iPhone X A11 chip with six processor cores to be Apple's most powerful yet

by Alan Friedman / Sep 11, 2017, 2:57 AM

iPhone X A11 chip with six processor cores to be Apple's most powerful yet

The quick leak of the iOS 11 Gold Master is like the gift that keeps giving. As developers go through this treasure trove of information, more interesting tidbits relating to iOS 11 and the 2017 iPhone models get disseminated. This particular bit of information has to do with the Apple A11 system chip that will be powering the tenth anniversary iPhone.

According to developer Steve Troughton-Smith, the iOS 11 leak revealed that the Apple A11 chip will feature six processor cores. Two cores are named Monsoon and will be used for tasks requiring high power, such as gaming and video manipulation. The remaining four Mistral cores handle the lighter housekeeping – texting and checking email, for instance. The A10 Fusion used on the 2016 Apple iPhone 7 and Apple iPhone 7 Plus carries four cores, two for high performance and two for high efficiency. The A10X used on the refreshed version of the iPad Pro comes with three high powered Hurricane cores, and three high efficiency Zephyr cores.

Just to clarify on the A11: it's two high-power Monsoon cores and four low-power Mistral cores, all independently addressable. No Fusion
— Steve T-S (@stroughtonsmith) September 10, 2017

Another curious detail is that the Apple A11 could be capable of running all its CPU cores independently – software could be able to access multiple cores of any kind, depending on the task at hand. And all could run simultaneously if maximum power is required. The A10 Fusion could use only its high-performance or low-power cores at any given time.

Correction: it's 4 little cores and 2 big ones, with all of them being able to run at the same time.
— Longhorn (@never_released) September 10, 2017

All of this means that the next iPhone models would be more powerful than before thanks to the additional processing muscle. At the same time, the extra power-efficient cores and the ability to access any core independently bodes well for energy saving and battery life.

Apple is expected to announce the next range of iPhones at an official event set for August 12. The announcement will be livestreamed by Apple and covered in depth right here on our pages. Until then, here's what you need to read to catch up on what's coming.

source: Steve T-S (Twitter), Longhorn (Twitter)

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45 Comments

1. AVVA1

Posts: 228; Member since: Aug 01, 2017

Excited to meet this beast tomorrow! :)

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 3:03 AM 8

16. Arch_Fiend

Posts: 3951; Member since: Oct 03, 2015

I have always though the hex core architecture was the ultimate combo of power and efficiency be it a 2/4 combo or 3/3.I was super excited for the SD808, it really is a shame that qualcomm made a mockery of the hex core architecture with that one, I am at least hoping Apple can succeed where qualcomm failed and do the architecture justice. It goes without saying that I too am very excited to see just how good this new SOC really is.

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 4:41 AM 1

25. trojan_horse

Posts: 5868; Member since: May 06, 2016

Qualcomm won't shrink down the core count for .big cores to 2 and use the hexa-core setup for it's top-of-the-range SoC... So, that means the Snapdragon 808 wasn't meant to be the best Qualcomm could offer in 2015. Apple is gonna use the hexa-core setup for it's best SoC of the year, Qualcomm would not, since QC already uses an octa-core setup for that and it works better than a hexa-core one, 4/4 instead of 2/4 or 3/3.

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 6:32 AM 1

45. mikehunta727 unregistered

Qualcomms implementation is not better than Apple's choice of going 2+4 core setup in the A11. I mean, the S835 with all 8 cores barely beats the A10 with only 2 cores in multi threaded/core performance. Now you have 2 more stronger big cores in A11 vs A10, with now 2 more power efficient cores in A11 vs A10. 2+4 in the A11 can all now be used at once unlike the A10. A11 will have dramatically better multi core performance vs the 835 and even over the 845 which will be based on Cortex A75 from ARM since Apple is now jumping into the HMP game (use all cores at once instead of just one set of cores at a time) At the end of the day, fierce competition is fantastic for us consumers and tech enthusiast; A11 will be special from a technical stand point.

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 1:23 PM 0

50. Arch_Fiend

Posts: 3951; Member since: Oct 03, 2015

I know it wasn't mean to be the best but was meant to be a good second best and it fall way short of that, then again maybe it was there best chip at the time given the massive problems the SD810 was having. They should have did a much better job at optimizing the SD808 for sustained performance but they crippled it instead.

