{"id":3472,"date":"2021-08-28T20:07:35","date_gmt":"2021-08-28T20:07:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gizmogrind.com\/blog\/?p=3472"},"modified":"2021-09-09T09:48:13","modified_gmt":"2021-09-09T09:48:13","slug":"upgrading-iphone-chip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/upgrading-iphone-chip\/","title":{"rendered":"Do You Need The Latest iPhone Chip? When to Upgrade"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Tech reviewers rave about the capabilities of the latest iPhone chip. After getting hit by numbers and lots of IT jargon, you\u2019re left wondering:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAm I really missing out on the latest iPhone chip?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cShould I upgrade my iPhone this year?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here we\u2019ll make tech-speak simple and focus on stuff that matters to you \u2013 the everyday user.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s look at the difference between the latest iPhone A14 Bionic and the A13. We will also advise when it&#8217;s time to upgrade. Lastly, we will look at whether or not Apple\u2019s top competitors are offering better chips in their smartphones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_76 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69e35636dde4f\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69e35636dde4f\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/upgrading-iphone-chip\/#What_is_a_Chip\" >What is a Chip?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/upgrading-iphone-chip\/#Benefits_of_the_Latest_iPhone_Chip\" >Benefits of the Latest iPhone Chip<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/upgrading-iphone-chip\/#Longer_Battery_Life\" >Longer Battery Life<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/upgrading-iphone-chip\/#Faster_Processing\" >Faster Processing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/upgrading-iphone-chip\/#Better_Pictures\" >Better Pictures<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/upgrading-iphone-chip\/#Higher_Graphics_Quality\" >Higher Graphics Quality<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/upgrading-iphone-chip\/#Do_You_Need_the_Latest_iPhone_Chip\" >Do You Need the Latest iPhone Chip?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/upgrading-iphone-chip\/#First_How_Long_Does_An_iPhone_Last\" >How Long Does An iPhone Last?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/upgrading-iphone-chip\/#iPhone_Chip_Improvements_%E2%80%93_Are_They_Worth_It\" >iPhone Chip Improvements \u2013 Are They Worth It?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/upgrading-iphone-chip\/#When_to_Upgrade_for_the_New_iPhone_Chip\" >When to Upgrade for the New iPhone Chip<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/upgrading-iphone-chip\/#Apples_Competitors_and_Future_Potential\" >Apple\u2019s Competitors and Future Potential<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/upgrading-iphone-chip\/#Google_Tensor\" >Google Tensor<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/upgrading-iphone-chip\/#Top_5_Smartphone_Chips_2021\" >Top 5 Smartphone Chips 2021<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/upgrading-iphone-chip\/#Will_iPhone_Get_the_M1_Chip\" >Will iPhone Get the M1 Chip?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/upgrading-iphone-chip\/#Should_You_Upgrade_for_the_Latest_iPhone_Chip\" >Should You Upgrade for the Latest iPhone Chip?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_Chip\"><\/span>What is a Chip?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/6xbeye3g_08-1024x831.jpg\" alt=\"inside iphone chip\" class=\"wp-image-3493\" width=\"311\" height=\"251\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/6xbeye3g_08-1024x831.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/6xbeye3g_08-300x243.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/6xbeye3g_08.jpg 1479w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 311px) 100vw, 311px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The chip is simply a small, square metal piece that resides within your device. That little thing is essentially the \u201cbrain\u201d of your iPhone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Technically, it\u2019s called the <strong>system on a chip (SoC)<\/strong>. As its name suggests, multiple components are integrated onto the chip to form the backbone of your iPhone\u2019s system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Crucial parts that impact your daily iPhone experience are the:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Central Processing Unit (CPU)<\/strong> \u2013 Sends instructions to run programs.<\/li><li><strong>Graphic Processing Unit (GPU)<\/strong> \u2013 Renders graphics such as game animations.<\/li><li><strong>Image Signal Processor (ISP)<\/strong> \u2013 Processes pictures and videos captured by the camera.<\/li><li><strong>Neural engine<\/strong> \u2013 Powers machine learning tasks like facial and voice recognition.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>So, how do these components work to benefit you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Benefits_of_the_Latest_iPhone_Chip\"><\/span>Benefits of the Latest iPhone Chip<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>For most users, the most important smartphone features are battery life, processing speed, camera and display quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/image-6-1024x736.png\" alt=\"chart showing top most important smartphone properties for consumers\" class=\"wp-image-3489\" width=\"588\" height=\"422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/image-6-1024x736.png 1024w, https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/image-6-300x216.png 300w, https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/image-6-1536x1104.png 1536w, https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/image-6-2048x1472.