Apple Inc. is set to unveil its latest iPhone featuring the cutting-edge A18 chip, developed using SoftBank-owned Arm’s newest V9 chip design, according to a report by the Financial Times on Saturday. The new iPhone is expected to be showcased at Apple’s fall event on September 9 at its headquarters in Cupertino, California.
The collaboration between Apple and Arm signifies a significant advancement in smartphone technology, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI). Arm’s V9 chip design, which accounts for 50 percent of smartphone revenue as of July, is poised to enhance the performance and efficiency of Apple’s devices.
In September last year, Apple signed a deal with Arm that “extends beyond 2040,” bolstering Arm’s position in the chip technology market. Arm, which owns the intellectual property behind the computing architecture for most of the world’s smartphones, licenses its technology to Apple and many other leading tech companies. Apple leverages Arm’s technology to design its custom chips for iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
The partnership between Apple and Arm has deep roots. Apple was among the initial companies to partner in founding Arm in 1990, ahead of the release of its “Newton” handheld computer in 1993. Although the Newton did not achieve commercial success, Arm’s low-power consumption chips became dominant in mobile phones, contributing to longer battery life and improved performance.
With SoftBank Group Corp., a Japanese multinational conglomerate, owning Arm, this collaboration underscores the influential role of Asian companies in the global technology landscape. The integration of Arm’s V9 chip design into Apple’s devices is anticipated to have significant implications for Asian markets, investors, and the broader tech industry.
Reference(s):
New iPhone will use Arm's chip technology for AI, FT reports
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