Find Out if Your iPhone 6s / 6s Plus Has a Good or Bad A9 CPU [u]

As previously reported, the A9 processor of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus were dual sourced by Apple from Samsung and TSMC. However, the differences between the two chips was not evident before, though some fans assumed the smaller 96mm² by Samsung would be the superior chip. Turns out, the TSMC A9 has approximately 2 hours better battery performance than the Samsung chip, as confirmed by results of several tests conducted and reported by users via forums on Reddit and MacRumors (via Engadget).

Screen

An unsigned program by a developer named Hiraku Jira (download and install at your own risk) lets you identify which chip is in your iPhone 6s or 6s Plus, and is also charting the results of everyone who tests their device. The source notes that 70% of 6s phones have the TSMC processor while only 40% of 6s Plus phones have the TSMC inside.

You can also identify your processor though a free app called Lirum Device Info Lite directly from the App Store (UPDATE: Lirum Free has been pulled; try this app instead). Simply open the app and look at the main page under “Model” the results are:

  • N66AP (6s plus) or N71AP (6s) – Samsung chip
  • N66MAP (6s plus) or N71MAP (6s) – TSMC chip

So guys, did you get your iPhone 6s with the good A9 chip or the (relatively) bad one?

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chrisancheezy
chrisancheezy
10 years ago

I got the USMAN chip.

Gary
Reply to  chrisancheezy
10 years ago

Lol that chip is the best!

Mark Holoubek
Mark Holoubek
10 years ago

Awesome! I have the N66MAP chip! No Samsung! (Wish I had the USMAN chip though ;-))

Kamal
Kamal
10 years ago

I was wondering how come my 6splus had this good battery life. I have the N66mAp

Darmok
Darmok
10 years ago

My 6S plus has been significantly better than my 6 plus which was really good. Yup, N66mAP.

poopchute
poopchute
10 years ago

The “System Status” app also lists the chip. I’m not sure if its accurate, but It says I have the Samsung. (sniff sniff)

Ryan Peterson
Ryan Peterson
10 years ago

So I have the N71AP (6s) Samsung chip. Is there relation between this chip and the issue with the phone auto-magically rebooting or just going black (my AppleWatch still sees the phone; just the screen is black) and needs a hard reboot?

Mac
Mac
10 years ago

N71AP.. God damn it!!!

Is there a way to replace the phone?

1His_Nibs1
1His_Nibs1
Reply to  Mac
10 years ago

I’d like to know that too!

McNucklefuts
McNucklefuts
Reply to  Mac
10 years ago

Seconded!

1His_Nibs1
1His_Nibs1
Reply to  Mac
10 years ago

Do you have Apple Care? If so I’d try to get it changed. Nothing to lose. If they do replace it can you reply back to me? I’d greatly appreciate it.

Mac
Mac
Reply to  1His_Nibs1
10 years ago

Unfortunately I don’t. I didn’t not foresee this situation! lol

Raz
Raz
Reply to  Mac
10 years ago

You can still get it. You have 30days.

bionicmonk
bionicmonk
Reply to  Raz
10 years ago

14 days from the Apple store.

1His_Nibs1
1His_Nibs1
Reply to  Raz
10 years ago

30 days from who? Best Buy, your carrier? How would one go about getting it replaced? What would be the reason? Battery issues?

Raz
Raz
Reply to  1His_Nibs1
10 years ago

30 days to activate apple care. :/

1His_Nibs1
1His_Nibs1
Reply to  Raz
10 years ago

Cool! Thanks ; )

Kevin
Kevin
Reply to  Mac
10 years ago

Returning it.

Marc Dubé
Marc Dubé
10 years ago

Could serial number tells difference ? Usefull when you want to by one without opening the box ….

1His_Nibs1
1His_Nibs1
10 years ago

Is there a way to tell by any other means? I’m waiting on a 6s plus & wonder if I can take back if I get the shittier chip. Anyone know if Apple will take care of you? Or is it the luck of the draw & too bad for you.

Jezzah
Jezzah
10 years ago

N66mAP master race here

Gary
Reply to  Jezzah
10 years ago

Same here!

bionicmonk
bionicmonk
Reply to  Gary
10 years ago

Woohoo! I need to change my pickup lines to reflect this new development.

Gary
Reply to  bionicmonk
10 years ago

Lol

McNucklefuts
McNucklefuts
10 years ago

I have the Samsung one I think. According to the code from the free app.

Tom Gray
10 years ago

Woot!! N71MAP for me on my iPhone 6s
I used the free system status app that Poopchute mentioned to find out

dvdung1997
dvdung1997
10 years ago

I used to want to change my Gold iPhone 6s Plus to Space Grey, but now I don’t want to anymore, as I’ve just discovered that my Gold iPhone has the N66mAP chip!

Ex
Ex
10 years ago

TSMC 6S+ ftw!

Gary
Reply to  Ex
10 years ago

You da man, Ex

Ex
Ex
Reply to  Gary
10 years ago

We are the 40%.

johnnygoodface
johnnygoodface
10 years ago

Ouf! Got the TSMC N66MAP chip!

1His_Nibs1
1His_Nibs1
Reply to  johnnygoodface
10 years ago

Which phone 6s or plus?

1His_Nibs1
1His_Nibs1
10 years ago

I hope that video is right otherwise I see a class action lawsuit against Apple for misrepresentation.

Cowboy Up
Cowboy Up
10 years ago

Mine is the N71MAP (6s) – TSMC chip. But compared to my iPhone 6 it has a pretty bad batery life. It’s lasting 3 hours less than my iPhone 6 with the same configuration. I’m very disappointed about that.

wuju
wuju
10 years ago

Mine is the iPhone 6S, space grey with model N71mAP

Anyone having a spinning wheel next to the wifi signal on theirs with the latest iOS 9.0.2.

Reset my network setting and it went away for a little while, and now it’s back and spinning all the time. I do believe it cause battery drain… any solution to this?

Crosseyedmofo
Crosseyedmofo
10 years ago

N66mAP

w00t

xxxJDxxx
xxxJDxxx
10 years ago

S8003?? Anyone else get that?

Gary
Reply to  xxxJDxxx
10 years ago

What app are you using?

xxxJDxxx
xxxJDxxx
Reply to  Gary
10 years ago

The “unofficial” one you guys linked to Above

OliChabot
OliChabot
10 years ago

The app tells me I have the TMSC chip, altough I found that my 6S doesn’t have the best battery and I mostly need to charge it before the end of the day. I can’t imagine people with Samsung…

1His_Nibs1
1His_Nibs1
10 years ago

N66MAP!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!! FTW!!!!!!!

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