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" \/><figcaption>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/716243\/smartphone-properties-important-to-us-consumers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Statista.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s take a closer look at how the latest iPhone chip help delivers these features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Longer_Battery_Life\"><\/span>Longer Battery Life<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Two chip elements contribute to this: transistors and CPU cores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Transistors are the basic building blocks of electronics. If the chip is the brain, transistors are like its brain cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As manufacturing technology develops, companies can produce smaller transistors for new smartphone chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smaller transistors help extend the iPhone\u2019s battery life because they use less power than larger ones. They also produce less heat, therefore preserving your battery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, there are 2 types of CPU cores:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Performance cores \u2013 Handles heavy apps.<\/li><li>Efficiency cores \u2013 Runs lightweight tasks.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Older iPhone models had to handle simultaneous heavy and lightweight tasks more inefficiently. The efficiency cores were shut down so all work was done by the performance cores. This is not good for battery life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Starting with the iPhone 8, Apple increased the number of efficiency cores from 4 to 6. All 6 cores can also run simultaneously to maximize power efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Faster_Processing\"><\/span>Faster Processing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When transistors get smaller, more can be packed into an iPhone chip. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No surprise, the latest iPhone chip always has more (or at least, the same number of) transistors compared to its predecessor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Greater transistor density means more work can be done in less time, thus boosting your device\u2019s speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/vpxztstzmzq-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"person holding an iphone and taking a picture of cars\" class=\"wp-image-3498\" width=\"253\" height=\"380\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/vpxztstzmzq-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/vpxztstzmzq-167x250.jpg 167w, https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/vpxztstzmzq.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 253px) 100vw, 253px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Better_Pictures\"><\/span>Better Pictures<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Image Signal Processor<\/strong> or <strong>ISP<\/strong> is responsible for crunching the numbers to give you better photos. Things like auto-focus, HDR, image stabilizing, colour processing noise correction and much more are handled here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For better pictures, the ISP works with the neural core to figure out what you&#8217;re taking a picture of and how to make that specific photo look its best. It looks for facial features, motion, colour, time of day and much more, then applies automatic edits as it sees fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A simple example is motion blur. The ISP will take many photos detecting which has the least motion blur. You then see the sharpest image as the final result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another example is night mode. Low light is incredibly challenging for the camera sensor to handle alone. Starting with the A11 Bionic on the iPhone 8, your iPhone will bring to life what would otherwise be an unusable nighttime photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All these processes are completed without visible delays. We see the result we love: a perfect, well-balanced picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Higher_Graphics_Quality\"><\/span>Higher Graphics Quality<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With each new chip, the GPU promises faster performance. This is especially relevant if you play graphic intensive, multi-player and\/or open-world games on your iPhone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll want the best possible image resolution and level of detail the game offers while suffering fewer lags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_You_Need_the_Latest_iPhone_Chip\"><\/span>Do You Need the Latest iPhone Chip?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>Newer iPhones (and their chips) can indeed deliver your favorite smartphone features better \u2013 but by how much?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are these yearly chip improvements mind-blowing or \u201cmeh\u201d? Is it necessary to buy a new one now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"First_How_Long_Does_An_iPhone_Last\"><\/span>First, How Long Does An iPhone Last?