Apple reportedly plans to design its own GPU and CPU for its iPhone and iPad lineups. As announced by Imagination Technologies, the Cupertino giant will no longer use its graphics processor technology for the future flagships.

Is Apple making its own GPU?

Imagination will stop receiving royalties from Apple as the company decided to stop using the graphics technologies from the British-based company. It seems that Apple already has a roadmap for its future graphics processing chip as reports have hinted at Apple developing its very own GPU.

Two years from now, the iPad Pro and iPhone would be getting brand new GPU and CPU designs. Currently, the graphics card that Apple license to Imagination includes those for iPods, TVs and smartwatches, CNN reported.

That being the case, it somehow indicates that analysts have been correctly predicting the iPhone and iPad future. For instance, Bloomberg learned from an internal source that Apple will upgrade the navigation experience on the iPad lineups - including wider app to integrate with Apple Pencil.

The current iPhone edition uses Imagination's Rogue-based graphics card architecture. If the future iPhone gets a higher framerate, it will be able to play graphic-intensive games smoother than ever.

The GPU and CPU for the future iPad and iPhone

Apple has reportedly opted for ARM-based chip for its future CPU architecture and it is highly likely for the phone maker to find another GPU manufacturer. Or, it is also plausible for Apple to design its own graphics chip, PC World has learned.

Ever since the announcement was made, Imagination's shares drop 72 percent. The company is also doubtful whether Apple could develop a GPU design that will not infringe the patents. According to Imagination, Apple has refused to provide evidence that could prove it doesn't violate intellectual property or any confidential data.

Related