• A6 Processor Reportedly First to Use ARM's Next-Generation A15 Cortex Architecture

    by
    Phillip Swanson
    Published on 2012-09-13 06:56 AM
    22 Comments Comments


    Apple was pretty mum on the technical aspects of the A6 processor, not delving into the architecture, only mentioning it’s smaller size, power efficiency, and increased computing power.

    However, new details have emerged that the new A6 chip in the iPhone 5 is based on Arm’s next generation Cortex A15 cores. Apple’s iPhone 5 is the first device to utilize the new technology, beating both TI and Samsung to the punch.

    Apple’s older iDevices utilized ARM Cortex 8 and Cortex 9 cores, with the next generation iPad utilizing the same 45nm technology of the A5 with a modified GPU array. The new A6 utilizes Samsung’s 32nm LP HK+MG production process, allowing the dye size to shrink, power efficiency to increase, and computing power to increase as well.

    ARM’s calls the A15s “the highest-performance licensable processor the industry has ever seen.” Well until their next processor comes out. Still the A15s will be featured in a bevy of new processors not yet on the market including the Tegra 4, Samsung’s Exynos 5, and TI’s OMAP 5 series processors.

    The A6 may only be a dual-core processor, but the combination of a quad-core GPU, and the latest ARM technology make the A6 a formidable beast. But, until the iPhone 5 goes through it’s paces from the teardown experts, no one will know exactly the A6 is made of.

    Source: AnandTech
    This article was originally published in forum thread: A6 Processor Reportedly First to Use ARM's Next-Generation A15 Cortex Architecture started by Phillip Swanson View original post
    1. Categories:
    2. iPhone,
    3. iPad,
    4. iOS,
    5. Apple,
    6. Mac,
    7. iPad
    Comments 22 Comments
    1. Airwaves182's Avatar
      Airwaves182 - 2012-09-13, 08:02 AM
      Dats coo.
    1. vaughnfelix's Avatar
      vaughnfelix - 2012-09-13, 08:11 AM
      freaking sick fast!
    1. regkilla's Avatar
      regkilla - 2012-09-13, 08:49 AM
      This is what makes the iPhone 5 better than iPhone 4S. People don't think of the power under the hood. That's what matters in technology now.
    1. Modding life's Avatar
      Modding life - 2012-09-13, 12:21 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by regkilla View Post
      This is what makes the iPhone 5 better than iPhone 4S. People don't think of the power under the hood. That's what matters in technology now.
      I agree I mean why come on here just to bash about it just so 4year old talk people are doing lately
    1. The6uest's Avatar
      The6uest - 2012-09-13, 02:27 PM
      I also want to know how much memory it has. I'm hoping they went up to 1GB this time..
    1. 2k1's Avatar
      2k1 - 2012-09-13, 02:36 PM
      Don't think they said anything about the ram but I'm hoping for a gig to that would be nice.
    1. n0id's Avatar
      n0id - 2012-09-13, 03:04 PM
      this is sounding like its gonna be a little hard to jailbreak, they had a tuff time with the A5X, still haven't jailbroken the ATV3 A5, so now the A6 might be a challenge.. but i can be wrong!
    1. Jahooba's Avatar
      Jahooba - 2012-09-13, 04:16 PM
      It sounds like it's just as fast as the A5X, but with better power consumption due to the smaller die size. Of course, it does say "faster performance" in the banner pic, but compared to what? The A5? The A5X? When Apple is vague it's often because they're hiding something. Just like when they said that the iPod Touch 4 had "the same Retina Display" as the iPhone 4, which was a blatant lie.
    1. subywrex's Avatar
      subywrex - 2012-09-13, 04:30 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by Jahooba View Post
      It sounds like it's just as fast as the A5X, but with better power consumption due to the smaller die size. Of course, it does say "faster performance" in the banner pic, but compared to what? The A5? The A5X? When Apple is vague it's often because they're hiding something. Just like when they said that the iPod Touch 4 had "the same Retina Display" as the iPhone 4, which was a blatant lie.
      It's 2x faster than the 4s processor. I'm good with that cause the 4s is already super fast
    1. Pinoy's Avatar
      Pinoy - 2012-09-13, 05:11 PM
      Redmond Pie posted a comparison article to the Galaxy S3 and they were both listed as having 1GB memory. Hopefully that's true. Funny cause these are the improvements that should matter the most. It basically got a supercharged motor. Huge for themers/modders who use widgets etc. People complain about the cosmetics being similar. Cosmetically they already have the best units so why deviate from that to far. This new device has huge advancements and anybody saying it doesn't knows nothing of tech. No reference to anybody on this post rather the other ten posted yesterday full of whiny children.
    1. rockyseay's Avatar
      rockyseay - 2012-09-13, 05:35 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by subywrex View Post
      It's 2x faster than the 4s processor. I'm good with that cause the 4s is already super fast
      They said up to 2 times faster. Which mean its most likely not.
    1. zinjen's Avatar
      zinjen - 2012-09-13, 05:37 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by The6uest View Post
      I also want to know how much memory it has. I'm hoping they went up to 1GB this time..
      ^this +1