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In general, iPhones can last pretty long. Anyone preaching the 2-year lifespan rule is either a salesperson or an ad maker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apple usually provides iOS updates for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/chart\/5824\/ios-iphone-compatibility\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">at least 5 years<\/a>. The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus even broke the record and reached their 7th year of support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2020, iPhone 7 and 8 also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/626631\/smartphone-market-share-by-device-worldwide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">remain highly used models worldwide<\/a>, despite being released more than 3 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/image-5-1024x729.png\" alt=\"popular iphone models used worldwide 2020\" class=\"wp-image-3487\" width=\"632\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/image-5-1024x729.png 1024w, https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/image-5-300x214.png 300w, https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/image-5-1536x1094.png 1536w, https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/image-5-2048x1459.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 632px) 100vw, 632px\" \/><figcaption>iPhone 7 and 8 are popular models alongside iPhone 11. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/626631\/smartphone-market-share-by-device-worldwide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Statista.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If your iPhone starts acting up, you can repair it through an Apple Authorized Service Provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/why-iphone-getting-hot-how-to-fix\/\">iPhone getting hot<\/a> frequently? Sometimes a battery replacement is all you need. Broken screen? It can be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gizmogrind.com\/blog\/e-waste-recycle-old-phones\/\">fixed from as low as $129<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Besides preserving your wallet, cherishing your iPhone for as long as possible helps the environment, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smartphones contribute to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gizmogrind.com\/blog\/e-waste-recycle-old-phones\/\">our massive e-waste problem<\/a> every year. As tech consumers, we can reduce, reuse and eventually, recycle our devices to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gizmogrind.com\/blog\/e-waste-recycle-old-phones\/\">make a difference<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"iPhone_Chip_Improvements_%E2%80%93_Are_They_Worth_It\"><\/span>iPhone Chip Improvements \u2013 Are They Worth It?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Using the benefits discussed earlier, let\u2019s see how significant the improvements are between different iPhones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s compare the iPhone 12 pro max and 11 Pro (each released a year apart) together with the iPhone 6s (released 5 years prior).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Battery Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the 5-year gap, the battery life has extended quite a bit. But between iPone 12 and iPhone 6s, the specifications are the same:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><\/td><td><strong>iPhone 12<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>iPhone 11<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>iPhone 6s<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Video playback<\/td><td>Up to 17 hours<\/td><td>Up to 17 hours<\/td><td>Up to 11 hours<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Audio playback<\/td><td>Up to 65 hours<\/td><td>Up to 65 hours<\/td><td>Up to 50 hours<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/iphone\/compare\/?modelList=iphone12,iphone11,iphone6s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Apple.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Processing Speed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Unless you do a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Qkm6LR-ag-c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scrutinizing, side by side comparison<\/a>, the millisecond difference between iPhone 12 and iPhone 11 pro is honestly, barely noticeable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>iPhone 6s is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=XPx9P2H5miU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">little slower<\/a> \u2013 around 1 or 2 seconds behind in processes like launching heavy apps or web browsing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Camera Pictures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Every year, chip advancement has led to more features. Optical image stabilization, Portrait Mode and from the 11 onwards, Deep Fusion, which optimizes photos pixel by pixel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without question, pictures taken on iPhone 12 and 11 are more superior to iPhone 6s. But between the new models alone, there\u2019s no mind-blowing improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gaming Graphics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/hixmjh9xhoo-1024x673.jpg\" alt=\"person playing mobile game on iphone\" class=\"wp-image-3500\" width=\"339\" height=\"223\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/hixmjh9xhoo-1024x673.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/hixmjh9xhoo-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/hixmjh9xhoo-1536x1010.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/hixmjh9xhoo.