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Tenuous rumor pegs iPad 3 CPU as a dual-core 2GHz part

by Samuel Gibbs Apr 20th 2011 at 8:30AM

Apple A6Treat this one as pure speculation, because frankly, that's what it is. A "high-ranking official" at Samsung let slip that the company is "planning to release a 2GHz dual-core CPU-equipped smartphone by next year." This means that Samsung, one of the world's biggest chip manufacturers and a significant Apple supplier, will be pushing out a new, likely ARM-based, 2GHz dual-core processor in the near future.

The speculation is that, since Samsung manufactures Apple's A4 and A5 processors, which power the current crop of iDevices (regardless of present litigation), there's potential for a new Apple-branded processor -- the A6 if you like -- based on the 2GHz dual-core chip. The current Cortex-A9-based Apple A5 sports a dual-core 1GHz configuration, so frankly, a 2GHz variant isn't too much of a stretch, but who knows. The iPad 2 clips along at a lightning pace with its current A5; an iPad 3 sporting a dual-core 2GHz chip that has "the data processing capabilities of a regular PC, " is mighty enticing. Just don't mention battery life.

[via Yahoo! News]



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Treat this one as pure speculation, because frankly, that's what it is. A "high-ranking official" at Samsung let slip that the company is...
 

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KeynoteKen

I don't see Apple making a 2GHz part. Yes, very possible, but I think Apple's more concerned about using their chip company purchases to wring more performance out of a 1GHz chip.

What this tells me is that everyone else will be forced to use a power hungry 2GHz chip from Samsung (or Nvidia or...) while Apple will be shipping the next iPad with a chip that outperforms the current one while offering a power and price that competitors still won't be able to touch.

April 20 2011 at 10:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
4 replies to KeynoteKen's comment
Mike

Thanks Sam. Good stuff. I like articles like this.

April 20 2011 at 10:27 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
drumrobot

Am I missing something here?
Title: "Tenuous rumor pegs iPad 3 CPU as a dual-core 2GHz part"
Quote: "...planning to release a 2GHz dual-core CPU-equipped smartphone by next year."

When did the iPad become a smartphone?

April 20 2011 at 8:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to drumrobot's comment
Samuel Gibbs

It didn't, but Samsung Semiconductor, the guys who actually make the chips in Samsung Mobile's phones, make the A4/A5, and so the tech that they use to fabricate any 2GHz chips, should in theory, be available to Apple if they want it. I did say it was pure speculation, not by me I might add.

April 20 2011 at 8:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Pata

The Apple A5 SoC, currently in the iPad 2, contains Samsung's Cortex A9 CPU which is also used in Samsung's smartphone lineup. So, if Samsung will be creating a dual-core 2GHz CPU for their smartphones, it's probable that it will also show up in products by other companies that Samsung does business with (ie Apple and the iPad 3).

April 20 2011 at 9:02 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ryan Rife

With Samsung and Apple suing each other, I'll bet money that Apple finds a new chip supplier for the next iteration of iDevices.

April 20 2011 at 8:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Ryan Rife's comment
Pata

I doubt Apple would switch vendors (at least in regards to the lawsuit) nor will Samsung stop dealing with them.

If I remember correctly, the different arms of Samsung are run independently of each other. So, the lawsuit against Samsung's handset division shouldn't have any affect on the chip/manufacturing division. In the end, the lawsuit is just a bi-product of big business. These things happen, and I don't believe either Apple or Samsung would be petty enough to cease their relationship - regardless of the outcome. If Apple were to switch to a different chip maker it would be simply because they were able to offer them a better deal than Samsung could.

April 20 2011 at 8:54 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Izzy

I agree with Pata. Tech companies sue each other all the time but they won't let it stand in the way of making money. This isn't personal, it's business.

April 20 2011 at 11:04 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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