A18 phones: 3 models compared

What is it?

What is A18 and what does it do?

A18 is the system chip Apple designed for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus of 2024 and later the 16e; built on TSMC's N3E process, it carries six cores, two for performance and four for efficiency. Apple does not publish core clocks, and this site does not write guesses.

The A18 Pro of the same year is a separate chip with more GPU cores, on its own page; according to Apple the A18 in the 16e has one GPU core fewer, so check that model's own row. The full specification is on the chip's own page; the iPhones shipping with it are below.

Apple • ProcessorsApple A18The chip in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus: a six-core CPU and five-core GPU on TSMC's N3E process, and the first non-Pro Apple silicon with hardware ray tracing.All specifications

Decision table

A18 Chipset: which one for what?

The 3 models on this page are scored only against each other, for the use you pick. Scores come from the spec sheets; no price and no advertising go in.

What will you use it for? Gaming Photo / Video Battery Life Daily Use

Leads for Gaming: Apple iPhone 16e57%

Leads for Photo / Video: Apple iPhone 1663%

Leads for Battery Life: Apple iPhone 16 Plus75%

Leads for Daily Use: Apple iPhone 16 Plus72%

#1#3#2#3
Apple iPhone 16eApple
6.1" · A18 · 48 MP
57% 57% 51% 57%
Why it ranks here
- Editorial tag: Gaming
- 19 months on the market — a successor may be near
Why it ranks here
- Editorial tag: Photo / Video
- 19 months on the market — a successor may be near
Is the camera good?
Why it ranks here
- 19 months on the market — a successor may be near
Why it ranks here
- Editorial tag: Daily Use
- 19 months on the market — a successor may be near
#2#1#3#2
Apple iPhone 16Apple
6.1" · A18 · 48 MP
51% 63% 45% 60%
Why it ranks here
- 24 months on the market — a successor may be near
Good for gaming?
Why it ranks here
- Editorial tag: Photo / Video
- 24 months on the market — a successor may be near
Is the camera good?
Why it ranks here
- 24 months on the market — a successor may be near
How long does the battery last?
Why it ranks here
- Editorial tag: Daily Use
- 24 months on the market — a successor may be near
#3#2#1#1
Apple iPhone 16 PlusApple
6.7" · A18 · 48 MP
51% 63% 75% 72%
Why it ranks here
- 24 months on the market — a successor may be near
Good for gaming?
Why it ranks here
- Editorial tag: Photo / Video
- 24 months on the market — a successor may be near
Is the camera good?
Why it ranks here
- 4674 mAh battery — top of the pool
- 27 hours of video playback
- 24 months on the market — a successor may be near
How long does the battery last?
Why it ranks here
- Editorial tag: Daily Use
- 24 months on the market — a successor may be near