Andre Yoskowitz
28 Feb 2012 0:08
If a new report is accurate, Apple fans may not be so happy when the iPad 3 is launched next month.
The device will use a more powerful dual-core processor, an "A5X," instead of the expected quad-core A6, as Apple has not had time to perfect the A6.
BlueFin Research Partners analyst Steve Mullane cites the supply chain, notably Samsung, in the report, which claims the manufacturer was not properly equipped to produce the 28nm A6.
Reads the note: "[Samsung's] Austin logic fab - supports the mass production of the 45-nanometer AAPL A5 processor, and is ramping on a 32-nanometer process. Since the A6 processor is based on a 28-nanometer process, we believe the 32-nanometer ramp validates the recent rumors that the iPad 3 will likely use a higher speed, die-shrink version of the A5 dual-core processor, named the A5X processor, as opposed to the next-generation A6 quad-core processor."
If accurate, the A5X will certainly be powerful (perhaps even with a clock speed of 1.8GHz or higher) but with Android devices already out with quad-core chips, and more coming, Apple may need to step up its other features.