Apple’s ultra wideband (UWB) U1 chip debuted in the iPhone 11, and after four generations, one report claims that the iPhone 15 series will feature an upgraded version of that silicon. After witnessing the launch of the Apple Vision Pro, it is not at all surprising to hear about this rumor, as this short-range wireless communication technology will be necessary to help speed up the adoption of the technology giant’s first AR headset.
Alongside an upgraded UWB, Apple is expected to introduce Wi-Fi 7 to its iPhones, but the iPhone 15 will miss out on this
In a follow-up to the tweet that analyst Ming-Chi Kuo published, talking about the iPhone 16’s Wi-Fi 7 upgrade, we learn that the ultra wideband chip of the iPhone 15 will shift from the 16nm process to the 7nm one, so already, we should expect efficiency improvements from this chip. This means that the new UWB chip could boost power for longer ranges without sacrificing battery life. Kuo notes that this new chip should result in improved performance, so it will be much easier for the iPhone 15 models to interact with other devices that also feature a UWB chip, which may include the Apple Vision Pro.
The report did not mention the name of the new UWB chip, but we feel that it will be called U2. For those who do not know, Apple’s U1 is present in many of the company’s products, such as the AirTag, Apple Watch Series 6 and above, second-generation AirPods Pro charging case, HomePod mini, and more. This chip brings a multitude of additions to the table, such as Find My features, Precision Finding, AirDrop, Handoff, and more.
長電科技2H23毛利率/利潤將受益於iPhone 15 UWB製程升級，長期則受益於Chiplet成為AI加速器主流設計方案
1. iPhone 15 UWB製程將自16nm升級至更先進的7nm，長電科技為後段SiP供應商且此升級有助提升利潤。一般而言，若16nm升級至更先進的7nm，後段製程的利潤率可望提升10-20%以上。
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) June 19, 2023
While the report does not mention how the new ultra wideband chip will interact with the Apple Vision Pro, Kuo states that an improved ecosystem is one of the key success factors of the AR headset, signaling that it may feature similar hardware. Unfortunately, even if both devices feature the ultra wideband chip, there is no information as to how both will function when connected to each.
We do know that when it comes to the supply chain, JCET is said to be the ‘back-end’ SiP supplier, and the shift from 16nm to 7nm is expected to generate profits for the firm in the 10-20 percent range. If we come across any other valuable updates, we shall inform our readers, so stay tuned.
News Source: Ming-Chi Kuo
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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