Apple’s dominance in mobile processors is attributed to its early adoption of 64-bit technology, tight integration with its devices, higher cost tolerance, and strategic use of extensive caches.

Apple’s unique wide-pipeline processor approach allows for efficient performance at lower clock speeds.

Qualcomm’s response to compete with Apple involves the acquisition of Nuvia and the development of in-house processors, signaling the potential for increased competition in the future

Have you ever wondered why Apple’s mobile processors consistently outperform the competition, especially Qualcomm’s chips? Let’s unravel the secrets behind Apple’s dominance in the world of smartphone processors.

You see, when Apple announces a new iPhone, they also unveil a new System-on-a-Chip (SoC). It doesn’t take long for benchmarking scores to surface, and more often than not, Apple comes out as the winner. But why is that? Are Apple’s processors really that good? Well, let me explain.

Apple’s Unique Advantage

First, you need to know that Apple designs processors that use Arm’s 64-bit instruction architecture, just like Qualcomm, Samsung, and Google. The key difference is that Apple holds an architectural license with Arm, allowing them to design their own chips from the ground up. This freedom led to the birth of Apple’s first in-house 64-bit Arm processor, the A7, back in 2013. Fast forward to today, and Apple’s latest A16 processor boasts a staggering 16 billion transistors, a 16-core Neural Engine, and advanced video codecs.

Now, you might be wondering, what does all of this mean? In a nutshell, Apple’s recent processor generations consistently offer superior CPU performance compared to the processors used in other smartphones, regardless of the manufacturer. So, why is that the case?

Apple’s Competitive Edge: The Early Bird Catches the Worm

To understand this better, let’s take a quick history lesson. When Apple announced the 64-bit A7 processor in 2013, it was a game-changer. Until then, both Apple and Qualcomm had been shipping 32-bit Armv7 processors for mobile devices. Qualcomm was leading the field with its 32-bit Snapdragon 800 SoC. It was all good for Qualcomm until Apple took everyone by surprise with the A7. Some even called it a “marketing gimmick,” but it didn’t take long for Qualcomm to realize the importance of 64-bit processors. They quickly launched the Snapdragon 810 with a combination of Cortex-A57 and Cortex-A53 cores.

While Qualcomm was trying to catch up, Apple introduced the A8 and then the A9 processors, putting them two generations ahead. It wasn’t until March 2015 that Qualcomm was able to announce its first-generation in-house 64-bit CPU, the Snapdragon 820, with its custom Kryo CPU core. By then, Apple had already released the iPhone 6S with the A9 processor, pushing Qualcomm even further behind.