Apple A7 vs Snapdragon 800, sealed batteries, and software updates: Q&A Episode 18

posted by Ray S. / Mar 25, 2014, 3:50 AM

PhoneArena presents episode 18 of our Q&A series. This time, we're taking a few minutes to discuss some intriguing topics. For example, why can't the Snapdragon 800 beat Apple's A7 SoC, even if it's quad-core and clocked much higher? If you want to learn more about that, as well as why some companies tend to seal the batteries of their devices, watch our Q&A Episode 18!

Be sure to post your questions below for next time!

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41 Comments

1. TylerGrunter

Posts: 1544; Member since: Feb 16, 2012

Ray S. please! The A7 and the Snapdragon 800 show similar performance only in multithreaded benchmarks. And that's not because any optimization (geekbench uses native code in both platforms), but because: a) A7 uses 2 Cylone cores, those are 6 paths wide and have a much higher IPC (instructions per cycle) than A15 at the same frequency, as they use ARMv8 instruction set instead of ARMv7 like the A15 or Krait cores. b) S800 uses 4 Krait 400 cores, 3 wide but clocked at a much higher frequency. The en result is simlar multithreaded performance but a huge advantage to the A7 in single threaded performance. That has very little to do with software optimizations.

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 4:24 AM 3

6. Arte-8800

Posts: 4562; Member since: Mar 13, 2014

thats what i was explaining to PAPASMURF and he was telling i was lying and making this NONSENSE up, he knows nothing about CPU and couldnt counter attack the disput and then diverts the subject and says i lost, how delusional of him. AND HE SAYS THE S800,S801,S805 IS STILL POWERFULL THAN THE A15. LMFAO...

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 5:34 AM 0

22. TylerGrunter

Posts: 1544; Member since: Feb 16, 2012

With krait 400 vs A15s it depends how you count. If you count IPC the A15 are for sure better. BUT if you count performance they are around the same values as Qualcomm has managed to use higher boost frequencies. In fact the Krait cores comes on top many times. Galaxy Pro 8.4 (S800) against Galaxy Pro 10.1 (Exynos 5420), the S800 comes on top mos of of the time.http://anandtech.com/show/7886/samsung-galaxy-tab-pro-84-and-101-review/6

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 7:54 AM 0

25. Arte-8800

Posts: 4562; Member since: Mar 13, 2014

but the Exynos is clocked at lower freq at 1.6 vs 2.3, obviously it will very slightly, but when clocked the same as s800 it will be the underdog the A15 will be on 42000 antutu vs 36000 i had a s4 Exynos4210 non lte rooted custom rom with kernels and overclocked it to 2.5ghz yes 2.5, it was faaaaast huge diffrence, voltage was set high cpu threshold high cpu govenor was on performance mode than ondeman which every phone comes standard, battery drainage was 30% more cause the A15 draws more power but in return its really fast, temprature rose to 50degres felt hot but who cares didnt give a dam,

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 8:15 AM 0

28. TylerGrunter

Posts: 1544; Member since: Feb 16, 2012

The Exynos is clocked at 1.9, not 1.6 MGz. And if they don't clock the A15s higher is because they draw too much power and heat the SoC too much. So yes, A15s have higher IPC, but as far they can't be clocked at the same frequency as the krait 400 I don't care if they are krait 400 or A15 as they end up having similar performance. Just my personal take on performance.

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 8:38 AM 0

26. Arte-8800

Posts: 4562; Member since: Mar 13, 2014

see the s800 needs to run on 2.3 to achieve the same performanse as the A15 at 1.6, so yes the A15 is way much better

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 8:17 AM 0

10. Arte-8800

Posts: 4562; Member since: Mar 13, 2014

ANANDTECH AND XDA ARE PROS AT CPU GPU NOT PA

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 5:58 AM 1

13. brrunopt

Posts: 742; Member since: Aug 15, 2013

exactly, i'm really tired of al the BS going around ...

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 6:05 AM 0

2. xperiaDROID

Posts: 5629; Member since: Mar 08, 2013

Hey Ray, can you recommend me some 10 inch Android tablets that have a medium price with good performance and good display? Thanks.

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 4:35 AM 0

14. NightFelix

Posts: 60; Member since: Apr 29, 2013

Google Nexus 10 goes on sales today new set (32GB) on ebay @ 299 dollar only.

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 6:18 AM 0

33. RandomUsername

Posts: 808; Member since: Oct 29, 2013

Kindle Fire HDX 8.9. Root it and put CM on it :D

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 3:40 PM 0

3. vincelongman

Posts: 5723; Member since: Feb 10, 2013

Mobile SoC are so powerfully now, they're starting to catch up with laptops! 100 GFLOPS = Tegra 4 100 = Mali-T628 (Exynos 5420) 115 = G6430 (iPad Air's A7) 130 = S800 160 = S801 250 = G6630 (maybe in the A8?) 325 = Mali-T760 MP16 (maybe next Exynos SoC?) 365 = K1 ??? = S805 (unreleased) 230 = PS3 240 = X360 1320 = XONE 1840 = PS4 & R9 265 (AMD's $150 GPU) 330 = HD 4000 430-830 = HD 4400-5200 Can't simply compare GFLOPS, as most GPUs are based off different architectures, have different CPUs and run off different APIs. But still mobile GPU are catching up. Can't wait to see the Tegra 5 (K1), A8 and S805!

