14 DAY TRIAL // iPhone 5 will have to cope with graphically intensive 3D games and HD video, therefore will most likely sport a dual-core processor, as most major handset makers already plan for their own products, says a report by tech-industry publication Digitimes.
The report cites industry sources as saying that the majority of smartphone makers “all plan to launch dual-core smartphones in 2011 as Nvidia, Qualcomm, Samsung Electronics, Texas Instruments (TI) and Broadcom have come out with dual-core platforms.”
The generally reliable Digitimes makes a specific note about Apple, claiming that chances are "high" for the Cupertino giant to deploy dual-core processors in the iPhone "soon."
The sources reportedly told the paper that "The requirement for stronger capability to manage multimedia functionality including 3D games and HD video has pushed handset vendors to develop dual-core processors.”
It notes that dual-core platforms developed by Nvidia have been adopted by LGE, Motorola and Dell, whereas Samsung's devices have gained support from the makers of the iPhone, in addition to being used in-house.
The report ends with an estimate from Strategy Analytics which said that sales of multi-core smartphones are likely to account for 15% of global handset shipments this year, “with the ratio likely to climb to 45% in 2015.”
In short, dual-core is a big business starting now, and Apple does not want to miss the buss.
Apple has been widely rumored to plan the introduction of a new-generation iPhone this year, staying faithful to its annual product refreshes that the fanbase has grown accustomed to.
New iPads are also in the pipeline, as evidenced in code strings scattered throughout the newest iOS 4.3 betas seeded to developers.
Multiple new iOS devices are expected to emerge this year, going by recently discovered code designations for new-generation hardware products, including two versions of the iPhone 3, several iPad configurations, and even a new Apple TV.