New UWB chip in the iPhone 15 series to boost Apple Vision Pro ecosystem

One of the notable aspects of the Apple Vision Pro launch was the apparent lack of obvious integration with the headset and Apple’s extensive device ecosystem. On one hand, it is understandable that Apple would want to focus on its latest and greatest gadget; but on the other hand, it was surprising Apple didn’t put much emphasis on tying in the Vision Pro to its other devices. This could be set to change, however, following the latest tweet from renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

According to Kuo, Apple has plans to “aggressively upgrade the hardware specifications” of the iPhone to help build out an ecosystem that will support its latest flagship product. Kuo added that the “ecosystem is one of the key success factors for Vision Pro, including the integration with other Apple hardware products”. To this extent, Kuo says that Apple will upgrade the ultra wideband (UWB) chip in the forthcoming iPhone 15 series which will be fabricated on a new 7nm node, a substantial improvement on the 16nm node used in the current U1 UWB chip. 

Apple uses the U1 chip in the iPhone to connect to similarly equipped devices so that they can communicate with each other. For example, Apple’s AirTags are fitted with a U1 chip which enables iPhones to be able to track and locate them. According to Kuo, the new more efficient chip will have better efficiency and performance which will help better support nearby interactions. It isn’t clear exactly how Apple will maximize this improved UWB for Apple Vision Pro and iPhone interconnectivity, but it does point to Apple’s plans to offer deeper integration between its new headset and its wider ecosystem of devices than we have seen to date.

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