Apple might use older chips in its cheapest iPhone 14 models

Apple generally uses a new chipset each year for its mainline iPhones, with 2020’s phones all using the A14 Bionic chip and last year’s iPhone 13 series all using the A15 Bionic processor. However, it looks like change could be on the horizon for the iPhone 14 family.

Veteran Apple tipster and TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo tweeted that only Apple’s two iPhone 14 Pro models will receive the brand-new A16 Bionic processor. Meanwhile, the two non-Pro variants are said to keep the A15 Bionic chipset seen on the iPhone 13 range. The analyst further claims that the Pro models will receive LPDDR5 RAM while the non-Pro models will receive the older LPDDR4X standard.

Furthermore, Kuo posted an earlier tweet claiming that the four new iPhone 14 models could be called the iPhone 14 (featuring a 6.1-inch screen), iPhone 14 Max (6.7-inch screen), iPhone 14 Pro (6.1-inches), and iPhone 14 Pro Max (6.7-inches). In other words, the 5.4-inch Mini model is gone in favor of a more affordable large-screen iPhone.

The analyst has a very strong track record when it comes to Apple leaks. But 9to5Mac has also reported that two iPhone 14 models will be equipped with the A15 processor and two will offer the all-new A16 chip. So it certainly sounds like the Cupertino company could be pressing ahead with this move.

This wouldn’t be unprecedented in the smartphone space, as we’ve previously seen the likes of Xiaomi, Oppo, and other Android OEMs offer a two-tiered strategy in terms of flagship silicon. For example, the Oppo Find X5 uses last year’s Snapdragon 888 processor while the Find X5 Pro uses the brand-new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.

This strategy would theoretically allow Apple to offer cheaper non-Pro phones. But with the recent launch of the $430 iPhone SE 2022, you might want to keep your pricing expectations in check.