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 4:32 PM 0

2. collin3000

Posts: 70; Member since: Apr 28, 2015

I think you mean official event set for September 12 not August 12

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 3:07 AM 4

3. ibend

Posts: 6747; Member since: Sep 30, 2014

"4 cores for a smartphone is useless.. 2 cores is enough to run iOS" - Sheeple (2011-2015) "8 cores for a smartphone is useless.. 4 cores is enough to run iOS" - Sheeple (2016) "8 cores for a smartphone is useless.. 6 cores is enough to run iOS" - Sheeple (2017)

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 3:10 AM 22

4. jqnsgr

Posts: 10; Member since: Feb 29, 2016

In fact, iPhone 6S with 2 cores will run iOS 11. Kisses.

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 3:17 AM 12

7. trojan_horse

Posts: 5868; Member since: May 06, 2016

And... Android handsets with 2 cores can't run the lightweight iOS? Even four Cortex-A53 cores can run Android Nougat with ease.

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 3:30 AM 4

5. adecvat

Posts: 662; Member since: Nov 15, 2013

Yep, that is why iPhone 8 will use two cores exactly as before.

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 3:18 AM 2

11. whatev

Posts: 2444; Member since: Oct 28, 2015

2017: android herd still butthurt and bitter because the iPhone is the fastest and best performance and best selling in the world and apple the most valuable company like 4 times their fav brand with the highest profits that the others could never dream of < 3

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 4:01 AM 9

14. NoToFanboys

Posts: 3231; Member since: Oct 03, 2015

LMAO, ibend was just pointing out Sheeple hypocrisy, no butthurt there, it is a known fact that iPhones have the fastest SoCs out there. I think you're the one butthurt just because someone pointed out your fellow sheeple.

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 4:20 AM 11

17. whatev

Posts: 2444; Member since: Oct 28, 2015

I’ve never been against hardware improvement by apple, but the fact that an iPhone as old as the iPhone 5S is going to be updated to iOS 11 is showing that even a 2013 dual core processor is enough for the latest iOS version, what I hate is android trolls provoking in every apple article, it’s like their guilty pleasure; and despite they “hate” phonearena they are the most regular visitors on this site making it a cash cow for the authors, I don’t have these habits regarding android articles and specialized blogs, I’m not such a psycho

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 4:55 AM 4

20. Heisenberg

Posts: 378; Member since: Feb 11, 2015

The same old iPhone 5s has the almost same hardware, look and features of the current iPhone 7. Moreso, the iOS 11 that iphone 5s will receive is just change in user interface and os number. Everything else remains the same.

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 5:22 AM 1

21. Heisenberg

Posts: 378; Member since: Feb 11, 2015

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 5:24 AM 0

22. whatev

Posts: 2444; Member since: Oct 28, 2015

Yeah, I know cause the file manager, screen recording, the new screenshot, payment via iMessage, dark mode and so on are available since iOS 7...

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 5:55 AM 0

23. NoToFanboys

Posts: 3231; Member since: Oct 03, 2015

I get it, android trolls in this site are cancerous, and I agree on all your points. But please, stop talking as if only one side is at fault, and do not turn a blind eye on Apple trolls that are equally cancerous on this site, and don't give me that bullcrap that Apple trolls here are minimal. I don't see you bashing hypocritical and downright retarded trolls from the other side, you even support them sometimes.

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 6:18 AM 4

24. whatev

Posts: 2444; Member since: Oct 28, 2015

I understand your point and I know there are some apple trolls on android articles but I don’t get involved on their provoking because I’m not like them, I only support them when they are attacking an android troll who generally provoke the fights on apple articles, I’ve already said before that I’m sick of cancerous android trolls, they are everywhere long before I began using iOS, talking about Symbian S60 or ^3 times, those are ancient times! I bet some of the trolls here were born in those years lol

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 6:29 AM 0

34. xfire99

Posts: 1207; Member since: Mar 14, 2012

Enough to get latest iOS, but not enough to get all the features. Oh well, at least it get a higher number iOS version and that is enough to satisfies most iOS users.

