A highly-touted feature of Apple’s upcoming iPhone 5s flagship is its 64-bit A7 processor, a first for consumer-targeted smartphones. Not to be outdone, longtime Apple rival Samsung wasted no time in declaring that its next line of smartphones will also pack 64-bit chips.
The news was delivered by Samsung’s mobile business chief Shin Jong-Kyun, who told The Korea Times, “yes, our next smartphones will have 64-bit processing functionality.” Mr. Shin’s statement was part of a larger discussion about the Korean company’s plans to counter Apple’s expansion in the Chinese mobile market. An unnamed Samsung executive told the newspaper:
Apple believes that it can boost its market share in China thanks to stronger brand awareness. However, with better pricing, a diversified product lineup and solid partnerships with local channels, Samsung plans to keep its current momentum in China. We have no reason to allow Apple to steal market share from us.
While the exact specifications of Apple’s A7 chip remain unknown, some speculate that Samsung could counter the Cupertino company by utilizing the ARMv8 architecture, which has been in development since late 2011 for a planned 2014 launch.
Apple and Samsung no longer release their flagship smartphones at the same time each year, giving each company a few months in between launches to counter and respond. Samsung’s current flagship, the Galaxy S4, launched in April; the iPhone 5s (and less sophisticated iPhone 5c) will launch on September 20.
If Samsung maintains its release schedule, a 64-bit Galaxy S5 could hit easily hit the market within the first half of 2014.
