In this post, we will finish the explanation of the different types of processors found in mobile devices. In the first post, we saw what an ARM processor is. We also saw that there are different architectures (e.g., ARMv5, ARMv6, ARMv7), each one better than the previous. Finally, we mentioned that each architecture has different processor families.
As if things weren’t complicated enough up to this point, now comes the really tricky part.
ARM licenses, that is, authorizes other companies to design and/or manufacture chips based on its architectures. To make it clearer, it’s somewhat similar to constructing a building. First, an organization publishes regulations that all buildings must comply with (similar to architectures in processors). Then, an architect designs a specific building (similar to designing a processor family). Finally, a builder physically constructs a building (similar to manufacturing a processor).
For example, the processors called “A4” in the iPhone 4 are actually ARMv7 architecture processors, Cortex A8 design, designed by Intrinsity, and manufactured by Samsung (until 2011, then by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company).
They’ve made it complicated, haven’t they? Well, let’s try to simplify a bit. Below I include a table with the main processors we can find, and some indicative characteristics. The complete list of processors can be consulted here.
| Family | Architecture | Cores | Speed | Efficiency | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARM9E | ARMv5 | ARM946E-S, ARM926EJ-S … | 180-800 | 0.6-0.8 | HP50G Calculator, Tomtom Navigators, Nintendo DS |
| ARM10E | ARMv5 | ARM1020E, ARM1026EJ-S … | - | - | - |
| XSCALE | ARMv5 | IOP321, PXA3XX … | 400-1000 | 0.8-1 | HP iPaq 614c, Omnia, Palm Tungsten T3 and TX |
| ARM11 | ARMv6 | ARM1136J … | 400-1000 | 1.2 | iPhone 3G, Omnia II, Nokia N97, HTC Dream |
| Cortex | ARMv7 | Cortex A5 | 600-1000 | 1.5 | |
| Cortex A8 | 600-1000 | 2 | iPhone 3GS, iPad, iPhone 4, Palm Pre, Omnia HD, Galaxy S | ||
| Qualcomm Scorpion | 1000-1500 | 2 | HTC Desire, Nexus One, HTC Incredible | ||
| Cortex A9 | 1000-1500 | 2.5 | |||
| Cortex A9 Multicore (2 to 4) | 1000-1500 | 2.5 | Galaxy S II, iPhone 4S, iPad 2, Nvidia Tegra 2 devices |
We see that the best processors are the Cortex A9 and A9 multicore, and Tegra 2. Cortex A8 processors are also very acceptable, similar to a Samsung Galaxy. ARM11 is mediocre, similar to XSCALE (technology from 10 years ago). On the other hand, ARM9 are the worst of all, with power similar to a TomTom navigator.
With this in mind, we are finally able to solve the example we posed in the previous post. The results are in the following table.
| Device | Processor | Architecture | Family | Price | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bq Voltaire Tablet 7” | Arm 926 EJ-S 600MHz | ARMv5 | ARM9E | 94 € | Scam |
| Yarquin 7” | Telechips TCC8902 ARM11 | ARMv6 | ARM11 | 98 € | Mediocre |
| Bq Pascal Lite 7” | Cortex A8 1GHz | ARMv7 | Cortex A8 | 98 € | Bargain |
Finally, as we said in the first post, there are much worse cases. For example, the Papyre Pad 7.1, with an ARMv5 processor, ARM9E family, at 600Mhz, which sells for 125€. This difference also occurs in mobile phones. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Mini, which has an undeservedly good reputation, features an ARMv6 processor, Qualcomm MSM7227 family at 600 MHz, which is currently obsolete and, therefore, offers a poor user experience.
It is worth asking and spending some time finding out what type of processor a device has, and not just the speed. The processor difference means the difference between a smooth and pleasant user experience and one that is disappointing and frustrating for its owner, which can be enormous and not necessarily correspond to the price.
