iPhone 4 and Samsung Wave use the same 1 GHz ARM Cortex-A8 core

According to UBM TechInsights, the Samsung Wave running Bada OS, and the new iPhone 4, with its Apple A4 processor, use the same ARM Cortex-A8 1 GHz core.

A lot of suppositions have been made about the mysterious Apple A4 processor installed in the Apple iPad and now in their iPhone handset, with details about this having until now been difficult to obtain with different analysts essentially basing their information on observations made of the processor in use.

UBM TechInsights have already analysed the Apple A4 processor in detail, confirming that the 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor provided by Samsung is in use, accompanied by some optimisations which provide it with better battery life without compromising its performance.


iPad / iPhone 4 / Samsung Wave / Samsung Galaxy S: the same ARM Cortex-A8 core
With the announcement of the iPhone 4, UBM TechInsights now confirms that its ARM core is the same as that used in the Samsung Wave Smartphone, the first handset operating Bada OS which will soon be available in Europe.

"By investigating the Samsung S5PC110A01 application processor and comparing it to the A4 application processor found in the Apple iPad using our specialized lab techniques, we were able to confirm that not only is Samsung the manufacturer of both application processors, but both application processors feature the same 1 GHz ARM CORTEX A8 core manufactured using a 45-nanometer low-power fabrication process," said Young Choi, Senior Manager of the Technical Intelligence Group.

This ARM core should also equip the top of the line Samsung Galaxy S Android 2.1 Smartphone (which will arrive in Europe in July), confirming the important manufacturing role that the Korean company plays in providing application processors (which we previously mentioned).

The latest Smartphone’s on the market therefore have nothing to be ashamed about compared to the iPhone 4, at least in terms of performance, as they use the same application processing hardware base.

At the same time, Apple has customised their ARM core with energy optimisation options provided by Intrinsity, which Apple recently purchased. Will other brands Smartphone’s benefit from comparable optimisations? We will have to wait for more detailed analysis before being able to say.