# Apple A5

> system on a chip (SoC) designed by Apple Inc.

**Wikidata**: [Q420764](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q420764)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_A5)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/apple-a5

## Summary
The Apple A5 is a system on a chip (SoC) designed by Apple Inc. and announced on March 11, 2011. It features an ARM Cortex-A9 microarchitecture with dual processor cores and a dual-core PowerVR SGX543MP2 graphics processing unit. This SoC powered several key Apple devices, including the iPhone 4S and iPad 2.

## Key Facts
*   **Designed and Developed by:** Apple Inc.
*   **Manufacturer:** Samsung Electronics.
*   **Type:** System on a chip (SoC), categorized as part of the Apple A series and Apple Silicon.
*   **Microarchitecture:** ARM Cortex-A9.
*   **Announcement Date:** March 11, 2011.
*   **Discontinuation Date:** October 4, 2016.
*   **Processor Cores:** Features 2 processor cores (A32) clocked at 800 MHz; a variant used in the Apple TV (3rd generation) Rev. A has 1 processor core (A32) at 800 MHz.
*   **Graphics Processing Unit (GPU):** Includes a PowerVR SGX543MP2 with 2 cores.
*   **Used In:** iPhone 4S, iPad 2, iPod touch 5, Apple TV (3rd generation), iPad mini, and Apple TV (3rd generation) Rev. A.
*   **Die Area:** Varied by manufacturing process and device, including 122.2 mm² (45 nm lithography for iPad 2, iPhone 4S) and 69.6 mm² (32 nm lithography for Apple TV (3rd generation), iPad 2, iPad mini, iPod touch 5).

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Apple A5?
A: The Apple A5 is a system on a chip (SoC) designed by Apple Inc. It was announced on March 11, 2011, and served as a core component for several Apple devices, including the iPhone 4S and iPad 2.

### Q: Which Apple devices used the A5 chip?
A: The Apple A5 chip was used in the iPhone 4S, iPad 2, iPod touch 5, Apple TV (3rd generation), iPad mini, and Apple TV (3rd generation) Rev. A.

### Q: Who designed and manufactured the Apple A5?
A: The Apple A5 system on a chip was designed by Apple Inc., an American multinational technology company. Its manufacturing was handled by Samsung Electronics, a South Korean multinational electronics corporation.

### Q: What are the key technical specifications of the Apple A5?
A: The Apple A5 features an ARM Cortex-A9 microarchitecture. It typically includes 2 processor cores (A32) clocked at 800 MHz and a dual-core PowerVR SGX543MP2 graphics processing unit.

### Q: When was the Apple A5 announced and discontinued?
A: The Apple A5 was officially announced on March 11, 2011. Its discontinuation date was October 4, 2016.

## Why It Matters
The Apple A5 holds significant importance as a foundational component in Apple's mobile device ecosystem during the early 2010s. As a system on a chip, it integrated multiple critical functions, including the central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU), onto a single die, enabling more compact and power-efficient designs for devices. It was a direct successor to the Apple A4, representing a significant performance leap with its dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 CPU and dual-core PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU. This enhanced processing power was crucial for driving the advanced features and improved user experience of iconic devices like the iPhone 4S and iPad 2, which were pivotal in establishing Apple's dominance in the smartphone and tablet markets. The A5's development by Apple Inc. further solidified the company's strategy of designing its own custom silicon, providing tighter integration between hardware and software, a hallmark of Apple products. Its widespread adoption across multiple product lines, from smartphones and tablets to media players, underscored its versatility and impact on Apple's product portfolio.

## Notable For
*   Being the first dual-core system on a chip designed by Apple Inc.
*   Powering the critically acclaimed iPhone 4S and the second-generation iPad.
*   Featuring an ARM Cortex-A9 microarchitecture and a PowerVR SGX543MP2 graphics processing unit.
*   Being manufactured by Samsung Electronics, highlighting a key partnership in its production.
*   Its varied die sizes, reflecting different manufacturing processes (45 nm and 32 nm lithography) and device optimizations over its lifespan.

## Body
### Overview
The Apple A5 is a system on a chip (SoC) designed by Apple Inc., an American multinational technology company based in Cupertino, California. It is classified as a system on a chip and is a component within the broader Apple Silicon and Apple A series of processors.

### Technical Specifications
*   **Microarchitecture:** ARM Cortex-A9
*   **Processor Cores:**
    *   Typically features 2 processor cores (A32) clocked at 800 MHz.
    *   A specific variant used in the Apple TV (3rd generation) Rev. A features 1 processor core (A32) at 800 MHz.
*   **Graphics Processing Unit (GPU):** PowerVR SGX543MP2 with 2 cores.
*   **Die Area:**
    *   122.2 square millimeters, produced with a 45 nm lithography process, first appearing in March 2011 (used in iPad 2, iPhone 4S).
    *   69.6 square millimeters, produced with a 32 nm lithography process, first appearing in March 2012 (used in Apple TV (3rd generation), iPad 2, iPad mini, iPod touch 5).
    *   37.8 square millimeters, produced with a 32 nm lithography process, first appearing in March 2013 (used in Apple TV (3rd generation) Rev. A).
*   **Aliases:** A5, APL0498, APL2498, APL7498, S5L8940X, S5L8942, S5L8947, Apple A5X, Apple A٥, آبل أيه ٥.

### Development and Manufacturing
The Apple A5 was designed by Apple Inc. Its manufacturing was handled by Samsung Electronics, a South Korean multinational electronics corporation with headquarters in Suwon and Seoul.

### Device Integration
The Apple A5 SoC was integrated into several key Apple products during its lifespan:
*   iPhone 4S
*   iPad 2
*   iPod touch 5
*   Apple TV (3rd generation)
*   iPad mini
*   Apple TV (3rd generation) Rev. A

### Evolution and Timeline
The Apple A5 is positioned within the Apple A series, succeeding the Apple A4 and preceding the Apple A5X. It was officially announced on March 11, 2011, and its discontinuation date was October 4, 2016.

### Image
An image of the Apple A5 chip is available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Apple_A5_Chip.jpg

### Wikipedia and Commons
The entity has a Wikipedia title "Apple A5" and a Wikimedia Commons category "Apple A5".

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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Apple A5",
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## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013