Anandtech came out with their iPhone XS review today and it’s a big techie read, so head over if you like those things. The part I found truly interesting is where Frumusanu dives into the system on a chip of the iPhone XS, MAX, and XR.

The SoC’s CPU complex is now powered by two new “Vortex” CPU cores running at up to 2.5GHz, providing new levels of high performance. Apple claims the new CPUs perform around 15% better than last year’s A11 Monsoon cores – here it seems the company’s marketing was a tad conservative as the real performance figures of the new CPU are significantly higher. Alongside the performant Vortex cores, we see four new smaller efficiency cores named “Mistral”. The new small cores bring some performance improvements, but it’s mostly in terms on power and power efficiency where we see Tempest make some bigger leaps.

The A12’s GPU is the G11P – here Apple has made the biggest performance claims, advertising up to 50% higher figures. We’ll see how the new successor to last year’s A11 GPU in its dedicated section.

https://www.anandtech.com/show/13392/the-iphone-xs-xs-max-review-unveiling-the-silicon-secrets

Speed

Apple keeps pushing forward with their chip designs. Of course, every year, these things get faster and faster, but Apple pushes their chips further than any other company. While they didn’t seem to claim too much of a gain in speed, the actual groundwork that’s being laid is pretty interesting.

There have long been rumors of the Mac being transitioned to the Apple System on a Chip (SoC). The rumor has started from a groundswell because of the distance that the chip has come. Already, the A12 has caught the iPhone up to some low-level CPUs. The scores on speed tests put it almost even with the current 12 inch MacBook. That laptop was designed after the iPad to begin with after all.

So as the Apple CPU keeps gaining ground on Intel and other processors, what’s to stop Apple from transitioning chips?

Looking forward

I think it’s legacy. I don’t foresee Apple changing the chip design inside their Mac line-up anytime soon because, honestly, the Mac is the past. While it is still one of the most useful tools out there, the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch are the future.

So instead of changing the Mac over, I think they will continue to make iOS devices more capable. I wonder how long it will be before the iPad Pro starts to take over the MacBook Pro. While it doesn’t seem likely or wanted by many professionals, Apple has continued to evolve and improve the iPad line up.

Still, the iPad is a long way from the mature platform of macOS, but it is gaining ground quickly. It is the more vibrant system right now, with apps being used for the iPad or iPhone. Apple even has the beginnings of an app development system with Swift Playgrounds. I’m curious how long it will be until Apple unleashes a true app development system for the iPad.

As of now, most other “Pro” users have apps that fill their need. They might be basic, but every year, every iteration, and every update seems to bring more power to the platform and the apps.  I’d even argue that there is a large percentage of pros that are starting to use the iPad more, or even using it completely.

I don’t see this slowing down.  I’ve been finding myself doing even more on my iPhone XS max, then I was before.  The devices are getting larger and easier to use.

I don’t mind plopping myself down and writing out a blog post when I have a minute or two on my phone.  Would I rather be on a larger device? Sure, but I also think it’s pretty amazing that I can run my entire site from a cell phone.

I don’t see this as the end goal right now.

Apple might transition the Mac to a custom-made system on a chip eventually, but I don’t really see it happening anytime soon.  The iPad and iPhone will continue to improve until the next thing takes over…

What’s next?

So what’s after the iPad though?

I think we already see it, but it’s not ready for the mainstream and the next step yet.  In fact, I think it’s still dependent on the iPhone too much.

I think the next step is actually going to be AR.  As the chips improve, as they get smaller, I think we’ll start to see some truly revolutionary devices.  Right now, Apple devices are kind of defined by form.  The larger screen attached to a keyboard with a mouse or trackpad is the mac, the smaller touch screen is the iOS device.  What happens when the screen is on your body?  You don’t want to walk around with a 13-inch screen on your wrist, but what if the wrist becomes the center of the system.

There’s talk of an Apple headset/glasses coming soon.  If Apple manages to integrate AR into a small enough system with AR capability, your screen could be as large as you want it to be.

I can imagine a set-up where everything is Augmented Reality.  It could be a mix of voice, swipes, and reality that makes a workspace whatever you want it to be, as long as you have your Apple Watch and Apple Glass.

This vision is a ways off, but the way that the Apple Watch SoC has progressed is just as fast if not faster than the iPhone, so I think it’s a matter of time before it becomes the main device.

One that you’ll always have with you.

The way that Apple pushes as a company, I think this could be a plausible future.  Apple is perfectly happy to cannibalize itself.  It did it when it moved from iPod to iPhone, and its chips just keep getting better at such an exponential rate it’s as if they already have a goal that they are trying to meet.

We just don’t know what that is.