tvOS 17 Code Confirms A17 Chip for iPhone 15 Pro, A16 for iPhone 15 - MacRumors
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tvOS 17 Code Confirms A17 Chip for iPhone 15 Pro, A16 for iPhone 15

References to four unreleased iPhone models have been found in tvOS 17 by code delver @aaronp613, and the model numbers appear to confirm Apple's chip choices for the devices.

iPhone 15 Blue Three Quarters Perspective Feature
Apple added references to identifiers that include iPhone15,4, iPhone15,5, iPhone16,1, and iPhone16,2 in the first beta of tvOS 17 and they stuck around for several betas before Apple noticed and pulled them out in beta 5. The numbering fits with rumors that Apple will use the 3nm A17 chip for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, while the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus get the same A16 chip used in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.

15,4 and 15,5 are in the same sequence as the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, which are iPhone15,2 and iPhone15,3, respectively. Apple uses the "15" to denote devices with the A16 chip. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, for example, are iPhone14,7 and iPhone14,8 because they're using the A15.

So because the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus will get the A16 chip already used in the 14 Pro and Pro Max, the 15,4 and 15,5 likely reference these two devices. 16,1 and 16,2 will be the first iPhones with a new chip, aka the rumored A17, so these model numbers likely refer to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.


Aaron also found references to an iPhone14,1 and an iPhone 14,9, devices that would have an A15 chip. It is not clear if these are significant or even reference devices that are coming in the future. iPhone14,1 in particular is curious as Apple has already used the iPhone 14,2 through iPhone 14,8 identifiers.

We've heard multiple rumors about Apple's plans to use the A16 chip for the standard iPhone 15 models and the A17 chip for the iPhone 15 Pro models, so the code findings are no major surprise. Apple is planning to introduce the new iPhone models in just under a month, with rumors suggesting they will be unveiled at a September 12 event.

Related Forum: iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

LionTeeth Avatar
36 months ago

Apple is losing its 00’s Steve Jobs glow, the iphone design is becoming dated & ios is not fairing any better.




Comments like these make me shake my head. It’s a mature tech now, how can it look “dated”? It’s a glass rectangle. Bright OLED screen. Exactly how does that look “dated”?
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️ Avatar
36 months ago

Aaron also found references to an iPhone14,1 and an iPhone 14,9, devices that would have an A15 chip. It is not clear if these are significant or even reference devices that are coming in the future. iPhone14,1 in particular is curious as Apple has already used the iPhone 14,2 through iPhone 14,8 identifiers.
Maybe Apple will introduce iPhone Mini in the future. Let the iPhone Mini be born again!
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Populus Avatar
36 months ago
Can you imagine, if the iPhone 14,1 was an iPhone 14 mini (the same as the 13 mini but with 6GB of RAM, crash detection, Bluetooth 5,3 and so on) and Apple discontinued the iPhone 12, 13 and 13 mini…

Can you imagine, the iPhone 14,9 being sort of an iPhone SE, with the body of an iPhone 14, and USB-C…

Can you imagine?

EDIT: after thinking about it for a few days, I’ve come to the conclusion that the iPhone 14,1 will be an iPhone 14 with USB-C port, and the 14,9 an iPhone 14 plus with USB-C port.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AriaAmaris Avatar
36 months ago
I’d love to see a blind test to see if anyone can tell the difference between the two chips.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
haruhiko Avatar
36 months ago
The same trick again. But mind you, the A16 chip on the iPhone 14 Pro overheats quite a lot and consumes a lot of power, thus the poor battery life and health of the 14 Pro.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dark_Omen Avatar
36 months ago
I want my iPhone battery life to be similar to my M1 Mac. It's time to make the phone thicker and flush with the ugly camera bump, and a more efficient chip should be used in all iPhones.

Time for iOS and MacOS to become more efficient for day-to-day use too.


* Get rid of Siri and put in a new assistant that actually works.
* When I search for a contact's name on the Home Screen, the contact should show in the search, instead of saying, "no results found." The contact should have the call, FT, text, and contact info buttons when searched.



* A FaceTime button should be present within the dial pad on the phone app, rather than a separate app just for FaceTime.



* iWork needs an overhaul to compete with Microsoft Office.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)