      Quote Originally Posted by TechnoUniversity View Post
      They said up to 2 times faster. Which mean its most likely not.
      I'm pretty sure they were quoting the iPhone 4, when they said 2x as the previous generations.
    1. mkblade's Avatar
      mkblade - 2012-09-13, 06:05 PM
      The internals are always good...
    1. rockyseay's Avatar
      rockyseay - 2012-09-13, 06:11 PM
      Idk why the hell I complain. I'm going to buy the dang phone when they release a jailbreak for it anyway lol. It's my secondary phone.
    1. mkblade's Avatar
      mkblade - 2012-09-13, 06:21 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by Pinoy View Post
      Redmond Pie posted a comparison article to the Galaxy S3 and they were both listed as having 1GB memory. Hopefully that's true. Funny cause these are the improvements that should matter the most. It basically got a supercharged motor. Huge for themers/modders who use widgets etc. People complain about the cosmetics being similar. Cosmetically they already have the best units so why deviate from that to far. This new device has huge advancements and anybody saying it doesn't knows nothing of tech. No reference to anybody on this post rather the other ten posted yesterday full of whiny children.
      Its true..only true enthusiasts/modders know of the true upgrade they have performed internally rather than the usual cosmetic upgrades exterior..which at this point does not matter anymore as the only true exterior feature is a camera and a few ports. Overdoing on cosmetics simply ruins its simplistic elegant design & form factor which is the iPhone has been known for , "its whats inside that matters".
    1. Pinoy's Avatar
      Pinoy - 2012-09-13, 07:44 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by mkblade View Post
      Its true..only true enthusiasts/modders know of the true upgrade they have performed internally rather than the usual cosmetic upgrades exterior..which at this point does not matter anymore as the only true exterior feature is a camera and a few ports. Overdoing on cosmetics simply ruins its simplistic elegant design & form factor which is the iPhone has been known for , "its whats inside that matters".
      Kudos to you sir. I agree 100%
    1. TheOrioles33's Avatar
      TheOrioles33 - 2012-09-13, 08:28 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by The6uest View Post
      I also want to know how much memory it has. I'm hoping they went up to 1GB this time..
      Apples website show 1GB of memory.

      EDIT: Actually it doesnt show it. I could have sworn I saw it there.

      Quote Originally Posted by Pinoy View Post
      Redmond Pie posted a comparison article to the Galaxy S3 and they were both listed as having 1GB memory. Hopefully that's true. Funny cause these are the improvements that should matter the most. It basically got a supercharged motor. Huge for themers/modders who use widgets etc. People complain about the cosmetics being similar. Cosmetically they already have the best units so why deviate from that to far. This new device has huge advancements and anybody saying it doesn't knows nothing of tech. No reference to anybody on this post rather the other ten posted yesterday full of whiny children.
      I wonder what S3 they are comparing to? The international version has 1GB and the US versions has 2GB which I can confirm since I have that one. My 4S and S3 are fighting all the time.
    1. subywrex's Avatar
      subywrex - 2012-09-13, 08:47 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by TechnoUniversity View Post
      They said up to 2 times faster. Which mean its most likely not.
      Yes give or take but an improvement is an improvement. The 4s is already fast as hell. So any increase is a good increase.

      On the keynote they gave like 6 examples ranging from 1.7x to 2x faster.

      Quote Originally Posted by zinjen View Post



      I'm pretty sure they were quoting the iPhone 4, when they said 2x as the previous generations.
      The iPhone 4S is now a previous generation so they were meaning faster than that.
    1. Mrteacup's Avatar
      Mrteacup - 2012-09-13, 11:00 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by n0id View Post
      this is sounding like its gonna be a little hard to jailbreak, they had a tuff time with the A5X, still haven't jailbroken the ATV3 A5, so now the A6 might be a challenge.. but i can be wrong!
      Jailbreaking has to do with the software not with the processors. Sure they said they cant jailbreak the A5 chip but they were talking about the software because its written differently to utilize the new processor.

      Quote Originally Posted by Jahooba View Post
      It sounds like it's just as fast as the A5X, but with better power consumption due to the smaller die size. Of course, it does say "faster performance" in the banner pic, but compared to what? The A5? The A5X? When Apple is vague it's often because they're hiding something. Just like when they said that the iPod Touch 4 had "the same Retina Display" as the iPhone 4, which was a blatant lie.
      its double the speeds of the a5x they say it on their website. Also the ipod touch does have a retina display.. and it doesnt suck more juice obviously if you read anything about the iphone you would know that.. they made it smaller and it has way more battery power than it had before.
    1. RICO_'s Avatar
      RICO_ - 2012-09-14, 04:41 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by The6uest View Post
      I also want to know how much memory it has. I'm hoping they went up to 1GB this time..
      If they had gone up to 1GB they would have announced it during the unveiling. So no...they didn't.
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