The chips in next year's iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro could have striking similarities, according to Haitong Securities analyst Jeff Pu (via Wccftech).

All chipsets in the iPhone 16 series will reportedly be manufactured using a 3-nanometer process similar to that used by the iPhone 15 Pro's A17 Pro chip, Pu explained. The new chips will use an improved second-generation 3nm manufacturing process, rather than the first-generation one that produces the iPhone 15 Pro's silicon.

Despite using the same underlying technology, there apparently will be no complete change to Apple's current two-chip system for the iPhone; according to Pu, there will still be a superior Pro version for the more expensive iPhone 16s, but the basic iPhone chip will be completely new, unlike the example of the less expensive iPhones that received chips from the previous year's Pro model.

Moving to the latest chip technology could provide an oversized power boost to the standard iPhone 16s, especially if Apple is the only company currently using it in smartphones, but it could be an unnecessary upgrade. Apple's older chips still easily beat Android rivals in benchmarks and real-life tests, so it would likely be more expensive than a regular upgrade for very little gain.

Similarly, Apple might be wise to lean even more strongly on the performance of its chips as a major selling point for its phones. While professional-level iPhones may remain differentiated by more powerful cameras and more sophisticated screen technology, ensuring that all iPhones offer equally powerful CPU and GPU specs would strengthen their position as the best-performing phones on the market could be made.

It would also dovetail nicely with Apple's interest in console-class gaming on the iPhone, as evidenced by the release of iOS versions of Assassin's Creed Mirage, Resident Evil Village, and Resident Evil 4 Remake. This would fit nicely with Apple's interest in console-class gaming on the iPhone.

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro are still a year away. Since Pooh himself is known to retract claims as new information comes in, there are several logical possibilities for Apple to make such a move, but keep an eye on the rumor hub to see what happens