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 339px) 100vw, 339px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The iPhone 12 has better graphics performance overall with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/sg\/news\/iphone-12-vs-iphone-6s-see-the-difference-in-game-graphics-youre-missing-out-on\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">games loading faster<\/a> than iPhone 6s \u2013 by around 2 or 3 seconds. It also showcases richer colors, smoother motions, and greater subtle details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, let\u2019s remember that other upgrades \u2013 for instance, the OLED screen on iPhone 12 \u2013 also contribute to better display. It\u2019s not solely the GPU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_to_Upgrade_for_the_New_iPhone_Chip\"><\/span>When to Upgrade for the New iPhone Chip<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, models that are released 1-2 years apart don\u2019t show revolutionary changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When is it most worth your money to upgrade your iPhone then?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Your iPhone is no longer supported by Apple<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As of 2021, Apple no longer provides the latest iOS for iPhone 6 and below. Apps like Reddit require iOS 13 and later cannot be installed on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, it\u2019s good to upgrade and future-proof your device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Your iPhone model is 5 years old or more<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You can truly feel the major generational leap in chip performance when you upgrade after 5 years. Let&#8217;s take the example of upgrading from the iPhone 6s to the iPhone 12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both internal (i.e., the chip) and external (e.g., camera lens) developments of the device immediately up your experience of the iPhone. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/vkdmm3kzi4u-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"iphone triple camera \" class=\"wp-image-3499\" width=\"544\" height=\"363\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/vkdmm3kzi4u-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/vkdmm3kzi4u-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/vkdmm3kzi4u-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/vkdmm3kzi4u-930x620.jpg 930w, https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/vkdmm3kzi4u.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 544px) 100vw, 544px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s said, you shouldn\u2019t feel pressured to buy a new iPhone. Consider your smartphone lifestyle carefully. If you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Don\u2019t consume graphic intensive media frequently.<\/li><li>Prioritize core functions such as calls, messages and web browsing.<\/li><li>Use social media apps very casually, and those are perfectly compatible with your iOS.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8230; And if your device is in good working condition, it\u2019s not necessary to switch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As long as your iPhone serves your day-to-day tech needs well \u2013 hey, who\u2019s to judge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Apples_Competitors_and_Future_Potential\"><\/span>Apple\u2019s Competitors and Future Potential<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Google_Tensor\"><\/span>Google Tensor<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Another big industry player, Google is also releasing its own Google Tensor chip through Pixel 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The name ties in with Google\u2019s other creations: Tensor Processing Unit (an AI component) and TensorFlow (machine learning software). Clearly, AI and machine learning are the chip\u2019s selling points. Not unlike Apple and its neural engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, Google Tensor still uses third-party designs for components like the CPU and GPU. Sourcing the same hardware as its competitors, the Pixel 6\u2019s performance will likely be similar to other smartphones in the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite Google\u2019s strong brand name, the Tensor chip probably won\u2019t catch up with iPhone\u2019s latest chip yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Top_5_Smartphone_Chips_2021\"><\/span>Top 5 Smartphone Chips 2021<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Geekbench 5 is a popular benchmarking program that measures a hardware\u2019s capabilities. The higher the score, the more powerful the chip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s look at how competing smartphone chips fare:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table alignwide\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Chip<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Company<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Single-core<\/strong> <strong>score<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Multi-core<\/strong> <strong>score<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Used in<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>A14 Bionic<\/td><td>Apple<\/td><td>1577<\/td><td>3831<\/td><td>iPhone 12 series<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Snapdragon 888<\/td><td>Qualcomm<\/td><td>1114<\/td><td>3686<\/td><td>Samsung Galaxy S21, Xiao Mi 11, Huawei P50 and more.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Exynos 2100<\/td><td>Samsung<\/td><td>1062<\/td><td>3533<\/td><td>Samsung Galaxy S21 (international and Korean models)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Kirin 9000<\/td><td>HiSilicon (Huawei owned)<\/td><td>1037<\/td><td>3705<\/td><td>Huawei Mate 40 series<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>A13 Bionic<\/td><td>Apple<\/td><td>1306<\/td><td>3470<\/td><td>iPhone 11 series<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/nanoreview.net\/en\/soc-list\/rating\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NanoReview.net<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Qualcomm is a tech manufacturer, not a smartphone brand. But its Snapdragon chip is used in many devices that compete against Apple. <\/li><li>Some apps rely on a single core to process most instructions, others distribute tasks between multiple cores. Geekbench provides a score for each respective capability.