Rumor: iPhone 6 could get a 2.0 GHz processor

Android's flagships have been breaking the 2 GHz CPU barrier for a while now, but even Apple's most advanced 64-bit A7 chipset is still lounging at the 1.3-1.4 GHz range. This, however, is about to change with the eventual A8, if a new supply chain report is to be believed.

Apple's upcoming chipset, that is expected to make a cameo in the iPhone 6 and the iPad Air 2, is said to feature cores with the maximum clock of 2 GHz for the first time in the franchise history. Previously we've heard that Apple's new chipset will sports cores clocked as high as 2.6 GHz, but that might be the A8 version for the iPad Air 2, which is always more powerful than the model which goes into Apple's iPhone. The A8 chipset is expected to be 64-bit again (of course), and sports two cores again, while there are a bunch of Android handsets with four, six, and even octa-core silicon. The amount of cores is in no way representative of a chipset's overall speed and productivity, though, so it doesn't serve as more than bragging rights for theoretical mights. 

Apple's A8 silicon is allegedly hammered out by the TSMC foundry, gradually replacing Samsung as a supplier, and will sport a new 20nm process, which would mean a theoretical increase in performance with a simultaneous decrease in power consumption, compared to the 28nm method that most current chipsets are built with.

-PhoneArena

Still the reigning champion in market sales. iPhone 5S followed by Galaxy S5

According to Counterpoint, a Hong Kong-based market research firm, Apple’s iPhone 5s was the best selling smartphone in the world throughout the month of May, maintaining its lead since late 2013. Reportedly, Samsung’s Galaxy S5 - which is available worldwide since April - was a “distant number two.” 

But Samsung is still the winner overall, as it has four other smartphones in top 10 May sales: Galaxy S4 (3rd place), Galaxy Note 3 (4th), Galaxy S4 mini (8th), and Galaxy Grand 2 (10th). Apple’s iPhone 5c and iPhone 4S took the 5th and 6th places, respectively. There’s only one other company that made it to top 10, and that’s Xiaomi, which continues to sell its affordable Mi3 and Hongmi Redrice smartphones at a fast pace. 

Apparently, Sony’s Xperia Z1 almost made it to top 10, too, but it was ultimately included in a top 20, alongside the Motorola Moto G, Huawei Honor 3C, LG G2, and other unnamed smartphones. 

Counterpoint’s report is based on info gathered from 35 countries, and includes devices that have been sold, not just shipped. Unfortunately, the company doesn’t provide exact sales numbers, just the handsets’ top positions. Are you surprised by this top? Let us know in the comments section below.

Via Counterpoint & Phonearena