covering a wide range of tech his landscapes for Indian and global audiences. When I’m not searching for the next big story or taking complex measurements for review, I’m reading a nice book, listening to soulful music, or trying out a new game.
