iPhone 6s <a href="http://9to5mac.com/2015/09/24/iphone-6s-teardown/" target="_blank">iFixit</a> teardown
After some debate over whether the difference between iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models made with Samsung or TSMC chips may impact battery life, Apple has offered its own take on the matter:
Our testing and customer data show the actual battery life of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, even taking into account variable component differences, vary within just 2-3% of each other.”
That 2-3% difference may be greater than some suspected, myself included, considering how tight battery life on iPhones can be with moderate to heavy usage. Apple’s full statement (via Ars Technica) actually addresses the type of battery tests many testers reference when measuring performance as being unrealistic:
Certain manufactured lab tests which run the processors with a continuous heavy workload until the battery depletes are not representative of real-world usage, since they spend an unrealistic amount of time at the highest CPU performance state. It’s a misleading way to measure real-world battery life.
Still, some benchmark tests have flagged some measurable differences between iPhones made with chips from different manufactures including varying performance scores and cooling levels.
In practice, these differences are likely not noticeable in the same way as the ones between iPhone generations year-over-year, but Apple does acknowledge that the current iPhone 6s and 6s Plus models aren’t totally on par with each other even if the difference is small. But the difference is apparently regardless of what chip variant you have and varies from iPhone to iPhone in general, even past generations. Apple didn’t, however, specifically address any performance differences between the chip variants being used.
Analysis from Chipworks revealed a week ago that the Samsung-made A9 chip which powers some iPhone models this year is 10% smaller than the TSMC-made version. Apple opted for a mix of suppliers for its A-series chip this year likely to ensure meeting demand.
Apple’s full statement below:
With the Apple-designed A9 chip in your iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus, you are getting the most advanced smartphone chip in the world. Every chip we ship meets Apple’s highest standards for providing incredible performance and deliver great battery life, regardless of iPhone 6s capacity, color, or model.
Certain manufactured lab tests which run the processors with a continuous heavy workload until the battery depletes are not representative of real-world usage, since they spend an unrealistic amount of time at the highest CPU performance state. It’s a misleading way to measure real-world battery life. Our testing and customer data show the actual battery life of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, even taking into account variable component differences, vary within just 2-3% of each other.
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It’s a HUGE difference. My wife with TSMC battery was @ 52% after 24 hours and 7 hours of usage. Mine with Samsung was at 52% after 6 hours and 2.5 hours of usage.
That anecdotal data means nothing… Hours of usage is not standard, and completely depends on what exactly you are doing on the phone
It’s hilarious and a little bit sad to see people up in arms about this. There are so many variables, from apps installed to settings to cell carrier to signal strength, etc etc.
Sigh. Well, guess we couldn’t get through a new iPhone release without some kind of #gate!
They likely weren’t being used in the same manner, with the same background tasks, network connectivity and the like which could all contribute to varying results in addition to the chip differences.
the placebo is strong
Don’t expect Apple to replace Samsung A9 iPhones with TSMC A9 iPhones or vice versa on demand. That would be disastrous and such requests should be firmly rejected. Of course the OCD crowd will go bonkers over this making all manner of claims and demands. They should be ignored by Apple.
Finally! The voice of reason. You will soon get overrun by the panicking Samsung_vs_TSMC_battery_life_gate herd.
I will put pressure on Samsung if they want to produce the A10 next year.
I don’t agree with the practice, but people will no doubt abuse the return policy to keep cycling phones until they get the one they want.
Can I buy iPhone 6s with a chip manufactured by a particular brand?
Do you seriously have nothing better to with your life?
“Can I buy iPhone 6s with a chip manufactured by a particular brand?”
No you cannot nor should you be able to. If Apple is to avert a crap storm they should make it perfectly clear that you get what you get and that’s that. No exchanges based on chip brand.
Ok
Thanks for the reply!
The World is ending! The world is ending! My 6s with Samsung chip only last a 22 hours on a charge! OMG OMG panic
Oops.
off topic… but really Apple needs to give people more options with black front panel… that rose gold would’ve looked amazing with the black front panel
That is off topic….. But I 100% agree with you.
“100%”?
With the current variation of 2-3%, wouldn’t that be ≈97%¿
Or, even better, the normal gold with a black front. I’ve wanted a gold phone with black glass ever since gold became an option, but Apple won’t let me buy it. This despite the fact that Apple offers that same colour combination in both a Watch and the new MacBook. But I can only have a gold phone if I get one with a white front, and the colour of the phone’s face is more important to me than the body colour. Given that I want black glass, I have no option but to buy the relatively boring-looking Space Grey. (I do like the Space Grey phones… but I like all of them, and Space Grey happens to be one of my least favourites. I’d really have preferred a gold one.)
Why don’t you just buy a white iPhone and a black screen separately and there you have it! It’s really easy to replace a screen.
What if… The Samsung chipped iPhones use Minebea backlights and the TSMC chipped iPhones use Radiant backlights or vice versa, or maybe the tested phones with different chips also have different backlight manufacturers. There are so many factors.
I’m satisfied with my Samsung a9 chip. The phone lasts me a full day at work, and when I get home I’m still at 70%.
Can I choose before I buy?
My only question here again is… why the crap is Apple using Samsung for anything at all right now? Are they the only game in town or do they find it amusing to sue the company that makes part of their flagship products?
This seems counter intuitive.
so true..!!!!
I have the 6S Plus with the TSMC chip. I can’t say anything against the Samsung chip as I have nothing to compare it too but I will say that my iPhones battery life is phenomenal. I charge it nightly out of habbit however, I’m pretty sure i would get 2 days of use out of it very easily. Longest I got out of it before popping it back on charge was 20 hours standby with 9 hours of use. I still had 18 percent battery. that was a long and unusually busy day for my phone. Top work Apple. My 6 plus was great but the 6S Plus is so much better.
It’s not a big deal.
Same as the bend gate which was also a fake bubble of lies.
I feel my new 6s+ has significantly shorter standby battery time compared my previous 6+. Mine is Samsung. I am going to return it if they cannot give me a TSMC one.