# Apple A9

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

**Wikidata**: [Q19612643](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19612643)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_A9)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/apple-a9

## Summary
The Apple A9 is a system on a chip (SoC) designed by Apple Inc. for use in its mobile devices, including the iPhone 6S, iPhone SE (1st generation), and iPad (5th generation). It was manufactured by TSMC and Samsung using 16 nm and 14 nm lithography processes, respectively, and features a PowerVR Series 7XT GT7600 GPU. The A9 succeeded the Apple A8 and A8X and was later followed by the A10 Fusion.

## Key Facts
- **Developed by**: Apple Inc.
- **Manufacturers**: TSMC (16 nm process) and Samsung (14 nm process).
- **Release date**: September 9, 2015 (debuted in the iPhone 6S).
- **GPU**: PowerVR Series 7XT GT7600.
- **Predecessors**: Apple A8 and A8X.
- **Successor**: Apple A10 Fusion.
- **Used in**: iPhone 6S, iPhone SE (1st generation), iPad (5th generation).
- **Aliases**: APL0898, APL1022.

## FAQs
### Q: What devices use the Apple A9 chip?
A: The Apple A9 powers the iPhone 6S, iPhone SE (1st generation), and iPad (5th generation).

### Q: Who manufactured the Apple A9?
A: The A9 was fabricated by TSMC using a 16 nm process and Samsung using a 14 nm process.

### Q: What GPU does the Apple A9 use?
A: It features the PowerVR Series 7XT GT7600 graphics processing unit.

## Why It Matters
The Apple A9 marked a significant advancement in Apple’s semiconductor design, delivering improved performance and power efficiency for its 2015–2016 device lineup. It was the first Apple SoC to be manufactured by two different companies (TSMC and Samsung), reflecting Apple’s strategy to diversify its supply chain. The A9 enabled features like 4K video recording and enhanced gaming capabilities on the iPhone 6S, contributing to the device’s market success. Its dual-sourcing approach also highlighted Apple’s ability to manage complex manufacturing partnerships, ensuring scalability and reliability. As part of the Apple Silicon series, the A9 underscored the company’s commitment to custom chip development, which later expanded to Mac computers with the M1 series.

## Notable For
- First Apple SoC produced by two manufacturers (TSMC and Samsung) using different process nodes.
- Featured a 64-bit ARM-based dual-core CPU and PowerVR Series 7XT GT7600 GPU.
- Supported the iPhone 6S’s 3D Touch and 4K video recording features.
- Used in multiple product lines, including iPhones and iPads.
- Demonstrated Apple’s shift toward in-house chip design for optimized hardware-software integration.

## Body
### Development and Release
- **Release Date**: September 9, 2015 (launched with the iPhone 6S).
- **Designer**: Apple Inc.’s hardware engineering team.
- **Predecessors**: Apple A8 (2014) and A8X (2014).
- **Successor**: Apple A10 Fusion (2016).

### Design and Manufacturing
- **Process Nodes**: 
  - TSMC: 16 nm FinFET process.
  - Samsung: 14 nm FinFET process.
- **CPU**: Dual-core 64-bit ARMv8-A "Twister" architecture, clocked up to 1.85 GHz.
- **GPU**: PowerVR Series 7XT GT7600 with 6-core graphics processing.

### Technical Specifications
- **RAM**: Paired with 2 GB LPDDR4 RAM in the iPhone 6S and SE.
- **Storage**: Supported up to 128 GB NAND flash storage.
- **Motion Coprocessor**: Apple M9 (integrated into the A9).

### Devices
- **iPhone 6S** (2015): First device to use the A9.
- **iPhone SE (1st generation)** (2016): Featured a compact design with A9 performance.
- **iPad (5th generation)** (2017): Used the A9 for entry-level tablet performance.

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## References

1. [Source](https://www.anandtech.com/show/9686/the-apple-iphone-6s-and-iphone-6s-plus-review/5)
2. Quora