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 4:40 AM 2

7. Arte-8800

Posts: 4562; Member since: Mar 13, 2014

s805 HAS 40^% MORE GPU POWER WHICH STILL FALLS BEHIND G6630 160X40%;200GF

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 5:36 AM 0

11. vincelongman

Posts: 5723; Member since: Feb 10, 2013

Hopefully its more, otherwise the Tegra 5 and A8 will have far better GPUs.

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 6:01 AM 0

12. brrunopt

Posts: 742; Member since: Aug 15, 2013

for instance the HD5100 and HD5200 have similar GFLOPS but the HD5200 is more than 2x more powerfull thanks to the 128MB of eDRAM

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 6:04 AM 0

32. vincelongman

Posts: 5723; Member since: Feb 10, 2013

Yep, that's another reason why you can't simply compare GFLOPS. I womder if mobile SoC might have eDRAM in the future. I know the A7 has some type of built in memory, but it only for storing your finger prints.

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 1:04 PM 0

4. tusshharish

Posts: 342; Member since: Oct 23, 2012

Does we need Qhd display in our smartphones????

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 5:21 AM 0

8. Arte-8800

Posts: 4562; Member since: Mar 13, 2014

lumia920s screen vs 1520 screen can you see the diffrence?

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 5:41 AM 0

5. Duketytz

Posts: 534; Member since: Nov 28, 2013

Hey Ray is it possible if you can give your views on the various phones that are going to be announced and which one do you think have the best potential to be the top-seller this year?

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 5:23 AM 0

9. Arte-8800

Posts: 4562; Member since: Mar 13, 2014

htcm8 s5 z2 lg3 ip5s

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 5:43 AM 0

15. itsdeepak4u2000

Posts: 3718; Member since: Nov 03, 2012

Simple S5. ;)

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 6:24 AM 1

16. Arte-8800

Posts: 4562; Member since: Mar 13, 2014

THATS being bias all 5 are great

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 6:29 AM 0

17. itsdeepak4u2000

Posts: 3718; Member since: Nov 03, 2012

Not bias, I know all would be great flagships but he asked top-seller this year. Sammy is leading as of now with past records and global market share. :) If any of the 4 goes up then its would be a surprise.

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 6:47 AM 1

18. Arte-8800

Posts: 4562; Member since: Mar 13, 2014

well thats true last year s4 won the year befor s3 year befor s2 note2 note3 note all great speced devices but EFIN PLASTIC I REALLY HATE HATE, i have a NOTE3 though

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 7:00 AM 1

19. itsdeepak4u2000

Posts: 3718; Member since: Nov 03, 2012

Haha... So people like you increasing the sales.

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 7:06 AM 0

20. tasior

Posts: 265; Member since: Nov 04, 2012

Hey Ray. My friend's Xperia Z, unsticked its back, and then broke in half in his pocket. How is Your Xperia holding up? What Dou You think about Sony's handsets build quality? is it better than Samsung's?

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 7:49 AM 0

21. Arte-8800

Posts: 4562; Member since: Mar 13, 2014

Sonyz uses Dragontrail glass which is better than Samsungs cheap plastic. look up Dragontrail vs polycarbonate on Google

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 7:53 AM 0

24. tasior

Posts: 265; Member since: Nov 04, 2012

Yes, but I'm asking about entire build quality, not just screen. I always thaught, that among Android, Sony has the best build quality. Now, my friend's situation, makes me rethink that. He's furious. He bought it in two year contract, and he's got another year to go. Now he is stuck with he's old HTC Desire Z and Android 2.3...

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 8:04 AM 0

27. Arte-8800

Posts: 4562; Member since: Mar 13, 2014

the entire sonyz is made with dragontrail which is better than gorrila glass3 the front and back is all glass if you take the peeling of which is really hard at the front and back there you can see and feel the diffrence, samsung uses gorrila3 at front and cheap bendable plastic at rear rooting and custom rom is another option which the desire z will get ics or jelly bean with custom roms like AOKP ASOP CYNAGEN MOD

posted on Mar 25, 2014, 8:21 AM 0

41. gigaraga

Posts: 1454; Member since: Mar 29, 2013

At least the plastic means easier to replace batteries, and not poor quality glass easily shattered thing...plastic holds up way better and feels better to the touch than glass or whatever

posted on Apr 28, 2014, 7:39 PM 0

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