The iPhone 6 is expected to come in two different sizes (and possibly bear two different names), and unsurprisingly, there’s now a report suggesting that they might have two differently sized processors. The suggestion comes from analyst Timothy Arcuri of Cowen and Co., who cites his own checks of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s supply chain.
Two different iPhone 6 models
According to Arcuri, the 5.5-inch model will have an app processor that is more powerful than the 4.7-inch model. However, he didn’t provide too many exact details on the two said processors. If he’s right, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise. As Apple Insider notes, the iPad Air’s A7 processor clocks in at 1.39 GHz, while the iPad Mini with Retina display, which is identical in every other way except for size, clocks in at 1.29 GHz.
The analyst also suggested that the larger model could have a processor with a bigger die, meaning that the architecture of the two iPhone 6 models could be a bit different as well. For example, the 5.5-inch model could have on-die silicon, which could mean a bigger set of cores for graphics processing.
iPhone 6 rumors
Also it’s possible Apple is manufacturing the two chips in different plants using different manufacturing processors. This appears to line up with previous rumors that suggested Apple would split its chip orders for the iPhone 6. That report suggested that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE:TSM) could receive some of the orders and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930) could receive the rest of them. However, more recent rumors suggested that TSMC had won all of the orders for the iPhone 6.
Arcuri also believes that both the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 handsets could have different touch modules. Currently TPK makes the iPhone’s touch modules, although the Taipei-based company is also rumored to have been selected to make the rumored iWatch’s silver nanowire-based parts, according to Apple Insider.
