iPhone 4S Gets Teardown, Only 512MB of RAM Found
iPad 2's A5 has only 512MB, and so does the iPhone 4S' A5.
With every new generation of a device, we expect improvement. At the very least, we want to see a faster processor with more memory. This is no different between new computers and even new iPhones.
With the iPhone 4S, (though some were expecting a beefed up iPhone 5) we get a much faster CPU and GPU, but what about RAM? Most new top-end smartphones these days pack 1GB, but Apple made no mention of any RAM bump in the iPhone 4S.
Thanks to a teardown at iFixit, we now know why Apple didn't boast about any upgrade in RAM – because there wasn't one. AnandTech examined the chip markings and deduced that it's the same A5 found in the iPad with its 512MB of RAM. This isn't surprising, and it makes sense, from a production and supply point of view.
Developers making apps will also have to consider the lowest common denominator, which for iOS is the iPhone 3GS and its 256MB of RAM. The original iPad also only has 256MB.
Finally, here is a die shot of the A5 from Canada-based Chipworks. It looks a lot different from the image Apple used in its iPhone 4S video.
Overall, aside from the silicon changes, the iPhone 4S is built very similar to the Verizon iPhone 4.
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the 4S is a let down. However, the iSheep will still buy it.
So why make a better product? Money will still role in...
FAIL
doesnt the iphone4s still smoke the fancy new android phones in every benchmark?
Apple probably wouldn't announce it anyway even if they did up the RAM.
doesnt the iphone4s still smoke the fancy new android phones in every benchmark?
Indeed.
If people want to focus on RAM size and MHz instead of performance, let them :-)
What a load of uniformed rubbish. Do you even consider that many of the apps that require the faster hardware come in two flavours normally ending in HD for the stuff requiring faster hardware?
So my new PC that came with 16 gig will need more ram when I upgrade it in a year’s time will it? Doesn't that just stink of the PC centric acceptance of bloatware delivered by their godsend fatboy Ballmer.
I wonder how the games developers the PS3 and even the 360 manage without there being any hardware upgrades for so long on these consoles? Maybe it's because they use a more efficient operating system?
Aside from that, the iphone 4 was already very quick and now it's about 70% faster. Keep trying the rest of you, don't think you've got long enough before Apple bring out the next model though.
doesnt the iphone4s still smoke the fancy new android phones in every benchmark?
Of course it does... that's the way technology works. If it came out today it will be faster then yesterdays and slower then tomorrows.
What a load of uniformed rubbish. Do you even consider that many of the apps that require the faster hardware come in two flavours normally ending in HD for the stuff requiring faster hardware?
So my new PC that came with 16 gig will need more ram when I upgrade it in a year’s time will it? Doesn't that just stink of the PC centric acceptance of bloatware delivered by their godsend fatboy Ballmer.
I wonder how the games developers the PS3 and even the 360 manage without there being any hardware upgrades for so long on these consoles? Maybe it's because they use a more efficient operating system?
Aside from that, the iphone 4 was already very quick and now it's about 70% faster. Keep trying the rest of you, don't think you've got long enough before Apple bring out the next model though.
The OS on consoles is more efficient but its also more simple as it does alot less then a PCs. Also the games look bad on consoles compared to PCs. The dated hardware shows. I expect it will be a year now before the Iphone 5s released? If so they'll be quad core android phones out long before then.