Apple’s new iPhone 5s will be powered by the new A7 processor, which is built on a 64-bit architecture. This is all fine. But, most of the media I can gather relates 64-bit architecture to improved performance.  Here is what Engadget.com had to say…

…as a result of the extra transistors and 64-bit architecture, the A7 is claimed to be twice as fast as its predecessor, both in terms of CPU and graphics performance.

However, technically, there is no relationship between 64-bit architecture and performance. The 64-bit architecture relates to memory addressing. i.e. 64-bit architecture can address 2^64 bits of memory as compared to 32-bit architecture which can address 2^32 around 4GB of memory. So unless iphone ships with (or can upgrade to) more than 4gb of memory it has no real advantage.

Qualcomm’s Chief marketing office, Anand Chandrashekher, said it better…

…I know there’s a lot of noise because Apple did [64-bit] on their A7. I think they are doing a marketing gimmick. There’s zero benefit a consumer gets from that.

he said that (emphasis mine) to IDG News Service, alas, he was re-assigned.

But, its likely Apple is working on a ARM based Mac, in which case it makes sense. Well lets wait and see.

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