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Intel CEO explains why Intel chips are better than Apple’s iPhone 5s processor

Published Oct 16th, 2013 12:30PM EDT
Apple A7 Processor Criticism

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Chip makers are not fans of the new 64-bit A7 processor that powers Apple’s flagship iPhone 5s. First Qualcomm’s chief marketing officer Anand Chandrasekher took a swing at Apple and called the A7 a “marketing gimmick,” adding that the chipset’s new 64-bit architecture offered no benefits to users. Qualcomm quickly realized that insulting a key partner probably isn’t the best idea, however, and the company retracted Chandrasekher’s statement. Now another one of Apple’s partners has shared some thoughts on the company’s new A7 chip, and once again the comments weren’t very complimentary.

During Intel’s third-quarter earnings call on Tuesday, an analyst asked Intel’s chief executive to comment on Apple’s A7 processor. “[Apple] has been able to show very impressive benchmarks on 28-nanometer silicon,” the analyst said.

“All of our products are 64-bit,” Intel CEO Brian Krzanich replied, according to a transcription posted by CNET. “The products we’re shipping today are already 64-bit. And if you take a look at things like transistor density. And if you compare, pardon the pun, apples to apples, and compare the A7 to our Bay Trail, which has a high-density 22-nanometer technology, then our transistor density is higher than the A7 is.”

He continued, “The A7 is a good product, but we do see the Moore’s Law advantage from 28 [nanometers] to 22, when you compare dense technology to dense technology. And we believe 14 nanometers is just another extension of Moore’s Law. That is, twice the density [of 22-nanometers].”

Krzanich certainly wasn’t as harsh as Qualcomm’s CMO when discussing Apple’s A7 SoC, though he made it quite clear that Apple’s larger chip uses an older process that is less efficient and less tha, half as dense as Bay Trail chips. Devices powered by Intel’s new Bay Trail processors will begin launching next month.

Samsung is reportedly also working on a new 64-bit “Exynos 6” mobile processor that will power some mobile devices next year, and Samsung will also use a 14-nanometer process.

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.