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Right now, Apple certainly has the best smartphone chip. Both the iPhone 12 (A14 Bionic) and iPhone 11 chip (A13 Bionic) ranked among the Top 5!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bigpii04uig-1024x680.jpg\" alt=\"apple company logo\" class=\"wp-image-3491\" width=\"313\" height=\"207\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bigpii04uig-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bigpii04uig-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bigpii04uig-1536x1020.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bigpii04uig.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 313px) 100vw, 313px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_iPhone_Get_the_M1_Chip\"><\/span>Will iPhone Get the M1 Chip?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Apple\u2019s M1 chip is hailed as one of the fastest chips in the world. At first, the M1 powered Macbooks but in 2021, the <a href=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/why-is-my-ipad-charging-so-slow\/\">iPad<\/a> Pro made the leap from the \u201cA\u201d series chips (to which iPhone SoCs also belong) to the M1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, it\u2019s unlikely that the iPhone will have the M1 chip soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Firstly, the M1 is physically too big to fit into the phone. Secondly, different gadgets, different purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We tend to use MacBooks and iPads for work intensive tasks, e.g., video editing and graphic design. Hence, the speed and efficiency of M1 become a highly demanded asset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In contrast, iPhones are used for on-the-go entertainment and lightweight productivity, e.g., responding to messages, social media browsing. The latest iPhone chip is enough to power the phone as it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_You_Upgrade_for_the_Latest_iPhone_Chip\"><\/span>Should You Upgrade for the Latest iPhone Chip?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>The latest iPhone chip offers longer battery life, faster processing, better pictures and graphics. However, these improvements are significant only when there\u2019s a large generation gap between the iPhones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The simple answer is there is no need to upgrade unless your device is over 3 years old. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is even better to hold onto your iPhone for 4 to 5 years before switching to a new device. Then you&#8217;d be fully utilizing the tech you already own. This has the side benefit of keeping phones out of landfills for longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sources<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/chart\/11661\/iphone-screen-repair-prices\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u2018Do Not Break Your iPhone X\u2019<\/a>, Statista, 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/chart\/5824\/ios-iphone-compatibility\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&#8216;How Long Does Apple Support Older iPhone Models?&#8217;<\/a>, Statista, 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/626631\/smartphone-market-share-by-device-worldwide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&#8216;Leading Apple iPhone shares based on web usage worldwide from 2019 to 2020, by model&#8217;<\/a>, Statista, 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/716243\/smartphone-properties-important-to-us-consumers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&#8216;Which of these properties do you find particularly important for your smartphone?&#8217;<\/a>, Statista, 2017.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tech reviewers rave about the capabilities of the latest iPhone chip. After getting hit by numbers and lots of IT jargon, you\u2019re left wondering: \u201cAm I really missing out on the latest iPhone chip?\u201d \u201cShould I upgrade my iPhone this year?\u201d Here we\u2019ll make tech-speak simple and focus on stuff that matters to you \u2013&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/upgrading-iphone-chip\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Read More &raquo;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Do You Need The Latest iPhone Chip? When to Upgrade<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1958220,"featured_media":3495,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"off","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","neve_meta_reading_time":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[374,375],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3472","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-repairs-maintenance","category-e-waste-sustainability"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3472","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1958220"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3472"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3472\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3602,"href":"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3472\/revisions\/3602"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3472"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3472"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gizmogrind.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3472"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}