iOS Code Confirms A5 Processor for iPhone 5
Surprising no one in particular, developers have revealed that snippets of code in iOS 4.3 confirm the upcoming iPhone 5 will use the same dual-core A5 processor found in the new iPad 2.
Apple used the same A4 processor in the iPhone 4 and the original iPad, so this news was expected. But it's also an important confirmation because it will mean the iPhone 5 can compete with other smartphones on the market. The newest Android phones all have dual-core processors, and Apple wouldn't want to lag behind in that race because processor speed is paramount to user experience and complex apps.
The iOS 4.3 code refers to several models of the iPad: the iPad2,1 (K93AP) is the Wi-Fi-only version; the iPad2,2 (K94AP) is the GSM version for AT&T; and the iPad2,3 (K95AP) is the CDMA version for Verizon. All these iPads are noted as running the S5L8940 processor, which we know is the new A5 processor. The confirmation comes later when the code refers to the N94AP, which has been identified as the iPhone 5 , also running the S5L8940 (the A4 was labeled S5L8930).
A new version of the operating system, iOS 5 , is expected sometime in April, while the iPhone 5 isn't expected until June or July of this year.
