Apple's A20 Pro chip, built on a 2nm process, is the company's first smartphone processor based on this technology. The chip features a six-core CPU architecture consisting of two new ultra-large cores and four efficiency cores. The ultra-large cores offer up to 20% higher performance, which Apple describes as 'desktop-class' performance.
The GPU has been redesigned with a seven-core architecture. Graphics performance has increased by up to 40%, accompanied by by higher memory bandwidth. The GPU includes a new neural accelerator that doubles the FP8 floating-point calculation performance compared to the previous generation, facilitating the local execution of larger language models.
The chip's total core count has reached 32 cores, including an additional neural engine. The redesigned neural engine's computing power is twice that of the previous generation and supports 8-bit floating-point operations. The A20 Pro also features the widest memory interface ever used in an iPhone.
To maintain performance, Apple has introduced a customized packaging method inspired by the M-series chips. The silicon die and memory are connected directly to the phone's internal vapor chamber to improve heat conduction and thermal management.
In terms of sustained performance, the iPhone 18 Pro with A20 Pro shows a 40% increase over the iPhone 17 Pro (A19 Pro) and double the sustained performance of the iPhone 16 Pro (A18 Pro). This focus on sustained performance aims to maintain high levels of performance during long gaming sessions, video processing, and local AI operations.