A7 Processor to Be 31% Faster and 64-Bit, iPhone 5S to Support Motion Tracking?

The next-generation A7 processor in the iPhone 5S will be roughly 31 percent faster than the current A6, according to a tweet by Fox News' Clayton Morris. His sources have also mentioned a "separate chip devoted to motion tracking".

It's unclear how Apple would use motion tracking abilities, but it could be developing a new control scheme that uses motion gestures like Samsung has built into its Galaxy S series of smartphones. A profile of Jony Ive by Bloomberg earlier this year may support this hypothesis:

Longer term, Ive also has shown interest in altering how people control their computers. He has met with makers of gesture technology that lets people navigate their gadgets by moving their hands -- without touching the screen, said a personal familiar with those interactions.

iphone_5S_chip

Main A-series chip from prototype iPhone 5S

Separately, 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman writes that Apple has been testing 64-bit prototypes of the A7 chip, potentially for use in the iPhone 5S.

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 make animations, transparencies, and other iOS 7 graphical effects appear much more smoothly than on existing iOS Devices…

Last September, semiconductor analyst Linley Gwennap claimed that Apple was working on a 64-bit ARMv8 solution for launch in 2014, and Apple may simply be testing future processor architectures in iPhone 5S prototype units. That report claimed the logical upgrade for the A7 would be a quad-core architecture and continued increases in graphics capabilities.

Previous leaks have shown an A7 chip -- pictured above -- with an Apple model number of APL0698, while the original A6 had a model number of APL0598. The A6X found in the fourth-generation iPad carries an APL5598 model number, demonstrating how Apple varies the first digit for members of a given A-series family and increments the second digit when transitioning to a new family.

The iPhone 5S is expected to be unveiled at a media event on September 10.

Popular Stories

Generic iOS 19 Feature Mock Light

iOS 19 Leak Reveals All-New Design

Friday January 17, 2025 2:42 pm PST by
iOS 19 is still around six months away from being announced, but a new leak has allegedly revealed a completely redesigned Camera app. Based on footage it obtained, YouTube channel Front Page Tech shared a video showing what the new Camera app will apparently look like, with the key change being translucent menus for camera controls. Overall, the design of these menus looks similar to...
2024 App Store Awards

Apple Explains Why It Removed TikTok From the App Store in the U.S.

Sunday January 19, 2025 6:58 am PST by
Apple on late Saturday removed TikTok from the App Store in the U.S., and it has now explained why it was required to take this action. Last year, the U.S. passed a law that required Chinese company ByteDance to divest its ownership of TikTok due to potential national security risks, or else the platform would be banned. That law went into effect today, and companies like Apple and Google...
2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

Apple Changes Trade-In Values for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and More

Thursday January 16, 2025 6:45 am PST by
Apple today adjusted estimated trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models in the U.S., according to its website. Some values increased, while others decreased. The changes were not too significant, with most values rising or dropping by $5 to $50. We have outlined some examples below: Device New Value Old Value iPhone 15 Pro Max Up to $630 U ...
Generic iOS 18

Everything New in iOS 18.3 Beta 3

Thursday January 16, 2025 12:39 pm PST by
Apple provided the third beta of iOS 18.3 to developers today, and while the betas have so far been light on new features, the third beta makes some major changes to Notification Summaries and also tweaks a few other features. Notification Summary Changes Apple made multiple changes to Notification Summaries in response to complaints about inaccurate summaries of news headlines. For...
iOS 19 Roundup Feature

iOS 19 Rumored to Be Compatible With These iPhones

Saturday January 18, 2025 10:28 am PST by
iOS 19 will not drop support for any iPhone models, according to French website iPhoneSoft.fr. The report cited a source who said iOS 19 will be compatible with any iPhone that can run iOS 18, which would mean the following models: iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhon...
airtag 4 pack blue

AirTag 2 Launching This Year With These 3 New Features

Sunday January 19, 2025 8:11 am PST by
After a four-year wait, a new AirTag is finally expected to launch in 2025. Below, we recap rumored upgrades for the accessory. A few months ago, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple was aiming to release the AirTag 2 around the middle of 2025. While he did not offer a more specific timeframe, that means the AirTag 2 could be announced by the end of June. The original AirTag was announced...
iPhone SE Dynamic Island Majin Bu

iPhone SE 4 Leak Shows Dynamic Island, Casts Doubt on Rumored 'iPhone 16E' Name

Monday January 20, 2025 9:01 am PST by
A new iPhone SE is widely rumored to launch this year, and the device has potentially been confirmed today by known leaker Evan Blass. In a private social media post, Blass shared an image of what appears to be source code mentioning an iPhone SE (4th Gen), which casts doubt on the alternative "iPhone 16E" name rumored for the device. However, the name in the source code could be a...
iPad Pro vs iPhone 17 Air Feature

Here's How Thin the iPhone 17 Air Might Be

Friday January 17, 2025 3:38 pm PST by
For the last several months, we've been hearing rumors about a redesigned version of the iPhone 17 that Apple might call the iPhone 17 "Air," or something along those lines. It's going to replace the iPhone 17 Plus as Apple's fourth iPhone option, and it will be offered alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. We know the iPhone 17 Air is going to be super slim, but...

Top Rated Comments

Intell Avatar
149 months ago
64-bit seems unlikely since it would require a complete re-write of the iOS kernel, and existing 32-bit applications would need to be run in emulation. Wouldn't we have seen some signs in the developer toolkit if it were 64-bit?

Because iOS is based off of Mac OS X, there would be no need for Windows-type 32-bit emulation. Instead an existing 32-bit application would work seamlessly with the OS and kernel, as 32-bit apps work in the 64-bit only Lion+.
Score: 39 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JarJarThomas Avatar
149 months ago
They should've just done 64bit on iOS from day 1. Obviously this day would come eventually. Intel and AMD had 64 bit processors in 2003-4.

Yes and from day one they should support hyperthreading, and a desktop class gpu, and sse, altivec, mmx, and virtualization and 16gb ram and 1tb ssd
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KPOM Avatar
149 months ago
64-bit seems unlikely since it would require a complete re-write of the iOS kernel, and existing 32-bit applications would need to be run in emulation. Wouldn't we have seen some signs in the developer toolkit if it were 64-bit?
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Detrius Avatar
149 months ago
a fingerprint scanner is a gimmick, a larger screen is not.

there are more people that want a larger screen than people who want a fingerprint scanner. this is a fact.
If I can wave my phone over something to spend my money, I sure want some assurance that it knows I'm the one doing it. I don't want people to be able to drain my account just because they sat down next to me at a restaurant or just because my phone happens to be unlocked. It's only a gimmick if you don't understand the big picture.

Also, sometimes, people don't know what they want. Sometimes you have to show them the better way despite their insistence they want something else rather than giving them what they asked for.

I definitely do NOT want a monstrous screen on my phone. That's what my iPad and my 27" monitor are for. My phone is supposed to fit in my pocket.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
runeapple Avatar
149 months ago
Jesus... People are complaining about a processor which isn't confirmed for being "only" 30% faster...

Seriously what can't you do on the iPhone 5 now? What are you hoping to do on the 5S which needs more than 30% speed improvements? Want it to replace the Hadron Colider?
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Intell Avatar
149 months ago
They should've just done 64bit on iOS from day 1. Obviously this day would come eventually. Intel and AMD had 64 bit processors in 2003-4.

That would not have been possible. ARM 64-bit CPU's are only just starting to become a reality. Back in 2007, they weren't even on the ARM roadmap and using an Intell or AMD mobile CPU in an iPhone would have been a disaster.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)