Apple has Reportedly Tested 64-Bit A7 Chips for iPhone 5S

Apple has Reportedly Tested 64-Bit A7 Chips for iPhone 5S

As the iPhone 5S event creeps ever nearer, new “details” about the upcoming device’s innards continue to be revealed. Fox News’ Clayton Morris claims via Twitter that the iPhone 5S’s A7 processor is running “at about 31% faster” than the current A6 used in the iPhone 5.

Main A-series chip from prototype iPhone 5S (Courtesy MacRumors)
Main A-series chip from prototype iPhone 5S (Courtesy MacRumors)

9to5Mac

However, there could be a major differentiator: 64-bit. We’ve independently heard claims that some of the iPhone 5S internal prototypes include 64-bit processors.

It’s unclear if 64-bit will make the cut, but it’s been in testing. We’re told that the 64-bit processing will assist the A7 chip in making animations, transparencies, and other iOS 7 graphical effects appear much more smoothly than on existing iOS Devices…

9to5Mac notes that the upcoming fifth-generation iPad will likely use the same chips, or a more advanced model in order to push the iPad’s additional pixels around.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has noted in the past that a move to 64-bit processors is likely in the near-future, saying if it doesn’t happen with the A7, he expects to see it in the A8.

Another interesting tweet from Morris indicates that the iPhone 5S will include a new chip dedicated to motion tracking. He speculates it could be part of the camera upgrade on the new handset.

9to5Mac reports that their sources indicate that while a fingerprint scanner is also indeed in the cards for the iPhone 5S, the sensors they’ve heard about in testing are not activated by a swipe of the finger as seen in other types, but the user will simply hold their finger down on the Home Button to be authenticated.

Recently, well-sourced analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, iMore editor in chief Rene Ritchie, 9to5Mac reporter Mark Gurman, and MG Seigler of TechCrunch have added additional weight to the idea of a gold iPhone, which is practically confirmed at this point.

The device is also expected to feature up to 128GB of storage,  significant under-the-hood upgrades (including a new custom Apple A7 chip with 64-bit processing), dual-LED Flash, a larger battery, a vastly improved camera, and more. The device is expected to launch sometime this fall, with the most recent reports suggesting it will be unveiled at a September 10 media event.