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 11:23 AM 0

47. whatev

Posts: 2444; Member since: Oct 28, 2015

At least they will get some features, that’s better than staying forever on the same version the phone was released with, stay mad and bitter, kisses ;-)

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 2:10 PM 0

28. Well-Manicured-Man

Posts: 726; Member since: Jun 16, 2015

Dude. iOS works best with the amount of cores that Apple designs it for. If Apple wants iOS to operate best with 2 cores, then Apple designs it so. If Apple wants iOS to work best with 4 or 6 cores then Apple designs iOS this way. Apple owns its own operating system. Qualcomm doesn’t. That is why iOS on 2 cores can outperform Android on 8 or even 10 cores. Based on Apple’ s excellent performance in the CPU department in the last years, I trust Apple to deliver like the last years the best in smartphone class performance.

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 6:59 AM 3

35. domfonusr

Posts: 1101; Member since: Jan 17, 2014

All in all, Apple has been catching up in performance at an astonishing rate, not to mention slaying the Snapdragon chips in benchmarks. Yeah, Apple only uses six cores this time, which is less compared to Snapdragon 835/836's eight cores, but in the next few years Apple will be able to either match or leapfrog Qualcomm in terms of direct comparison of specs, even though they really don't need to. They can certainly afford to do that, even if they choose not to at this time. Then again, I am not terribly worried about how things are at the bleeding edge of tech these days... I used to be that guy back in like 2007-2010, but I'm not anymore. I do still watch the industry, though, as I understand that what we see today in the newest flagships will eventually make its way to the entry-level in five to seven years from now. As I become more busy with work and whatnot, I am sure I will care a little less, too, just because I will not have the time to spend on watching mobile phone tech like I used to. I sure hope that Apple keeps making the iPhone SE or its replacement... I will always be looking at two-year-old mid-range iPhones as long as they make them, hopefully being able to snag one for a good deal. And even though they run on just two cores, the SE performs better than practically all of the entry-level Android handsets, so it will be a real treat if I can get one... if the price becomes right...

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 11:29 AM 0

38. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

I have queation. Can you show me an IOS device using a SnapDragon chipset? If not, then what is your basis for your claim? IOS and Android use software differently. IOS like Windows has direct hardware access. Android is a Virtual Machine. Only the VM has hardware access, not Android directly. So any test showing speed is dump and pointless. Until you understand th3 different and how it affects performance and benchmarks, it is pointless to talk who is faster. The SnapDragon is faster becajse first, They tend to be running at higher clock speeds in Android phones. Android phones have more ram, which more apps cpuld run from ram making them faster. Those are facts. If we could run iOS on as galaxy S8 right now, it woukd run circles around the iPhone. But if we took Andeoid and placed it on Apple hardware, it woukd bench simikar to an Android with similar hardware.

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 11:51 AM 0

37. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

No it is not. You can bring up benchmarks all you want. But without considering differences in how IOS uses hardware in having direct access vs Android which is a Virtual Machine, you will always think iOS is faster. It's silly is not. Look at the Note and yet it faster than the iPhone and is running Andeoid and the Touchwiz layer fimull of features. Yet has better battery life even with 8 cores. Dude you guys know nothing about tech. The iPhone is not faster than the Galaxy S or Note. Period. No matter what side by side or benchmarks show, because the OS software is handled differently.

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 11:41 AM 0

27. UglyFrank

Posts: 2200; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

It doesn't matter, all that matters is that this device will have double the single core speed of my S8+ and it might even beat it in multicore.

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 6:59 AM 0

40. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

It's Not!

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 11:54 AM 0

46. mikehunta727 unregistered

It's going to easily beat S835 in the S8+ in multi core performance by a pretty good margin

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 1:38 PM 0

32. mikehunta727 unregistered

2+4 setup, 2 big cores, 4 power efficient cores. With the use of HMP now. The OS will predominantly still use the 2 big cores for most operations while others will be playing catch up with the A11

posted on Sep 11, 2017, 9:20 AM 0

41. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

What? Android phones have octacor. 4 for light duty, 4 for heavy duty. So who is catching up to who? Last I check, 8 is higher than 6. What school taught you to count?