5.5-inch iPhone 6 Said to Sport More Powerful Chip than 4.7-inch Model

Apple could use a more powerful chip with the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 than in the 4.7-inch version, claims Cowen & Co analyst Timothy Arcuri in a note issued to investors and obtained by AppleInsider.

Iphone 6 dummy

According to supply chain sources speaking with the analyst, Apple plans to differentiate the two iPhone 6 models – not only by screen size, but processing power as well. The company has made similar moves in the past: the same A7 SoC was used in both the iPad mini with Retina and iPad Air: although clocked at different speeds: 1.29GHz and 1.39GHz, respectively.

There are signs, however, that the difference will be more than semantic: Arcuri’s sources whispered something about a chip with a larger die for the 5.5-inch version.

A larger die might be a sign that the 5.5-inch model will feature additional on-die silicon, such as a larger array of graphics processing cores. Alternatively, it might suggest that Apple will make the two chips — believed to be the “A8” — in different fabrication plants using different processes.

In addition to screen size, and better chip, Arcuri says Apple will add another differentiator to the 5.5-inch iPhone: it will sport different touch modules. TPK is Apple’s touch module supplier, but according to Arcuri, Apple will use the silver nanowire technology for the iPhablet, technology also rumoured for use with the iWatch.

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